Add Our Favorite Area Rugs for an Instant Room Refresh (2024)

Our Top Picks

Thick, heavy, and impressively dense, we love the construction of this Bungalow Rose rug. It’s made with wool fibers, but when we put it to the test at home, we were impressed with the material’s soft feet. It felt less scratchy than your typical wool rug (or even blanket) and nicely comfortable underfoot.

We also liked how densely-packed the wool is on this area rug. It doesn’t feel plush, but it does feel wonderfully cushy and comfy to walk on barefoot, making it a great accent piece for hardwood floors. Plus, over the course of our testing, its thickness made the pile perfect for a lot of foot traffic. It sprung right back up into shape after pressure was applied, too.

While we did discover that the area rug’s pile and wool fibers didn’t hold up well to pet claws, and it was prone to shedding, these are pretty common features of any wool rug. Overall, though, it was easy to vacuum, held up well in the face of everyday wear and stains, and added both style and warmth to our home.

^{Pile Height:0.5 inches |Material:Wool, viscose |Size Range:2 x 3 feet to 9 x 12 feet |Shape:Square, rectangle, and round}

If you’re searching for a low-pile area rug, this herringbone one from Dash and Albert is one we really liked in our testing. In our home, the thinner nature of the rug allowed it to lay perfectly flat, and yet it still offered a decent amount of underfoot comfort atop our floors.

We particularly like that this cotton rug is designed to be reversible, which gives you a choice in how it’s laid out and which side you prefer to have facing up. On either side, the soft nature of the cotton fibers made it inviting, and it held up well to typical foot traffic. We would, however, recommend using a grippy rug pad underneath, as the cotton did make for a slippery surface on hardwood floors.

Just note that the colors do vary quite a bit from what you see online. While the rug appeared navy and cream in retailer photos, it looked more beige in-person when we unrolled it.

^{Pile Height:0.25 inches |Material:Cotton |Size Range:2 x 3 feet to 10 x 14 feet |Shape:Rectangle}

Need an area rug that can withstand a lot of traffic or extra-messy pets and kids? A synthetic performance rug like this one from House of Hampton is the perfect choice. Made with polypropylene fibers for extra durability, this rug can withstand just about everything you throw its way.

With high-pile fibers and a versatile, eye-catching geometric pattern, this rug looks like any cotton or wool option. But its 1.5-inch thick fibers feel cushiony underfoot, and they can withstand frequent foot traffic in your entryway, hallway, or any other area at home. When we tested this rug, we particularly liked how well it handled traffic and found it nicely pleasant to walk on barefoot.

However, it’s worth noting that we did find it difficult to clean. While it’s great for walking on, its long fibers make it a bit tricky to vacuum; you’ll need to shake it out to get rid of crumbs, fur, and other debris.

^{Pile Height:2 inches |Material:Polypropylene |Size Range:2 feet 3 inches x 8 feet to 11 x 15 feet |Shape:Rectangle, square, and round}

With a gorgeous floral pattern and dark-hued background that can expertly hide dirt and potential stains, we found the Provence Joliette Rug from Rifle Paper Co. to be a standout option in our testing. When we laid out this rug, we liked its thin profile and low pile. Made with synthetic materials, it’s still soft underfoot.

We also liked how the pile height and surface texture of this area rug varied a bit according to the pattern. It offered some visually interesting details, but it was still perfectly pleasant to walk atop.

In terms of durability, we definitely found this rug held up to frequent traffic, and it even survived being clawed at with a sharp-bristled brush (so we think it would handle pets’ claws, too.) We also found that stains and small debris like coffee grounds were a breeze to clean up, making it a great pick for messier or more frequently used rooms at home.

^{Pile Height:0.13 inches |Material:Polypropylene, polyester |Size Range:2 feet 6 inches x 4 feet to 9 x 12 feet |Shape:Rectangle}

Featuring a classic and versatile diamond trellis pattern and a wonderfully dense wool pile, we like this area rug from Rugs USA for any high-traffic area. When we tested this rug, we liked the comfort it offered as well as the true colors that appeared identical in person to what we browsed online.

While the rug didn’t initially lay flat on the floor when we rolled it out (one corner kept curling up), we did find it added a nice layer of cushioning underfoot. We also liked its value, as it’s a quality rug with solid durability at a reasonable price.

