The new family room (rug)

November 11, 2013

The last time I shared our family room (I think it was earlier this year), it looked like this:

graphic blue rug

I got that rug from RugsUSA about a year and a half ago and it was holding up pretty darn well. The color of it is off in that pic, it was really more of a charcoal blue, not a navy blue.

I LOVED the design but it was so intense. It made decorating the rest of the room so hard. Pillows were impossible to find (the ones I had here were never quite right, they were from years back) and the drapes never worked with it. I looked forEVER for a new drapery fabric and nothing worked. These are what you called #firstworldproblems.

The design was just too much for this room. At first I didn’t mind it but over time I just got tired of fighting with it. And earlier this year I was starting to think that we could really have a larger rug in there. This one is nearly 7 by 9 feet, but it almost looked dinky when you walked in the room.

Sooo…I’ve kind of been looking here and there over the six months or so. Nothing intense, just flipping through the rugs at HomeGoods when I went. Well, a few weeks back it was finally there…the one:

I was worried it was too big though – 9 by 12 compared to 7 by 9 is quite a jump. I got it anyway and figured the worst scenario was that we’d need to return it.

We moved everything out of the room (and cleaned under the sofas…what. in the?), laid it down and both my husband and I were drooling (well, more me, but he liked it) – it was SO pretty. And my goodness, so soft!

When we put the furniture back in we were a little shocked at how big it was, but about three minutes in were talking about how much bigger it made the room feel. It was crazytown:

Light blue rug family room

The color works so much better! It’s a bluish gray and the design is an aqua color. It’s not too aqua that you can’t pull in other colors though, which I like.

My corner fireplace (shakes fists in air!!) continues to haunt me because it keeps the rug from working perfectly in the room – it could really move a lot further back if it weren’t for the fireplace placement. Ah well, I’m over it (lying):

Large graphic rug

Another thing that helps is that I took the little coffee table out earlier this year. I love that thing but this part of the room just wasn’t big enough for it. I tried taking it out one day and it was like we could breath in there – made such a big difference. (It’s living with my sister right now cause I couldn’t bear to totally part with it just yet.)

Funny how putting a much larger rug in there makes the room feel bigger, not smaller. The room isn’t small, but it was originally set up so that the family room part is supposed to only be that area by the fireplace. This is how it used to look:

Cozy family room

Here’s how that area looks now:

Planked wall fireplace

You can see how fireplace was transformed here.

And the area that used to be more of just a walkway off to the side:

Candle sconces

Is now our entertainment area:

Dresser as entertainment center

This room functions SO MUCH BETTER this way. Before was cozy for sure, but it was cramped. This layout is much more open, which helps.

I actually love that the furniture all sits on the rug now, I think that’s what helps it to feel bigger:

Long sofa table

The rug is wool, so at first it was shedding a ton. Not too bad, but when I vacuumed it would fill the container. But over the last six weeks or so doesn’t do it nearly as bad. It’s worth it to me for the softness of it.

Just for giggles let’s look at the how the room looked early this year:

And now….ahhhhhh, so much calmer:

Light neutral decor, family room

The rug was WAY cheaper at HomeGoods than I would have paid anywhere else, but still a big purchase for us for sure. I’m glad I waited till I found “the one,” and that the budget allowed for it at the time. How often does that happen? Hardly ever.

I think picking out a rug is one of the hardest decor decisions in a room, do you? In my mind it’s as big as the paint color – it’s just such a large item in the room.

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Comments

  1. Now that you're a SUPER-GROWN-UP (with all your debt paid off!) those kinds of things will happen more often, to be sure.

    I love what this rug brought to this space - peace, calm,serenity, ahhhhh. I like my rooms to be relaxing, too. I would see your old rug and think "Wow, what a great rug! What a great, energetic room!" and know I would never survive in a room like that. I admire them from afar. But I need calm. There are enough people in our house, which adds all the energy and excitement I can take!

    As always, you make things beautiful.

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  2. Your right it truly makes your space look bigger. I think it's absolutely beautiful...great choice!

    www.bugsandbeans.com

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  3. It looks great. I loved the other darker rug but from the pictures, I think this looks better in there. It is amazing how much a rug changes a space.

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  4. Your room looks so much bigger! Great choice. Thanks for sharing!

    Hope your week is blessed!
    Sherri

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  5. Gorgeous color; it really opens up the room. Have to admit, I noticed the 'corner issue'; and was relieved when you mentioned it. That beautiful fireplace just keeps making things 'complicated'. Love the rug and am going to stalk at HG now.

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  6. Don't we all love HomeGoods? I do the same thing - check out the rugs each time I'm there which is almost weekly. Your selection is beautiful and I agree that a larger rug has a tendency to make the room appear larger. Who cares about the corner fireplace? You always do a beautiful job of making your designs work with what you have. So pretty.

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  7. well if your done with the old rug, ship it my way! I've been eyeing it for a few months now. New rug looks fantastic. Guess I better check out my Home goods/ TJ Maxx for a rug!

