'R' for Rugs Living Room

Pink Rugs: The Choice of Design Bloggers

Wood Coffee Table in the Living Room

Can I make that sweeping generalization in the title? Probably not, but I do love having a pink rug in my living room. (Although those chevrons have been done to death. It was not so when I bought my rug in 2008!)

I love this space from Holly Becker of Decor8, with its pink overdye rug. The photo appeared in her book, Decorate Workshop.

Holly Becker's Home

And Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy has a hot pink rug, too. This was his living room, featured in Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces.

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan's Home

You see what I mean about design bloggers and pink rugs? Maybe we’re an odd bunch, but I love the look.

I just wish I’d known better than to choose cotton for a busy living room in a house with two young kids, a dog, and three cats — though in my defense, we didn’t have children at the time. I’ve been looking at wool rugs for a possible replacement (maybe?), and I keep coming back to pink. Here are some of my favorites.

Pink Rugs

  1. Madeline Weinrib Zigzag Rug
    cotton, available at ABC Carpet & Home
    This is my rug. It can be ordered in custom colors, but when I came across it in shades of pink, I had to buy it. I would still recommend it, but for a room with less foot traffic.

  2. Dippy Pink Rug by Susan Sharp
    wool, from The Rug Company
    Gorgeous, and less in-your-face ombré as it appears on screen (as seen in Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan’s home, above, and repurposed in his apartment). It’s expensive though.

  3. Preppy Pastel Pink Rug
    wool, from The Land of Nod
    The color looks more vibrant than pastel to me. The price is right, but the solid color is a bit plain.

  4. Overdye Magenta Rug
    wool, from Rugs USA
    I like that the underlying pattern is less obvious than in some overdyed rugs. Less trendy. I would love this rug in my living room. Think it would work with my floral chair?

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  • Danielle
    April 8, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    We have a busy house hold also with cats, dogs and kids. I can relate to making mistakes with floor coverings over the years not holding up. The pink is awesome and I would love to see them paired with your colorful chair and floors. What worked for us were the flor carpet squares. I created patterns and had fun with them and picked the high traffic ones. They have held up so nicely and I still love them! Everyone always compliments them.

    • Making it Lovely
      April 8, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      I have FLOR in my dining room. You’re right — they do hold up well, as long as you choose the appropriate style.

  • Sarah, Live The Life You Dream About
    April 8, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    Nicole, the four you’ve featured are beautiful. I’m a pink rug fan!

  • Amanda
    April 8, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    Rugsusa.com has some pretty good pink rug choices and a lot of them are currently 50% off with free shipping. We just got a rug from there and was quite pleased with the quality of the rug.

    • Making it Lovely
      April 8, 2013 at 1:46 pm

      Yep. That’s where the fourth one that I showed is from, and it’s on sale right now for half-off.

  • Cristalia
    April 8, 2013 at 1:41 pm

    I’m obsessed with pink carpets!!! Lately I keep seeing them everywhere. Tara Styles shows a really nice one in her YouTube yoga videos – I think it’s ABC Carpet & Home.

  • Lexi M
    April 8, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    I was going to say the same thing as Amanda above. I have bought all our rugs from Rugsusa.com and have been very pleases with the quality and price. I am currently leaning towards this one in pink: http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-chevron/pink/200HJHK04K-76096.html

    • Kathrn
      April 8, 2013 at 3:38 pm

      I have that one in navy. It sheds quite a bit, but is really thick and soft. And a great deal when on sale.

  • Catherine
    April 8, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    I love these pink rugs! Maybe one of these days, I’ll get one. We have a large wool rug from Rugs USA, and I’m thrilled with it. It does shed like crazy, but I think that’s normal, at least for the first couple of years. Can’t wait to see what you go with!

    • Making it Lovely
      April 8, 2013 at 4:05 pm

      Wool can shed like crazy at first. Not usually for a couple of years though!

      • Catherine
        April 8, 2013 at 10:14 pm

        Well, we’ve had hardwoods and the rug for a little over a year, so maybe I’m still getting used to seeing the dust bunnies (after having carpet forever). I love our wool rug, though! :)

  • Nicole
    April 8, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    That ombre rug is GORGEOUSSSSSSS!! I thought that you had just solved my own living room rug dilemma until I saw the price…YOWZERS!

    • Making it Lovely
      April 8, 2013 at 4:06 pm

      I know. It would be about $5000 for an 8×10 rug.

  • Anja
    April 8, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    I just bought a dark pink rug for my guest bedroom two months ago and I am totally in love with it. #2 and #4 would be my favorites of the ones you picked.

  • patricia
    April 8, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    These are all lovely choices, yeah me too can’t wait to see what you choose. But I do have a question on the comment you threw about cotton low pile rugs not being family or pet friendly, and that you are actually looking for wool, which I thought all along was less pet friendly than cotton. I have an area rug from CB that’s cotton and all I have to do is throw it our washing machine and air dry it outside, and it’s as good as new, don’t think you can do that with a viscose, or wool or any other rug except cotton. Please do enlighten me!

