The secret to Angela Scanlon's cohesive dining room boils down to one clever design trick, say interior experts
And it's easy to recreate

Angela Scanlon is easily our go-to girl when we need bold and whimsy interior inspiration, so you can only imagine how pleased we were when we spotted that she had taken to Instagram to share a stunning, cosy corner of her dining room.
Embracing all things warm, rustic, and slightly more eclectic, Angela's taste in home furnishings and design has always been something we've resonated with – and the presenter referencing the trending 'mob wife' aesthetic in a recent post is proof that she's certainly in the know of the latest home decor trends. Therefore, it's no surprise she's nailed this key design trick: using rugs to zone an open-plan space.
Commenting on using rugs to your advantage when considering home design, Lucy Mather, interiors expert at Arighi Bianchi says, 'Rugs offer a multitude of benefits beyond adding colour, texture, and decoration. They serve as practical and aesthetic tools for effectively zoning areas within a home.'
A post shared by ANGELA SCANLON (@angelascanlon)
A photo posted by on
'Using rugs to zone areas of your home can offer several benefits, playing a key role in creating a cohesive and stylish look,' begins Cassandra Leisz, creative director at Ruggable. 'Rugs can visually separate and define different areas within a room, such as a seating area in a living room or a dining area in an open-plan layout.'
This creates distinctive zones for different activities in your home, bringing purpose and organisation to a room without structural dividers. Explaining further, Daniel Prendergast, design director at The Rug Seller says, 'They act as visual cues that delineate different areas within a room, helping to define separate functional zones without the need for physical barriers.'
'By placing rugs under furniture groupings or within specific areas, you can clearly define spaces for various activities such as dining, lounging, or working,' he adds. In this case, Angela has shown how she uses this corner in her dining room for relaxing, sipping your daily cup of joe or quiet activities like reading.
Better yet, if you size your rug generously and place it under furniture just as Angela has, it's one of the simplest ways to make your dining room look more expensive. Or, any room for that matter. Not to mention, it's a surefire way to instantly add a touch of cosiness and make a space feel inviting – even more so if you opt for a warmer dining room colour scheme like Angela's.
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
When zoning with rugs, Cassandra's biggest tip is to incorporate rugs of different textures, patterns, and colours to add visual interest to your interior. 'In particular, an oversized rug can make a bold statement and act as a focal point in the room, drawing attention to itself and tying together the overall design scheme.'
Therefore, if you're keen on snapping up a new oversized rug to zone a room in your home, here are some of our top picks to bring into your space to emulate Angela's coveted look.
Shop rugs
The rich, varied tones give off a dark and moody vibe, allowing you to tap into the chic hotel trend by emulating a city boutique.
With a traditional pattern, this oriental style, multicoloured rug combines soft colours like dusty pink, blue and rust orange to go effortlessly into any boho living room idea.
This vintage rug fits effortlessly into any interior style with its stylish patinated and antique effects. Its sanded patterns blend in with both classic and ultra-contemporary settings.
Featuring a brightly coloured design, this Jonathan Y rug from Amazon will instantly update any zone in your home and tone in with most colour schemes to boot.
So, whether you're looking to make a statement with bright colours, introduce new patterns, complement existing textures in a room, or enhance a specific zone of the room, Johanna Constantinou, trends expert at Tapi Carpets & Floors assures that your choice of rug can help achieve your preferred look.
'For example, if you have an open plan kitchen and dining area, then placing a brightly coloured, patterned rug under the dining table as Angela has done can help you separate the dining space from the rest of the kitchen, creating a sense of purpose and giving character to the specific zone without looking clustered,' she continues.
We'll be following the presenter's lead for our springtime home decor refreshes.
Jullia was Ideal Home’s Junior Writer from 2022-2024 and the Ideal Home Certified Expert in Training on Vacuums having spent over 60 hours testing different models. She’s always loved all things homes and interiors, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Nottingham where her love for writing blossomed following her internship at ArchDaily. Now focused on home tech and cleaning, Jullia works on writing features and explainers to help people make the most of their home appliance investments, putting the newest launches through their paces. When she isn’t writing, she loves exploring the city, coffee shop hopping, and losing hours to a cosy game or book.
-
It’s normally impossible to find a Dyson vacuum for under £250 — but QVC has slashed the price of their bestselling models for a limited time
Run don’t walk to pick up the brand’s bestselling model for under £230 before it sells out
By Lauren Bradbury
-
How to remove algae from a fence — 4 methods that will banish the green and prevent wood rot
You don’t have to replace a fence if it’s covered in algae. Here's what to do…
By Kayleigh Dray
-
I wish I'd known about these 4 things before I bought my Le Creuset – here's how you can learn from my mistakes
Here's how to make sure your Le Creuset will still be your most-used pan in a decade
By Molly Cleary