Though it’s designed as a nursery rug, we think it would perform well anywhere in your house. Its densely-packed fibers hold up well to foot traffic, and it handles everyday care like vacuuming like a champ.

^{Pile Height:0.45 inches |Material:Wool |Size Range:2 feet 6 inches x 8 feet to 8 feet 6 inches x 11 feet 6 inches |Shape:Rectangle and round}

Thick, soft, and impressively heavy, Pottery Barn’s Chunky Knit Sweater Performance Rug impressed us when we rolled it out at home. Since it’s designed for both indoor and outdoor use, we put this area rug to the test in both environments. We liked how much cushioning it provided underfoot, and we found it could even pad your feet against small rocks.

However, we think this rug would make a particularly good addition to indoor spaces. Its thickness and durability offer great advantages in high-traffic areas. And it did have some drawbacks when used outdoors; sticks, leaves, and other outdoor debris got caught in the fibers and were difficult to remove.

Indoors, however, we think it holds up well to everyday wear. We also really liked its strong grip, which ensures you don’t have to worry about curling corners or a slipping rug that might cause tripping.

^{Pile Height:0.5 inches |Material:Wool, viscose, cotton |Size Range:4 x 6 feet to 12 x 18 feet |Shape:Rectangle, square, and round}

If your neutral-colored furniture set needs a bit of liveliness, consider a bright, geometric rug like this pick from Rugs.com. Hues of orange, blue, and yellow come together on a beige canvas to pull attention and interest to the center of your living room, while the tassels on both sides add a bohemian, playful element. This design is also available as a runner for empty hallways and is designed to be pet-friendly and easy to clean.

^{Pile Height:0.90 inches |Material:Polyester |Size Range:2 x 3 feet to 9 x 12 feet |Shape:Rectangle}

It’s particularly important to choose a stain-resistant rug in dining areas and highly-trafficked rooms. A synthetic indoor/outdoor rug like this one is a great choice for these spots since it's durable and easy to care for.

This geometric, handwoven rug is fade-, stain-, weather-, and mildew-resistant. Plus, the pattern helps mask any stubborn spots that may linger after cleaning. Use it in your kitchen, dining room, entryway, patio, covered porch, or three-season room. Customers give this rug high marks for its affordable price, soft texture (even on bare feet), and durability.

^{Pile Height:0.25 inches |Material:Polypropylene |Size Range:2 x 3 feet to 12 x 16 feet |Shape:Rectangle}

If you love the look of a classic sheepskin rug but are worried about the upkeep, we suggest opting for the Ashler Faux Fur Rug. Made with faux sheepskin and a suede non-slip backing, this high-pile rug laid perfectly flat the first time we rolled it out at home, and we were impressed at how little it shed during its first weeks of use.

We were even more impressed by the look and feel of the rug in person. While the rug looks nice online, we found it appeared even loftier and felt silky soft to the touch, making it even more luxurious and cozy. And when we put it through wear and tear, we discovered it handled pet claws and foot traffic quite well, losing fewer fibers than we expected.

The non-slip backing did fail us slightly, as the area rug did move a bit with certain motions. However, we think this is something you can easily remedy with a gripper pad placed underneath.

^{Pile Height:2.8 inches |Material:Polypropylene |Size Range:2 x 2.9 feet to 6 x 9 feet |Shape:Varies}

Thick and wonderfully plush underfoot, we loved IKEA’s VEDBÄK Rug when we tested it at home. Made with synthetic fibers, it provides a consistent and soft feel across its surface, and we love the classic pattern decorating the surface of this blue and cream rug. It’s a great choice for many different decor styles and aesthetics, and your bare feet will be thrilled anywhere it’s placed.

We were also impressed with how well this value-rich rug held up to pet claws. It didn’t lose any fibers or change in quality, suggesting it would be a great fit in any home with pets who might be tough on rugs or furniture. And we also liked how durable the pile was after six months of wear, too.

Our only pain point? The rug didn’t lay perfectly flat and had some ripples initially, which had to work their way out over time as it was walked on. Ultimately, though, it remained as soft and high-quality after six months as it did the day it arrived at our door.