    • Making it Lovely
      April 8, 2013 at 4:07 pm

      Cotton is great if it’s small enough to throw the whole thing in the wash. If you have to spot clean though, you can end up with rings around each spot (even if it’s just water!), whereas wool cleans up much more easily. Plus wool stands up to dirt better — cotton just takes (and shows) it all.

  • Ashley * Fine Day Press
    April 8, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    Love this trend – pink in the right dosage feels so modern to me especially with a lot of white + natural wood tones. #4 is my fave!!!! 50% off?? dangerous…

    • Making it Lovely
      April 8, 2013 at 4:08 pm

      Right? The good thing though is that those 50% off sales happen fairly often there. (That’s what I’m trying to tell myself, at least, so I don’t buy it right now!)

  • Henna | HENNA BLOSSOM blog
    April 8, 2013 at 2:43 pm

    Oooh, love #4. I seem to always gravitate to things with texture and a little bit of imperfection.

    • Making it Lovely
      April 8, 2013 at 4:09 pm

      That’s what I like about it so much. Did you click over and see the full view? It’s pretty good.

  • diane
    April 8, 2013 at 2:47 pm

    As a design blogger I must say you will not find any pink rugs in my home or any homes I have designed (except my granddaughter’s nursery) but that is only because I have not had the opportunity to use one yet. I do love the looks you have shared but not sure it is a choice that readily comes to mind but I will definitely add it to my “repertoire” now.

    • Making it Lovely
      April 8, 2013 at 4:11 pm

      Well, I’m sure that not all design bloggers have pink rugs! (Wouldn’t it be funny if we did?) I think the percentage is certainly higher than average though.

  • Nicole
    April 8, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    I’m a total rug novice (w/ no kiddos!), but why would wool be better than cotton? Cotton seems like an easier textile to clean, but maybe what holds true for clothing is different for rugs?

    • Making it Lovely
      April 8, 2013 at 4:12 pm

      I didn’t think of it that way, but I suppose it is counter-intuitive. Wool is kind of a pain to take care of for clothes, but that’s because you can’t just throw it in the washer and dryer. For carpets, it’s a better choice.

  • Brianne Heape
    April 8, 2013 at 3:17 pm

    #2 or #4 – love them all!!

  • sarah @ homeologymodernvintage
    April 8, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    yep, it’s #4 for me as well! love it and think it would be divine with your floral chair. i have to say, that chair was a bold move & one my little monochromatic heart wouldn’t have the courage to purchase. i’m a tad jealous of your ability to go there ’cause it’s absolutely beautiful!

  • design fluff
    April 9, 2013 at 3:44 am

    Ya know, I never really noticed it til you pointed it out. I guess so, as I also have chosen a pink rug when doing a rough mood board for my new living room.

    http://designfluff.blogspot.com/2013/02/translating-objects-of-inspiration-to_9.html

    I chose the Pink Phoenix Dhurrie Rug from West Elm. I really like some of the examples you’ve chosen and need to check them out! Great article!

  • Julie
    April 9, 2013 at 7:51 am

    Just have to jump in and say that 100% wool for area rugs is the way to go. I have one in my living room (it’s a thinner, flatter weave, not one of the big thick ones I always see in PotteryBrn and the like) — it’s almost 10 years old and still looks great. Most liquid spills bead, and if you’re fast enough with a towel, will blot right up with no post-cleaning required. It wears like iron with no evidence of foot traffic – I have 2 kids, a husband and a cat.

  • Kayla
    April 9, 2013 at 12:50 pm

    I recently was perusing RugsUSA and fell in love with that same overdyed rug! Now if I could just get the man of the house to ok that purchase…

    Also I am in love with pretty much everything about the first shot from Decor8. I feel like I recently became very attached to the white/wood/brass/MCM trend. I’m all over it now!

  • A Pillow for Your Thoughts
    April 9, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    I really like the living room in the third picture. The pink and orange colors really complement each other. Did you design that one? You have a gift of finding great living rooms!

    Twitter: @pillow4thoughts

  • Pink4All!
    April 9, 2013 at 3:58 pm

    I am not a design blogger, but I have pink rugs too! I have one of those “open the front door and whoops you’re in the living room” houses, and I’ve divided the living room into two seating areas using two of this fab flatweave rug (no longer available!) from PBKids. LOVE and adore.

  • Heather B
    April 9, 2013 at 6:55 pm

    I LOVE pink and I would love to have a pink room, but my husband HATES pink! He LOATHES pink! Fortunately he has other wonderful qualities.

  • Tara
    April 10, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    My favorite is the zigzag rug, but all of them are beautiful.

  • what i’m loving right now | YouMe& TheDree
    April 12, 2013 at 10:30 am

    […] what else am i loving? oh yes….the trend of pink rugs! i’m totally getting on board with this one. sorry […]

  • Victoria Williams Grahan
    April 14, 2013 at 11:05 am

    I absolutely love your blog. So gorgeous, and so inspiring. I too did a post not too long ago about pink rugs (for he nursery in my case). Would love if you checked it out http://wp.me/p2eJhs-fl

  • matthebasics
    September 6, 2021 at 7:11 am

    Pink and I adore a pink room, but HATES pink is my hubby! It’s pink loaths! He has other amazing traits fortunately.