Many have embraced the notion that a room lacks completion without a rug. It introduces warmth, color, and texture, and without it, the space may feel cold and incomplete. However, these 14 examples challenge that belief by showcasing stylish, fully finished rooms that are entirely rug-free. The designers and enthusiasts behind these spaces demonstrate that rugs aren’t always necessary, saving money and avoiding the hassle of maintenance while highlighting the beauty of their floors.
Sure, here are the rewrites:
- An Art-Filled, Tiled Room: In this eclectic Columbia apartment, the Readers’ Choice Grand Prize Winner of Apartment Therapy’s 2023 Small/Cool Contest, renter Luisa Castellanos opted not to use a living room rug. As a textile illustrator and creative director of clothing brand Eloisa Studio, she chose to showcase her colorful prints and textiles throughout the home, making them the main focal points instead of relying on a busy carpet.
- Pretty Patterned Hardwood Home: This 388-square-foot Polish apartment boasts light-hued, chevron flooring that serves as its own decorative element. The hardwood design complements the gentle wood tones and natural materials styled throughout the 1931 home, making it unnecessary to cover with a rug. Replicating this look can be achieved by ordering oak floor panels from a local hardware store.
- Cozy Cottage Floors: In this 300-year-old cottage in the Netherlands, the homeowners preserved its existing features and original details, including the quaint tiling seen here without a rug. Even if you don’t live in a historic home, you can achieve this old-school charm with small peel-and-stick floor tiles for a faux tiled effect, which could be more budget-friendly than purchasing a new rug.
In this vibrant Columbia apartment, which clinched the Readers’ Choice Grand Prize in Apartment Therapy’s 2023 Small/Cool Contest, there’s no need for a living room rug. Renter Luisa Castellanos, a textile illustrator and creative director of Eloisa Studio, opted to honor her artwork by showcasing colorful prints and textiles as the main focal points throughout the home, rather than relying on a busy carpet.
Charming Chevron Hardwood Haven
In this 388-square-foot Polish apartment, the light-hued chevron flooring stands out as a striking feature. Leaving it unobstructed proves beneficial, as the hardwood design itself serves as a decorative element, enhancing the gentle wood tones and natural materials present in the 1931 home’s styling. To recreate this aesthetic and draw more attention to the foundational aspect of your space, you might explore the option of ordering oak floor panels from your nearby hardware store.
- A Thoughtful Attic Apartment: This 194-square-foot Barcelona attic apartment combines a bedroom, living room, and office into one minimalist space. To maximize every square foot, the tenant opted for a rug-free space and worked with local design and architecture studio 5LAB to create a “closed” furniture system along the back wall, accommodating extractable pieces like a table, bed, and wardrobe.
- A Light-Filled Scandinavian Dream: With gorgeous wood tones, subtle Scandinavian boho vibes, and lush plants, the living room in this Barcelona home thrives without a rug. The light floors and neutral upholstered furniture, along with the natural sunlight streaming in, shine without the need for additional texture from a rug.
- Spotlight-Stealing Wood Floors: This former barn embraces its stunning floors, disregarding the commonly accepted idea that a bedroom should have a rug. By leaving the floors exposed, they become the focal point while the bed linens provide the soft, cozy element in the room.
- Showstopping 1920s Tile: The tile floors in this 1920s Cuban Victorian are too magnificent to hide. With four different types of Spanish tiles throughout the home, this vintage element is a showstopper. The decor, inspired by warm colors of coral, green, and turquoise, complements the tiles beautifully.
- A Bohemian Oasis That Makes a Case for No Dining Room Rug: This lush, bohemian dining room skips the rug, considering the practicalities of spills and crumbs. The green walls, indoor plants, and elegant chandelier create a cozy and inviting space without the need for a rug under the table.
Cozy Cottage Charm
Preserving the original features and quaint tiling of this 300-year-old cottage in the Netherlands was a natural choice for the homeowners. The absence of a rug highlights the timeless appeal of the floors, enhancing the historic ambiance. Even in modern homes, you can evoke this vintage charm by opting for small peel-and-stick floor tiles to mimic the classic tiled effect, often at a lower cost than purchasing a new rug.
A Thoughtful Attic Retreat
In a compact 194-square-foot attic apartment in Barcelona, every inch counts. The resident collaborated with local design firm 5LAB to create a multifunctional space that combines a bedroom, living area, and office. Eschewing the need for a rug, the design focuses on a “closed” furniture system along the back wall, accommodating a table, bed, and wardrobe with ease.
A Light-Filled Scandinavian Oasis
In this Barcelona home, the living room exudes a serene Scandinavian vibe accentuated by lush greenery and natural wood tones. The absence of a rug allows the light floors and neutral furnishings to take center stage, basking in the abundance of natural sunlight streaming through the windows.
Spotlight on Stunning Wood Floors
In a former barn, the decision to forgo a rug in the bedroom showcases the beauty of the wood floors. Without competing with a rug, the floors become the focal point, while the soft bed linens offer comfort and coziness in this rustic retreat.
Showstopping 1920s Tile
Concealing the tile floors in this 1920s Cuban Victorian would be a travesty. These vintage tiles, showcasing varying degrees of preservation, serve as an absolute centerpiece in this historic dwelling, boasting four distinct types of Spanish tiles. The decor throughout the rooms is influenced by rich, warm hues of coral, green, and turquoise.
Credit: Jacqueline Marque
A Bohemian Oasis That Makes a Case for No Dining Room Rug
Contemplating the necessity of a rug in the dining room leads to questions about practicality. With crumbs, spills, and inevitable accidents like a tipped glass of red wine, the absence of a rug in this lush, bohemian dining space makes perfect sense. Its verdant walls echo the surrounding plants, while a chandelier adds a touch of elegance, and the wooden table exudes a storied charm.
Credit: Winkie Visser
Wide-Plank Floors That Feel Grounded to the Earth
In a house in the Netherlands adorned with striking wide-plank floors painted a consistent gray throughout, the deliberate design approach negates the need for rugs. Warm pottery, an earthy color palette, and furniture blending rustic and industrial elements provide a sense of place and grounding, rendering rugs redundant.
Credit: Courtesy Kristen Ziegler
A Sleek, Minimalist Look
Embracing a rug-free environment is a step toward minimalist living, exemplified in this Virginia home. With a limited color palette, sleek furniture lines, and minimal decor, the space exudes a serene minimalist aesthetic.
Credit: Craig Kellmann
Soft and Cozy Without a Rug in Sight
In another display of beautiful wood floors, this soft, elegant Scandinavian apartment creates coziness without the need for textured rugs. Delicate color schemes and well-loved furniture contribute to a space that feels both inviting and meticulously styled.
Credit: Margaret Wright
Bold Black-and-White Tile
The kitchen of this West Hollywood apartment shines with timeless black-and-white tiles as the focal point. Embracing a monochromatic palette enhances the bold pattern, making rugs unnecessary and allowing the tile to exude retro charm.
Credit: Sean Paul Franget
Dark Wood Having Its Moment
The allure of dark wood floors beneath ornate antiques is evident in this 1909 Los Angeles home. While rugs adorn some rooms, the dining room stands out with its untouched hardwood floors, contributing to the house’s vintage allure.
Credit: Sarah Crowley
A Chic, Sleek Basement Lounge
In this Chicago cottage’s 900-square-foot basement turned lounge, the decision to forgo rugs after removing the carpet adds to the sleek aesthetic. Books, lamps, games, and DIY flower mirrors provide intrigue, leaving the only missing element a “proper Chicago basement bar.”