^{Pile Height:0.5 inches |Material:Polypropylene |Size Range:4 feet 4 inches x 6 feet 5 inches to 6 feet 7 inches x 9 feet 10 inches |Shape:Rectangle}

This classic area rug has a bohemian feel that blends seamlessly with any living room decor. It has a simple diamond motif that looks gorgeous yet understated in eight attractive colors. The synthetic material and low pile won't trap dirt or fade over time, so it's perfect for high-traffic areas of your home.

It's machine-woven, so the fibers won't stain or shed. Be sure to buy a rug pad as well, so it will stay put and won't slip under your feet. To keep it clean, the brand recommends vacuuming regularly and spot cleaning as needed.

^{Pile Height:0.31 inches |Material:Polypropylene |Size Range:2 x 3 feet to 9 x 12 feet |Shape:Rectangle, square, oval, and round}

You might not think synthetic rug fibers and a classic shag area rug go together, but we loved how AllModern’s Walker Rug delivered on softness, coziness, and all-around performance. We found the shag and high pile felt consistent with other shag rugs we’ve tested, and we loved how soft and thick it felt to walk on.

While there is no non-slip backing on this rug (and it definitely slides around, so don’t skip the pad!), we found it held up to foot traffic decently well. It was just as soft and inviting after six months of use as it was on day one of our testing, and we really liked the amount of comfort it added to our hardwood floors.

We were also happy to discover that regular care was easy; the thickness of this shag area rug was enough to keep it in place even during vacuuming, and its quality never wavered with care.

^{Pile Height:1.3 inches |Material:Polypropylene |Size Range:2 feet 7 inches x 8 feet to 8 feet 9 inches x 12 feet |Shape:Rectangle, square, and round}

Made in Turkey, this highly rated rug resists stains, fading, and moisture, making it a no-brainer option for living rooms and bedrooms. Plus, the attractive design is available in tons of sizes and colors to fit your space perfectly. We're partial to the circular option for unique living room setups for office nooks. Ophelia & Co uses OEKO-Tex-certified materials, so you can ensure your rug is free from harmful toxins and chemicals. While it's not machine-washable, it's built to be extremely durable, so bring on kids, pets, and any other messes you can imagine.

^{Pile Height:0.375 inches |Material:Polypropylene, jute, sisal |Size Range:2 feet 6 inches x 4 feet to 12 x 18 feet |Shape:Rectangle, square, and round}

With a low pile and thin profile that make it easy to roll up and move, we really liked AllModern’s Ovid Rug in a home with pets. This area rug, which features eye-catching Oriental styling and vibrant colors, was a standout in how it handled fur. The low pile made it easy to vacuum, and when placed in a hallway that sees decent foot traffic, maintained its quality over time.

However, we did find that after six months of use, stains and spots were a bit tricky to remove, so you may need to enlist the help of professional cleaners to get it looking fresh after dirt develops. That’s pretty common with large area rugs, so we weren’t too surprised by this slight drawback.

^{Pile Height:0.13 inches |Material:Viscose |Size Range:3 feet 11 inches x 5 feet 7 inches to 7 feet 10 inches x 10 feet 9 inches |Shape:Rectangle}

Washable area rugs are a particularly great addition to homes with a lot of traffic and frequent messes—or, frankly, any home that wants an easy-care rug! We love Ruggable’s Gradasi Premium Rug, which is made with synthetic fibers and a polyurethane water-resistant barrier to keep liquids off your floors.

Featuring a rug cover and a grippy, non-slip rug pad, Ruggable’s area rug can be tossed in the wash for an easy cleanup any time spills, stains, or general spots of dirt accumulate. Plus, we loved how easy it was to get both the pad and the rug to lay flat at home; first-time setup and post-wash were both simple to accomplish.

While we did notice some pilling after six months of testing, this area rug continued to impress us with its cushioned underfoot feel, its durability, and its overall appearance with regular washing.

^{Pile Height:2 millimeter (flatwoven) or 7 millimeter (tufted) |Material:Polyester, polyurethane |Size Range:2 x 3 feet to 9 x 12 feet |Shape:Rectangle and round}

With an attractive ombre pattern and a soft, inviting texture underfoot, we really liked Revival’s Dawn Rug when we tested it at home. It provides a nice pop of color wherever it’s placed, but it’s still subtle enough to suit a variety of decor styles.

