Decorating With Horizontally & Vertically Striped Rugs

Decorating With Stripes

• Striped rugs can set the mood for a room. Wide stripes, such as bright blue, red or yellow on white, work well with nautical themes and create an upbeat mood. Rugs with subtle stripes in natural dyes have an understated effect. Narrow stripes in earth tones offer a camouflage effect for entryways or family rooms. Horizontal stripes in soft or neutral colors have a calming effect, creating a restful atmosphere for a bedroom. Brightly colored vertical stripes offer an energetic look suitable for a home office, playroom or sun room.

Area Rugs

• Area rug shapes include square, rectangle and round. Striped area rugs set off living areas in your home. A striped rug that fits the area you want to define, such as a rug large enough to fit under the dining room table with the chairs pulled out, brings the room together. A rug with horizontal stripes laid parallel to a sofa can help to make a small living room appear larger. The striped rug's shape can echo or contrast with the seating area's shape. A square or round rug works well under a round table. A long rectangular rug works well to define a seating area with a large sectional sofa.

Striped Runners

• Runners muffle footsteps, protect floors and carpeting from wear, and can bring together the colors of furniture and window treatments. Alternating runners with horizontal and vertical stripes adds dimension to a long hallway or sets off a walkway for a large room, such as great room or loft. Striped runners can also disguise damaged or worn floors or carpet in high traffic areas. Deep colors such as stripes in dark green, blue and red, or earth colors such as slate, brown, rust and gold, camouflage soiling. Vertical stripes on a runner can make a room look longer, and stripes running horizontally create an illusion of greater width, such as in a narrow hallway.

Throw Rugs

• Striped throw rugs can play up the colors in the kitchen, bathroom or entry. Multiple striped throw rugs can create a patchwork of horizontal and vertical stripes to decorate an entire room, such as a den, sun room, bedroom or kids' room.

  Nonslip rug pads or double-stick carpet tape can help to reduce the tripping hazard of edges curling up or throw rugs skidding. It's safest to avoid throw rugs in households with seniors or mobility-impaired persons to reduce the risk of falls.