Bedroom rug ideas – 10 ways that will make the room look more luxurious and feel cosier

Every bedroom should feel cosy and relaxing. And one of the ways you can achieve this effect through incorporating and layering soft and comfortable textures from the ground up. Quite literally as a sumptuously soft and tactile bedroom rug idea to cover the floor should be a key part of every bedroom scheme.

But this crucial bedroom idea has so much more to offer than just the feel of cosiness – not that it wouldn’t be enough in itself. Rugs are also the perfect opportunity to inject a bit of colour and pattern into your sleeping space. Not to mention how much bedroom flooring idea elevates the room as an abundance of texture more often than not equals a luxurious look.

So if you, too, are in search of some elevated cosy bedroom ideas, then rugs should be at the top of your list. These are our favourite types to invest in and how to style them for maximum effect.

Bedroom rug ideas

‘Introducing a rug to your bedroom not only provides extra comfort underfoot but adds colour, warmth and texture, contributing to a restful atmosphere,’ confirms Kirsty Barton, brand storytelling manager at Alternative Flooring. And who wouldn’t want a restful atmosphere in their bedroom?

1. Get the size right

Before we even get to the best rug styles to decorate your bedroom with, what you need to do is measure your space to get the right size. And there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to rug size.

‘If you are unsure where to start, consider the 18-inch rule, leave approximately 18 inches of floor space between the walls and the edges of your rug. This guideline is an excellent starting point, especially for enclosed rooms, creating a subtle visual contrast whilst adding texture and dimension to your living space. For traditional interiors, this is a golden rule,’ Kirsty says.

Daniel Prendergast, design director at The Rug Seller, continues with more tips, ‘The size of your bedroom rug should complement the dimensions of the room and the positioning of the furniture. A common guideline is to ensure that the rug is large enough to extend beyond the sides and foot of the bed. For example, in a standard-sized bedroom, a rug that is 8 on 10 feet or 9 on 12 feet is usually ideal. This size allows the rug to cover a significant portion of the floor, providing ample comfort while also framing the bed and anchoring the room’s overall design.’

2. Opt for a soft, shaggy rug

As most bedrooms aim to be cocooning, soothing spaces, why not extend this sentiment to the floor with a rug that’s extremely soft and comforting? Perhaps something like a shaggy rug.

‘Bedrooms tend to be low traffic rooms and are less likely to be exposed to the dust and dirt that can be walked into floor coverings in other areas of a home. With this in mind they are perfect to get experimental for more plush and shaggy piles which will be comforting and warm underfoot. A plush shag or deep-pile rug can add an extra layer of comfort, providing a soft surface to step onto first thing in the morning,’ Daniel says.

3. Position runners on either side of the bed

While an area rug placed underneath the bed and spreading to the sides and front of the bed is the most popular bedroom rug placement, you could also go for matching smaller runner rugs on either side of the bed instead.

‘Another popular solution is to use runners, commonly associated with hallways and in front of patio doors. Runners work extremely well when placed either side of a bed, or in between a dresser and the bed where there is most footfall. A runner can also allow you to be a bit more adventurous with pattern and colour as they cover a smaller surface area,’ Daniel says.

4. Embrace the layered look

It’s long been thought that you should stick to one rug in the bedroom, but that isn’t the case at all. Rug layering is becoming more and more popular, allowing people the chance to play around with multiple textures, colours, and patterns at once. There’s an art to doing this properly, though.

The team at Ruggable comments, ‘This technique can be used to trick the eye into adding depth and dimension to your bedroom. Start with a larger, solid-coloured rug as your base and then place a smaller, patterned or textured rug on top.’

‘This creates a visually appealing contrast that exudes luxury. You can also position the rug slightly under the bed, allowing it to spill gracefully into the room, enhancing the space’s appeal.’

5. Use natural fibres

From jute to wool and cotton, natural fibres have long been associated with bedrooms. These soft and muted textiles bring warmth to your sleeping space, and they benefit from being comfortable underfoot. But what we love most about natural rugs is that they’re incredibly versatile.

Tricia Guild OBE, founder and creative director for Designers Guild, explains, ‘Those who look for plush, minimalist bedroom styles look to natural rugs. They work with bright pops of colour but will also work in a room with a muted colour scheme.’