Featuring wool and cotton fibers, we were immediately impressed by the density of the rug. We loved that it laid out completely flat as soon as we rolled it out, and it feels high-quality in every aspect. While it does shed (a detail common to most wool rugs, we’ve found in our testing), that shedding should diminish over time.

We also liked how easy the rug was to clean. While wool rugs can vary quite a bit in how they handle spills, stains, and general dirt, we found Revival’s area rug was both easy to spot clean and clean with a handheld carpet cleaner. We did struggle a bit with pet hair since the rug’s pile is so thick, but a handy pet hair rake did the trick for more thorough cleaning.

^{Pile Height:0.33 inches |Material:Wool |Size Range:4 x 6 feet to 10 x 14 feet; custom sizes also available |Shape:Rectangle}

If you’re looking for an area rug that mimics the feel and thickness of traditional carpet, Safavieh’s Milan Shag Rug is a great option. It’s less traditional shag rug and more like inviting carpeting underfoot, providing some cushioning and comfort to hardwood floors.

While this isn’t the most style-forward area rug on our list, it does do a great job at warming up a room, both stylistically and physically. We loved the texture and the pile height of the rug, and its color choices offer plenty of versatility so you can add it to any room. After months of testing, we found it held up nicely well to foot traffic, too, handling wear from young kids and adults well without looking worn.

^{Pile Height:2 inches |Material:Polypropylene |Size Range:2 x 4 feet to 11 x 16 feet |Shape:Rectangle, square, and round}

With a velvety soft feel and an eye-catching waterfall-like pattern that’s both modern and slightly vintage, this West Elm washable rug is a great fit for both contemporary and mid-century modern aesthetics. We love how it feels to the touch, and we also found its durability in the face of everything from coffee stains to clawing from pets to be top-tier.

The non-slip backing on this area rug also impressed us. We couldn’t get the rug to move at all, making it a standout option if you’re worried about curling edges or a potentially slipping rug underfoot. It’s not the thickest option, but we liked that it offered enough weight and pile to still feel substantial and plush.

We continued to test this washable area rug for six months, while it sat in a very high-traffic location (right inside our front door), and we were impressed with how well it washed and wore. It was easy to clean regularly, and it handled everything from pet accidents to human foot traffic without issue. Best of all, it fit into our washing machine, so keeping this rug looking great was a total breeze.

^{Pile Height:0.2 inches |Material:Recycled polyester |Size Range:2 x 3 feet to 8 x 10 feet |Shape:Rectangle}

FAQ

• How do you clean an area rug?

  To start, area rugs should be vacuumed at least once a week. That will make it easier to clean your rug when it comes time, because there will be less dirt and grime buried deep within the rug fibers. An area rug should be deep-cleaned at least twice a year and more often if it's in an area with heavy foot traffic.

  If your area rug is stained, you'll want to spot-clean it immediately. To spot-clean, try using a solution of one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid with two cups of warm water. When cleaning the entire rug, you can use carpet shampoo on most area rugs, but you'll want to check and see whether you need to dilute it first before using it. You can apply the shampoo to your rug with a sponge mop or soft-bristled brush and then rinse it thoroughly.

• How big should an area rug be?

  Choosing the right-sized area rug for your home will depend on preference and where you'd like it to go. As a good rule of thumb, your rug should be at least six inches, but no more than two feet away from a room's walls. Typical living room-sized area rugs are 8 x 10 and 10 x 12. You'll also want to leave around 30 to 36 inches of space between the rug and any large pieces of furniture in your space.

• How do you get an area rug to stay flat?

  If you're having trouble getting your area rug to lay flat, there are a few things you can do. You can purchase a non skid pad which is specifically designed to go under an area rug. This will help keep the floor underneath your rug from getting damaged and keeps your area rug from sliding around when walked on. If you're looking for a budget-friendly solution, you can try rug anchors or adhesives that stick underneath the corners of your area rug to keep it firmly in place.

• How do you place an area rug in a living room?

  Follow these few steps to place an area rug in your living room perfectly. Start by measuring your living room. The majority of area rugs come in either 8 x 10 or 9 x 12, though there are larger and smaller sizes. Then, consider layering more expensive, smaller rugs on top of cheaper, larger ones to save money. Finally, determine how to place the legs of your furniture. From the classic all-legs-on style to the rule-bending float choice, every living room is unique and may favor one over the others.