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  8. I love it! And I LOVE your pillows! Where'd you get them?

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    1. Thank you! The white ones I've had and were from Pottery Barn and the print are also from there -- got them a few months ago but I'm guessing they'll still have them? (I just got the covers.)

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  9. It is beautiful -- and I had a random thought -- maybe crazy, but...could you take the rug to a carpet place and have them nip (and rebind) that corner so it could snuggle in closer to the fireplace? Is that crazy? It would definitely limit future options, but it occurred to me that could solve your corner fireplace issue!

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    1. Leslie, I was just going to suggest this very same idea. I'll bet it can be done!!
      Sarah, what do you think?

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    2. I was thinking the samething. love the rug. Wish i had HomeGoods. ang

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    3. Yes good call ladies! I've done it before: http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/11/binding-to-get-perfect-rug.html
      I did consider doing it here but it would make the shape so awkward I wouldn't be able to use it anywhere else in the future and/or sell it later. I love it so no plan for either one though, so I'm still deciding. :)

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  10. there is a thought i had when you said about the rug and fireplace. you cut the rug by the fireplace and then have it bound.

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  11. Oh the new rug is absolutely fabulous. I love it and it defiitely does make the room look so much bigger and more inviting too. Such a pretty, pretty room. The curtain and pillows are all perfect with it. Hugs, Marty

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  12. It looks great, I've been looking for one very similar to that one! That fireplace is such a pain for sure, I wonder if you could have a carpet place cut and bind a corner so that it could slide back further? Just a thought :)

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    1. I've done that before but I worry about the weird shape -- it wouldn't work anywhere else in the future. Still deciding on that! :)

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  13. Looks great! And I agree about the size!

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  14. Love the rug! Love that you found it at HomeGoods!

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  15. I love that rug!! I think it works in the space so much better. I have something similar but am now wishing we'd brought the bigger size...

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  16. I love that rug! It's exactly what I've been looking for for our bedroom - do you mind sharing the brand/model # (if you have them)? I don't have a Homegoods close, but maybe I could find it online somewhere.

    I was actually considering a rug almost identical to the one that you used to have (the blue with white Moroccan print). I'm glad I hadn't bought it yet because after seeing your pictures and hearing what you have to say, you confirmed my suspicions...the print would be too graphic and bold.

    I totally understand about the scariness of making such a big purchase. I just bought my first rug ever for our living room a few weeks ago from Overstock and I was terrified of plunking down that much money, especially since I hadn't seen the rug in person yet. But it turned out great, I am in.love with our new rug, and I'm ready to try to find one for our bedroom. I just love how rugs can warm up a space!

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    1. Come on, Sarah...can you please give us some information on this rug. A brand would be great.

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  17. Love that rug! I haven't visited HomeGoods nearly enough recently, but I always visit the rug section when I'm there. We also need a 9 x 12 for our living room and sadly they don't come free.

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  18. love the new rug - looks so much better and makes the room look much brighter and lighter! thanks for the tip - i've been thinking about replacing my living room rug with one similar to your old one - i LOVE that pattern - but glad to know it would make the room feel heavier and i should go lighter. great choice!! :)

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  19. I completely agree...choosing the rug is very difficult! I think both of these rugs look great in there!

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  20. I was just going to write what others have- about having the corner bound by a carpet place for a customized, fit-to-your-room shape. My mom and sister don't buy traditional made rugs- they only buy regular carpet and have them bound to make their own rugs out of carpeting they like. I don't know why- but I will say their rugs always last longer and don't shed like my traditional rugs do. Of course, you know, you can get any color or allover pattern in carpeting- and the cost is really not that different than buying a ready made rug. You still lay it over a rug pad and it floats just like any other rug (not stuck to the floor). Anyhow, those same places can snip and bind the edges of the rug you've already bought as well. I think it sometimes helps rooms with angles to have a custom looking finish. I love the one you've picked- and it looks terrific with the other colors you have in that space!

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  21. Lol I would love your old rug. It's hard to find a color like that

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  22. I absolutely love, love, love your new rug!!! I have been searching for a rug similar to this style. Would you mind sharing how much the rug costs approximately?

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  23. Such a pretty rug!! I liked your first rug, but I LOVE this one!! Have you thought about cutting (gasp!!) and rebinding the rug at an angle so it works more with your corner fireplace? Just that one corner by the fireplace? I think you'd posted about having rugs cut down and rebound before- but I might be making that up. Anyway, it looks great!!! :)

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    1. Just thinking the same thing!

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    2. Hey Emily! Yes, I thought about it but I'm afraid to do it just because I wouldn't be able to use it anywhere else. Still thinking about it! :)

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    3. I see now someone else brought up this same idea. I understand about not being able to use the rug somewhere else...unless you didn't need a rug that big and were able to cut it down AGAIN when you want to reuse it. But that might be a lot of cutting and re-binding. Ah well- it looks lovely there. I will shake my fist about your corner fireplace too- we have a tv stand that does something similar to our area rug. :)

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  24. I love your style. Very classy. You have a beautiful home.