This means that they can work as the perfect base for a bedroom, no matter whether you want to play around with bedroom colour schemes or keep things more neutral to encourage a zen-like bedtime experience.

6. Make a patterned statement

Bright and bold bedroom decor has been a welcome bedroom trend. Of course, many neutral lovers couldn’t imagine adding patterned bedroom wallpaper or maximalist furniture to their sleeping space, but there may be some among you who still want to make a statement.

And adding a patterned rug into the mix is a great way to do this. Not only can these bold rugs add visual interest and depth to a space, but they can also help you play with perspective. Smaller patterns can make a bedroom look smaller and more intimate, while larger, more spread-out patterns can make a bedroom look more spacious.

Plus, they have the added bonus of putting a smile on your face after a long day.

7. Opt for a scalloped edge

The scalloped rug trend is everywhere right now, and while this soft yet statement rug can work anywhere in the house, we think it’s a great addition to a bedroom.

The wavy edges can add warmth and softness to what can be a boring rectangular or square bedroom, as well as add a sense of whimsy that many people are looking for in their bedrooms.

There are so many different scalloped edge rugs to choose from, too, from natural jute rugs to giant fluffy things that’ll feel so good underfoot.

8. Go plush with Berber

If you want to turn your bedroom into a soft and cosy sanctuary, it’s important that you don’t forget about the floor. And with a Moroccan-inspired Berber rug, you can appreciate the soft and plush pile under your toes while also admiring the tell-tale diamond pattern.

Yes, Berber rugs work extremely well in a home, and so many people choose Berber when looking for the best living room rugs. But their neutral tones can also lend themselves well to people who want the comfort of a rug without making too much of a statement at the same time.

Don’t worry, though, you’ll struggle to find a Berber rug that isn’t absolutely stunning to look at.

9. Switch up your shape 

Bedroom rugs are traditionally rectangular, and this shape works extremely well when they’re placed underneath a bed. But that doesn’t mean that you have to stick to the status quo. More and more people are experimenting with alternative shapes, and these can work perfectly in the bedroom.

From circular rugs to organic shapes that don’t quite have a name, these rugs can add a new dimension to a bedroom while also providing a focal point for the eye. And you don’t just have to stick them under a bed, either.

You could place these rugs at the end of your bed, at the side of your bed, or even by a dressing table for a little extra comfort.

10. Go vintage

Whether you want to extend Second Hand September to make it an all-year-round way of life or you just want to save some money, buying a vintage rug could be a great option for your bedroom. These rugs can offer unique textures and patterns, as well as offering some impressive history. Just make sure you clean the rug carefully before adding them to your home.

Blogger Kirsty Merrett is particularly fond of vintage rugs and has mastered the art of finding the best ones over the years. ‘Personally, I love Facebook marketplace, eBay, local vintage warehouses (the kind where you get multiple dealers under one roof!),’ she says.

Of course, you can also get a distressed, vintage-inspired look from online retailers. They won’t have as much history attached to them, but they’ll still add a rustic and subtle warmth to your bedroom while still allowing you the chance to match your rug to the rest of your bedroom decor.

FAQs

What type of rug is best for a bedroom?

The key difference between choosing a rug for a bedroom over more high-traffic areas such as with your hallway flooring ideas, if you can afford to opt for more high pile and fluffy rugs. Jute rugs are having a moment in terms of trends and will complement Boho bedroom ideas, but our personal preference is for lovely fluffy rugs that feel gloriously luxurious between your toes when you're climbing in or out of bed each day.

Where should a rug be placed in a bedroom?

According to design experts the best position for a rug in a bedroom is under the bed with the nightstands standing on it if the rug is large enough. Of course this will all depend on the size of bedroom rug you can afford. The best sized bedroom rug is one that sits under the bed leaving a small frame of flooring around the edge so the rug doesn't look like an island.

However, if you can only afford a smaller rug our teams top tip is to position it so that it sits under the bottom half of the bed. 'I could only afford a mid-sized Berber rug from ASDA for my bedroom, however I've faked the look of a bigger rug by positioning it so it sits under the bottom bed legs and covering most of the floor that is visible from the door,' says Rebecca Knight, Deputy Digital Editor at Ideal Home.

Have you been inspired to cosy up your bedroom with rugs from now on?