4 Ways to Use Black Area Rugs

Most designers agree that neutral colors play a key role in home design. While they don’t always take center stage, they help your main elements stand out and become the room’s focal point. That’s especially true when it comes to area rugs, as they’re often used to enhance your existing theme. White, beige, and brown are some of the most popular colors. But few people consider black an option when they shop for rugs. Some think it’s too dark, others think it’s too strong a shade. But modern design is changing, and many homeowners are discovering the appeal of a black rug in their homes.

Like other neutral colors, black goes with pretty much every color, pattern and décor theme. But unlike the rest, it doesn’t have a calm, relaxing visual effect—rather, it makes colors more vibrant and provides an eye-catching backdrop to your design. That’s why people who want high-impact visuals always go for a black base. It’s also why modern designers make use of a lot of black—it adds life and impact to an otherwise plain theme. If you’re not sure how to make a black rug work, here’s a quick guide to help you out.

Use it for contrast.

Black has a way of increasing the contrast between two or more colors in a space. Since most themes involve a color combination, a black rug helps tie them together and enhance both colors at the same time. For example, if you have a pink and blue theme—two fairly contrasting colors—something like the Dynamic Rugs Allure 1907 grey-black area rug allows you to use items from each color even within a small space. The use of grey and black makes it more varied, and the hand-carved pattern gives it a nice sense of movement. This works very well for homes with a stark contemporary theme, where sleek, harsh lines and sold colors tend to dominate the space. There are lots of ways to use it—you can put it in the middle of the room as a centerpiece, or under a piece of furniture with a brightly colored slipcover.

Create a touch of elegance.

Black is one of the key colors in fashion—stylists often say every woman needs at least one black piece to go with all her accessories. The same is true when it comes to home design. You just can’t go wrong with a hint of black, especially when it’s well placed. For example, many designers are creating oriental area rugs with black backdrops, which help them blend better than the usual reds or blues. Black also makes the detail on oriental rugs stand out better, so viewers can really appreciate them.

Sometimes, you don’t even need a pattern to make a black area rug elegant. A solid-colored black rug can give your home a warm yet elegant touch, if you know where to place it. Solid-colored rugs usually go best under furniture, such as a couch or a coffee table. Use it to make an already eye-catching piece even more attractive—the contrast between natural wood and dark cloth creates a really striking visual effect.

Modernize your design.

Most people would consider black a bold color, and that’s exactly why it’s popular in modern décor. Modern homes are all about making bold choices, especially when it comes to color. Add a touch of black to a bright surface to make it really stand out. To see how experts are doing it, check out blogs or forums on rug decorating and interior design—you can even find some pictures to help you better imagine the effects.

Patterns often play a big role in modern rug design. Since black can be quite dull on its own, you often need a patterned piece to keep it from dragging down your décor. Modern area rugs often come in bold geometric patterns such as polka dots, stripes, and checks. Patterns won’t work for all homes, of course—if your home already has lots of patterned pieces, a solid black rug may be more appropriate.

Make your space more intimate.

Dark colors tend to have a warming effect on a room. For years, experts have been using deep browns, bronze and similar shades to make spaces look cozier and more inviting. So there’s no reason you can’t use black to the same end—as long as you do it right. Since it’s a strong color, it’s usually best to combine it with softer shades, particularly pastels. If your room is big enough, try getting two or more smaller rugs instead of one big one. Black rugs usually go well with pink rugs for a young girl’s room or baby blue rugs for a boy’s room. With black there are lots of possible combinations—just mix and match until you find one that suits your tastes.