Layering Rugs

Layering rugs is an old idea. In many homes, across many cultures, rugs have been laid over one another for warmth, for comfort, for display or simply because there were more rugs than floor. In a contemporary interior, layering is a way to add depth and texture, to solve a practical problem, or to bring a small, beloved piece into a room that needs something larger.

Done well, a layered arrangement feels relaxed and considered at once. Done carelessly, it can look cluttered. The difference usually lies in a few simple principles.

Why layer?

There are several good reasons.

• Scale. You may own a rug you love that is too small for the room. Placing it over a larger, quieter base rug gives it the presence it needs.
• Texture. A flat, natural base under a soft pile rug creates contrast that neither piece achieves alone.
• Definition. In an open-plan space, a layered pair can mark a particular zone, such as a reading corner or a seating group, within a larger area.
• Practicality. A durable, inexpensive base can protect the floor and take the wear at the edges, while the upper rug carries the design.
• Seasonality. A heavier wool rug can be laid over a light flatweave in cooler months, and lifted away when the weather warms.

Start with the base

The lower rug does the quiet work. It should be larger, flatter and calmer than the rug placed on top of it. Natural fibres and flatweaves are ideal: jute, sisal-like weaves, plain wool flatweaves or a simple striped dhurrie. A low profile matters, because a thick base under a thick top rug creates an uncomfortable, unstable surface and a trip hazard at the edges.

Size the base rug as you would a single rug for the room, following the usual guidance on leaving a margin of floor around it and allowing seating to rest on it.

Choose the top layer

The upper rug is where character comes in. It might be a vintage piece, a finely patterned hand-knotted rug, a small silk rug or a hide-like texture. It should be noticeably smaller than the base, typically leaving a generous band of the lower rug visible on all sides. A rule of thumb is to leave at least 30 cm of the base showing around the top rug, though the proportions will depend on the room.

Placement need not be perfectly centred. A top rug set at a slight angle, or offset towards a fireplace or window, can feel natural and unforced. What matters is that the arrangement looks intended.

The lower rug should be content to be background. The upper rug should have something to say.

Pairing colour and pattern

The most reliable approach is contrast in one quality and harmony in another.

• Plain under pattern. A plain or tonal base beneath a patterned top rug is the easiest combination, and almost always works.
• Pattern under plain. A striped dhurrie beneath a plain, deep-pile rug can be striking, provided the stripes are simple.
• Shared colour. If both rugs are patterned, let them share a colour. A thread of indigo or rust running through both will tie them together.
• Different scales. Two patterns of similar scale compete. A fine pattern over a broad stripe, or a large medallion over a small grid, sits more comfortably.

Keep the total number of layers to two in most rooms. Three can work in a deliberately eclectic interior, but it is harder to make feel calm.

Texture and pile

Contrast in texture is the most satisfying part of layering. A coarse, golden jute base under a soft, low-pile wool rug. A crisp cotton flatweave under a shaggy, hand-spun piece. A matte wool field under the sheen of silk.

Pay attention to pile height. A low-pile or flat base with a medium-pile top is comfortable and stable. A very high-pile top rug may need to be placed where it will not be walked across constantly.

Practical points

• Grip. Use a rug pad under the base, and consider a thin non-slip layer between the two rugs if the upper one tends to move.
• Edges. Check that the edges of both rugs lie flat. A curled corner on a layered arrangement is more likely to catch a foot.
• Cleaning. Vacuum both rugs separately from time to time. Dust collects where they overlap.
• Wear. Rotate both rugs periodically, since the area covered by the top rug will be protected while the exposed border takes more wear.

Where layering works best

Living rooms and bedrooms are the natural home for layered rugs. They also work well in studies and reading corners, and on verandahs where a durable flatweave can carry a softer rug for the season. Dining rooms and busy hallways are less suitable, since chairs and heavy traffic tend to disturb the upper layer.

Layering is not a rule to be followed but an option to be used. When a single rug does everything a room needs, leave it alone. When a room needs something more, a second, quieter rug beneath the first may be the answer.