The two most frequently asked questions I get when it comes to decor are 1- how do I coordinate rugs in an open concept floor plan and 2- how do I curate a pillow combination that works with my rug. Today I’m going to teach you how to coordinate rugs and pillows like a pro since I apply the same principals to each.

Whenever I’m designing a space, 99% of the time I start with the rug. Its way easier to pull tones from a rug than it is to design an entire space and try sift through thousands of rugs to find one that will work. If you’re designing an open concept space. Choose all of your rugs first, then move on to other decor like pillows & art.

A no fail way to coordinate rugs is to use a jute. They go with everything and create a really neutral base to work off of. I love how Lauren took tones from the vintage runner in the kitchen above and carried those through into the pillows in the sitting room.

Living Room Combinations

Once you’ve chosen your rug, pull 2-3 colors to start making pillow combinations. I tend to start with a solid, and make that my largest size, usually 22×22 or 20×20, depending on the size of the sofa. Then I like to add a stripe or plaid, and finally a floral. I like these to be 20×20 or 18×18, and then a lumbar.

When it comes to choosing prints, I try to mix those up as well! The more texture and pattern the better as long as you take scale into consideration. I usually do a bigger floral pattern mixed with a smaller pattern, and the same goes for the stripes/plaids. If you mix up the scale it will keep it feeling interesting and give your pillows a better flow.

Bedroom Combinations

On the bed I like to go with a 3-2-1 layout. I start with 3 24×24 pillows. Then layer 2 20×20 in front, followed by a lumbar. You can mix and match following the same ‘rules’ as on the sofa, or you can simplify the look and do something like what I’ve done below. Lately I’m loving the simpler look!

The last thing I want to touch on is pillow inserts. Swapping out a cheap insert can take a budget pillow cover and make it look way more designer. I also like to go up one size on my inserts. For example, if my cover is 20×20, I like to use a 22×22 insert. It fills it out more and keeps it from looking too frumpy. I’ve linked my favorite inserts below. I have and love all 3!

I hope you found this post helpful and you feel more confident to coordinate your rugs and pillows like a pro. You can find more design school topics here, including how to choose the right size rug for your space here.