Where I buy affordable rugs
And the New England homes fueling my summer aesthetic.
As you may remember, I’m on a mission to make my new apartment look as luxurious as possible on a shoestring budget. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I’m doing a pretty good job. My best purchases so far include brown boucle curtains from H&M Home, a $10 IKEA lantern, and a side table from Wayfair that fills the awkward gap between my bathroom’s vanity and toilet (psst: some of my top tactics are totally free). As I continue slowly chipping away at my punch list, I’ve come across even more cost-effective ideas. This time, let’s talk floors. —Lydia Geisel, home editor
All My Favorite: Affordable Rugs
You know how the right artwork levels up a room? The same goes for rugs. Jute, flatweave, shag—it’s not really the style or material you go with, but rather the size. Your area rug needs to fill the room. The problem I’ve always found is that anything larger than a 5’x7’ will have you spending upward of $600. I’ve spent a lot of time on the Internet and talking with designers in order to compile a list of places with chic rugs at won’t-break-the-bank price points—here’s the lowdown.
The very first rug I ever bought for my own space was this Novogratz-designed jute for $180 (!) and I have zero regrets.
You likely know Loloi, but have you met its new sister brand, Joon Loloi? It’s already collaborated with the likes of Heidi Caillier and Lone Fox Home, and the 6’x9’ sizes start as low as $209.
Out of all the washable rugs I’ve seen, nothing compares to the texture of Lorena Canals’s selection.
This wool option from Quince is under $350 for a 5’x8’ and lays the groundwork for cozy nights, just like its popular bedding.
This Rugs USA runner made my entryway look put-together before there was any furniture in it. I bought the 12-foot version.
I can thank The Brownstone Boys for putting NuStory on my radar. The seasoned renovators are dropping a collection with the brand on June 11 (mark your calendars!) that’s inspired by the historic Brooklyn homes they fix up.
I’m planning on scooping up this graphic flatweave from IKEA’s revamped Stockholm collection for my guest bedroom, where I’m leaning into a folksy, Craftsman look.
I’ve heard great things from designers about Turkish rugs on Etsy. After spotting this chartreuse Oushak for $345, I became a believer.
Free Advice
The more rugs, the merrier: they feel good on your feet, designate different living zones in an open space, and (if you’re an apartment-dweller like me) absorb noise so you don’t bug your neighbors. It’s a no-brainer to put a rug in your living room and bedroom, but add one in an unexpected spot—my top suggestions below—and it can really elevate your home.
Go Big in a Bathroom
Bath mats are handy for when you’re hopping out of the shower but what about all the other times you’re walking on cold tile? I bought this basic IKEA rug to add character to my builder-grade space, though I am secretly hunting for an antique option similar to what Blanc Marine Intérieurs included in the above project.
Put a Runner in the Kitchen
If there is a place to embrace washable rugs, it’s in your cooking space. My Loloi one does not disappoint and, after applying double-sided carpet adhesive, it never slides around in the heat of meal prep.
Hang a Rug on the Wall
One of the standouts in the Lone Fox Home x Joon Loloi collection is a tapestry-like rug that—with full encouragement from designer Drew Michael Scott—you can absolutely display on the wall as if it were a large-scale painting.
Side Notes
I’ll be spending a good chunk of next month in New England shuffling between vacation rentals with family. I’m looking forward to beach days and lobster rolls, but it’s the house peeping that I’m most excited for. That got me thinking about my all-time favorite home tours in the area…
Architect Gil Shafer and designer Courtnay Daniels’s A-frame house in Maine inspires me year-round, but the Seapearl white walls and quirky doorstops scream East Coast summer.
When Jeremiah Brent and Athena Calderone teamed up on this Rhode Island house, they proved a space can still feel coastal without loads of anchors and oars.
I would voluntarily sleep in any of the twin beds in this Nina Farmer–designed New Hampshire lake house—they’re that charming.
I’ve got a pile of books I’m hoping to get through by September, which would be really easy to do if I had a library like the one in Giancarlo Valle’s Connecticut home (above).
Yawn.