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  25. looks awesome and yes so much calmer! great choice!

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  26. I love it and Everything married well. HUGS and love it all sister

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  27. Yes, I think it makes the room look bigger too. Love the softer color scheme you have going on and the pillows look great with it too. Great find! That room has certainly come a long way.

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  28. I think I could have written this post. :) I have the same dreaded corner fireplace. When I moved in last year, I bought a black and white chevron rug, and I could NEVER find pillows that didn't seem like "too much" with it. Bought a new gray and cream rug with a very similar pattern to yours over Labor Day. I love it so much better (even with the shedding. OH, the shedding!!). I've gone a little pillow crazy since getting the new rug because I now have so many options.

    Side note...have really been thinking about flanking above my fireplace, so I just went back and read your tutorial. I think I'm going to tackle that this weekend. Thank you!

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    1. Also, PLANKING above my fireplace. Gah.

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  29. It turned out great. You go girl.

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  30. Your new rug is beautiful! Just wondering could you turn the rug so it ran parallel to fireplace? You may have to rearrange your seating area a bit. Love your blog!

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    1. Hello! Good thought, I will have to see if that works!

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    2. This is a good idea! You'll have to let us know if it works.

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  31. It looks perfect in your room! It's so light and bright. I saw the same rug at Homegoods in brown and remember thinking I wish it was in blue, gray or tan for my family room.

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  32. I agree! Currently struggling with finding the "perfect rug" for our open living room! It's a hard space to figure out the size that's for sure! P.S. My hubby would NEVER let me put lamps next to our TV.

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    1. You know Mary, when I first put them there I was worried about the light, but it turns out I really like them there. I was really surprised. I think they make it easier to watch TV, in a weird way. I liked it so much I put some by the TV in the basement too! ;)

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  33. What an amazing evolution of your room! It rocks! And yes the lighter color is brilliant in that space!!! Well done!

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  34. I agree with it being one of the hardest things to pick for a room. Plus, they're so EFFING expensive!!!!!! I think you hit the jackpot with this one. It looks really, really pretty.

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  35. Your rug looks great! I liked the other rug too but your eye went right to that one and with the new one, your eye travels around the room. Great find.

    Kristi

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  36. To solve the awkward gap in front of the fireplace problem by puttinga small(er) rectangular rug parallel with the fireplace and partially on top of the big rug, e.g. in the bluish tone of the big rug or another matching or neutral hue.

    What did you do with the other rug ? I once read that it's common practice in the U.S.A. to return goods even after a longer period of time ?

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  37. I love the new rug color...much better choice. I've been in model homes shere rugs are turned on the diagonal so it lines up parallel to a corner fireplace. I have to agree that the chunky white coffee table didn't work with the sofa but some sort of table is needed for people sitting there. I think a square upholstered tufted ottoman table with a tray on it would looke great. Or at the very least end tables

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  38. I love that rug! Its amazing how well the rest of the colors in the room flow now.

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  39. The room ties together really well! I have just started reading your blog in the last few weeks and I can't get enough! I really like the tables you have behind your couch (tan with the cute pulls). Where did you find those beauties??

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  40. Can you tell me where your couch/sectional is from and what color it is?

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  41. Can you tell me the paint color on the walls? We are in the process of painting our entire entry level the same color, changing all of the trim from bleached oak to white. We want a neutral color that will still be light in the room...either a beige or grey. Your room looks lovely. Any tips on colors...either beige, grey or greige? Thanks so much...LOVE your style and blog!

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  42. Loooove the new rug! It would go perfectly in my keeping room. Hubby would not be happy if I bought another wool rug, though- we've had two and they both drove me nuts with the shedding. Maybe mine were low-quality, though. I fear I'll never have the opportunity to test that theory.... :P

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  43. Great rug...I also have a corner fireplace...didn't think much about it when I first saw it ...but it is a pain to decorate around like with the end of the rug !

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  44. Now your living room looks like it belongs in a magazine! I love the new rug. I do agree that rug shopping is the biggest pain. You made a great decision though, it really ties the room together.

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  45. I kept scrolling back to make sure it was the same room; and it is. Other than the rug, the differences in the room are subtle. But my eye kept seeing HUGE differences. I thought you changed out the furniture....went back and nope, it's the same,...paint color? The same. etc. I can't think of any recent transformations so dramatic with such minimal changes. You hit the nail on the head when you wrote in your post, "..aaaahhh..." because that's EXACTLY it. The room transforms from commanding my attention to drawing me in with a peacefulness; like everything is right in my world, now that I've seen your room with that rug in it. Wow. This is one for the books. Ah-may-ZING!

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  46. This blue trellis rug is quite pretty i found some trellis rug at rugsville.com.

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  47. Beautiful! It is amazing how much a rug can change a room. I also love the blinds. Would you provide details on those?

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