How to Style a Living Room Around a Statement Rug

A statement rug changes the order in which a living room is built. Instead of starting with the sofa, the rug becomes the brief, and every other piece in the room negotiates around it. This article walks through how to style a UK living room around a bold rug without the space feeling cluttered or chaotic. We cover why the rug should be laid before any furniture decisions are made, how to choose an upholstery shade that supports rather than competes, why coffee tables should turn down their volume when a rug speaks, and how to size the rug to the seating rather than the floor. The piece also looks at echoing one colour from the rug elsewhere, keeping the floor around it calm, and layering lighting to reveal pattern in different ways. Build the room slowly and let the rug lead....