When the time comes to decorate your space, it’s natural to think about elements like walls, furniture, and lighting.
But anyone who’s ever revamped a room knows how transformative a rug can be. It pulls together seating areas, dampens sound to create a more peaceful space, and adds a level of coziness you can’t get from anything else.
For these reasons, designers often consider rugs the foundation of any room, the piece from which they start and build up. And for those who desire aesthetics and quality, Serena & Lily rugs have quickly become one of the first places those with discerning taste start, as well.
The Role of Rugs in Interior Design
Rugs do more than simply cover the floor: they can define a space, create boundaries in open-floor plans, and bring texture to a room to make it feel more cohesive. For this reason, designers have been known to dub rugs “the fifth wall” due to their power to change the look and feel of a room.
A neutral sofa in the middle of an empty room doesn’t feel particularly inviting, but add a colorful rug and the room looks styled and pulled together.
A rug can also dictate how we use a space. A living room with a soft wool rug in front of the sofa beckons everyone to take off their shoes and relax, while in a dining room, chairs can be pushed in and slid out around a flat-weave option with ease.
A rug can also do more than just play nice with a room’s furniture — it has the ability to support and even highlight a room’s function.
A Distinctive Design Philosophy
What makes Serena & Lily different is their artful union of coastal calm and city chic. Their rug offering captures this alchemy by combining tough and textural jute and sisal with petal soft wool and cool cotton.
Their designs borrow from international techniques, but execute with freshness, meaning they have the elegance of the past and the spark of the now.
The rugs are so practical that they can sail gracefully into any space. A striped rug feels right at home in a sunny guest room, and a supple wool rug takes down the air of the formal dining room. Thanks to their heirloom quality, they hold up in all of life’s moments, creating a tactile and visual story with lasting effect.
How Rugs Transform Everyday Living
Rugs have the power to completely transform a room. Busy patterns draw the eye and act as a focal point, while neutral rugs provide a relaxing backdrop among other decor. Rugs also absorb sound, helping to reduce noise in a room. This is why they are especially popular in rooms with open floor plans.
For busy families with children and pets, rugs are a pivotal piece that helps create different spaces to relax in. A rug adds texture and depth to a space — rugs on top of carpets, throws, and textures all add layers that make rooms seem cozier. The perfect rug does more than just sit there looking pretty. Rugs have the power to completely transform your living space.
Pairing Rugs with Different Styles
The best thing about design today is that anything goes, and layering is part of the fun. An antique wingback finds its home on a bold, graphic rug. A striped rug helps ground a room of mid-century modern furniture. As long as colors and textures mesh, the rug should feel right at home.
- Minimalist interiors: Neutral rugs add depth without clutter.
- Eclectic spaces: Bold patterns tie different furniture styles together.
- Traditional homes: Handwoven wool rugs add warmth and heritage.
- Outdoor areas: Flat-weave rugs extend comfort onto patios.
With the right rug, you don’t need to overhaul your entire décor. Sometimes simply rolling out a new one makes everything else feel refreshed.
Investing in Longevity
A rug is a big investment. Even the most moderately priced, mass-produced rug involves hours of labor to manufacture the fibers and weave the material. The best results come from makers who follow ethical guidelines for work conditions and wages for the workers.
Since any rug you buy will experience wear and tear, and often accidental spills as well, you likely want to ensure that your rug will hold up under pressure… and for as long as possible.
Final Thoughts
Rugs may be an afterthought (what’s underfoot is not usually the first thing on your mind) but they’re the foundation for what’s above. They determine what the room will look like, feel like, and how it will function.
Whether you’re the slipping off your shoes type, the host to your heart’s content type, or the sit quietly and enjoy the stillness type, Serena & Lily rugs are equal parts style and substance.
Heading into a new season and considering changing up a room, consider starting from the bottom up. In a few weeks’ time, you could have a room in your home that looks like it’s been touched by the most beautiful of muses. Wondering how and why, the answer is simple – a rug!