It can be difficult to choose a rug that’s just right for your space, especially when there are so many amazing options! And sometimes, there are questions you need answered before you can take the plunge. To help make the hunt a bit easier, we recently asked our community if they had any questions for Lauren Liess, the interior designer, author, and collaborator behind the exclusive collection. Many of you responded with a resounding “YES”–along with some great questions for Lauren! Keep scrolling to see her answers and get set to refresh your space with her recommendations.
Q: We’re designing an Airbnb bunk room. Would love to know your favorite go-to rug style!
A: “I’d go with something that will hide what life in an Airbnb bunk room will throw at it. Some cheerful favorites of mine are the Romy Striped Indoor-Outdoor Rug, the Myrtle Washable Vintage Rug, and the Lennox Medallion Tassel Rug. The Sycamore Striped Rug or the Taproot Easy-Jute Washable Striped Rug will add earthy charm and hide mishaps well, too.”
Q: How do you choose a rug to go over the existing carpet?
A: “Pick a rug that really contrasts with the existing wall-to-wall carpet. For example, if you have a beige carpet, choose a rug with pattern and some color.”
Q: How to decide on rug size?
A: “Start with the dimensions of your room. If it’s a small room, your rug should be 3” to 12” away from the walls. If it’s a medium-sized room, it should be 12” to 24” away. And in a large room, it should be 24” to 36” away. Try to get all the legs of your furniture on the rug, if possible. If not, try to get at least the front two legs and as much of the rest of the piece as you can on it. I see rooms with rugs that are too small all the time, so when in doubt, go bigger–it actually increases the visual space in the room.”
Q: What are some rug combo ideas for layering?
A: “I love to layer using a natural fiber rug on the bottom and a patterned rug on top. Some of my favorite combinations are the Juniper Jute Tiled Rug with the Yarrow Cotton Striped Rug, the Helga Jute Rug with the Myrtle Washable Vintage Rug, and the Oak Sisal Rug with the Lennox Medallion Tassel Rug.”
Q: What are your favorite pet-friendly rugs?
A: “All of our machine washable and indoor-outdoor rugs are amazing for pets. Some of my favorites are the Jessamine Washable Geometric Rug, the Bayberry Vintage Washable Rug, the Myrtle Washable Vintage Rug, and the Chicory Easy-Jute Washable Arrow Rug.”
Q: What’s the best way to clean a natural fiber rug?
A: “It depends on the fiber itself. The most common natural fiber rugs are made of jute, seagrass, and sisal. For jute and seagrass, I use a bowl of warm water with a tiny bit of dish soap in it to spot clean. Blot and make sure to elevate the rug once it’s wet, then put a fan on it if possible. Sisal is trickier because it can get water stains easily; however, I would still use the same method. If there’s a water stain when you’re done, dampen the entire rug to get rid of it.”
