The Big Rug Dilemma

This week I spoke with color consultant Daniela Araya of Statement Wall about my moody nursery, choosing paint colors, picking art and plenty more. We received so many good questions for the live call that we’re planning to host another one next month, and we’re calling them our Unstuck Sessions. We got into questions like:

• Do you have a favorite paint brand and why?

• I painted some of my walls pink and I don’t love the way it looks, should I keep going and paint all of them?

• What do you think about color matching Farrow & Ball colors? Does it work?

• For someone building a room from scratch, what’s your preferred order: Artwork first, then paint, or paint first, then artwork?

• Can you talk about how you select lighting for a space?

You can still catch it here if you missed it:

We didn’t get through all of the questions, so today I’m digging into one that we missed that feels close to my heart (and my wallet).

“What do you recommend I do if I can’t afford a large area rug in the size I know I need, but I still really want a rug in my room?”

Here’s how I’ve handled this exact situation in my own home. I do this every year, actually.

Every year, I save up and invest in one big piece for my home. And I usually buy it on Black Friday, in order to get it at the lowest possible price.

If I were you, this rug would be my piece for the year.

I know that making big purchases for your home can be overwhelming, intimidating, and expensive. That’s why I started this one-big-piece-a-year approach in my home about 12 years ago.

It means that over time, I’m slowly building a collection of fewer, higher quality pieces in my home that I love enough to move with me from this home to the next and the next.

It’s so tempting, easy even, to buy the cute $30 coasters at the antique mall, the $40 candle that smells so good, the $50 handmade mug (you know teacups and saucers are my weakness). Before I know it, I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on small stuff for my home that hasn’t made a meaningful impact on the way the room looks or functions for me. In some cases, these little purchases amount to clutter, and may even end up in the donate pile having collected dust on a shelf.

Instead, I now hold off on these quick-win buys in favor of saving toward my one big piece of the year (a bonus is that this approach also preserves valuable space in my small New York apartment).

And the good news is you’ve already done one of the hardest parts - identifying your one big piece! You know you want a rug, you even know what size you need it to be. Good job!

Next I’d consider about how you need this rug to function for you in this room (is it a high traffic area? Do you have kids or pets that may require spot cleaning? Will you sit or eat on this rug?) All of this will help you filter down the materials, colors and options that will actually work for your lifestyle. Then ask the rug seller you’re considering what they recommend, be very specific!

“I have a cat that vomits on my rug a lot, will this rug’s material stand up to enzymatic cleaners?” I do this all the time for my clients.

Once you find the rug that works for you, I’d search Facebook Marketplace or Apt Deco just to see if anyone happens to be selling one (like this 9x12 Nordic Knots rug for $325, another one, or this one). If not, I’d wait til the Black Friday sales to get the rug on the steepest sale it’ll likely be all year.

Some other routes affordable rug options I’ve personally tried in my own home:

In my Austin studio I put two big Ikea sheepskin rugs (sadly discontinued, they were so good) side by side in my bedroom to cover a very large area without breaking the bank. The high pile totally concealed that it was two rugs. These would be similar. Two 3’x5’ would give you 6’x10’ of 100% wool for less than $400.

This doesn’t work for every scenario (like I wouldn’t use this in a bedroom) but it does work well for many styles and situations! This is what I have in my living room right now while I save to upgrade - told you this question was close to my heart and wallet. You get texture, a subtle pattern, a warm, neutral color, and a natural material for a relatively low cost. And these ones even come in different colors.

By now you may have noticed I keep emphasizing materials. Colors and patterns are nice to look at but when it comes to rugs I really focus on material, even at lower price points. I’ll typically prioritize 100% wool (like this Rugs USA) over something like 100% polyester (like the washable Ruggables). But go with what works for you and your lifestyle.

The good news is we’ve got almost 4 months til Black Friday, so we’ve all got time to plot our one big buy! Or think ahead to next year’s. Yes, this is a slow way to shop. It’s certainly not how trend cycles and consumerism want me to do it. But over time I’m investing in my home in a way that feels internally motivated. Led by my lifestyle. My needs. And my budget. (Not a result of what’s trending, what an influencer told me to buy, or what a brand wants to sell me this season).

Now not every purchase makes sense for Black Friday, like a one-of-a-kind vintage find, something custom or from a small maker. For example my sofa was one of these annual purchases. The Black Friday sale may not apply, but saving up for one big buy per year still does. This is how I got my Akari lamp, my Ikea shelves, my coffee table, and the black chair you can see in the thumbnail below. Just to name a few.

What are you saving up for this year? I’d love to know in the comments.

— Cristina

Ready to make longer term investments in your home?

I offer 1:1 FaceTimes and full-service design, and my most popular service is virtual room design. You can contact me by replying to this email.

And if you’re not ready to work with me just yet, I have a free video series for you and in this episode I share even more resources to build your Black Friday gameplan:

What clients are saying:

“I asked Cristina to maximize my small space and give it multiple functions. And she did exactly that! I loved being able to share my ideas (which weren’t fully formed) and have Cristina conceptualize them for me.”

— Moraa