Not only are rugs not out of the question for your family, but with your lifestyle I would recommend them! A super-durable hand-knotted rug with pattern and a low pile will trap, hide, and disguise dirt and pet hair–and then they vacuum easily to release the dirt and pet hair. A win-win.

Look to higher knot counts for longevity and durability, and patterns to hide dirt and spills. If you’re in the throes of toddler/puppy stages and aren’t ready for a big investment, consider a performance rug. Add a thicker felt rug pad to give your rug a plush feel while still getting the benefits of a low-pile rug.

Ah yes, that throw pillow life is a thing of beauty. But we totally get it–throw pillows have gotten a bad rap from the overstuffed sofa days of yore. It’s a new throw pillow era! Here are our favorite ways to ease in and incorporate throw pillows into your decor:

• Use them to add color and pattern in a non-committal way: Throw pillows are an easy way to introduce new colors and patterns to a room without making a big commitment. They can instantly refresh the look of your space and create visual interest without the higher price tag of, say, a new piece of furniture or painting your room. Curious about exploring the Unexpected Red Theory, for example? Pop a red throw pillow in there.
• Comfort and Coziness: Throw pillows add comfort and a cozy feel to your furniture. They make sofas, chairs, and beds more inviting and comfortable to use. Just don’t go crazy–stick to a couple at first, and add more until comfort and aesthetic sensibilities meet.
• Versatile and Flexible: Throw pillows can be easily swapped out or rearranged, allowing you to change your decor with the seasons or whenever you feel like a fresh look. They offer a flexible and cost-effective way to update your space from winter to spring.
• Highlight Key Design Elements: Pillows can draw attention to certain areas of a room or highlight key design elements, such as a beautiful piece of furniture or a specific color scheme. We like to use them on entryway benches to soften the space, or on beds and couches to add dimension, texture, and pattern.

Here are our tips for choosing the perfect throw pillow for your space:

1. Color and Pattern: Decide on a palette and start with one solid, one simple pattern, and one busy pattern.
2. Number: Start with symmetry, having the same amount of pillows on each side of your bed or couch. Branch out to asymmetry as your tastes dictate.
3. Size: Play around with your pillow sizes. On beds, try starting with your biggest sizes first, then layering smaller sizes. On couches, try starting with your biggest sizes toward the outside and decreasing in size as you work your way towards the center.

Rugs! Whether it’s to cover up an existing less-than-ideal flooring material or to add warmth to a room, a rug can work miracles. If you’ve got a large area to cover, one tip is to use the layering method:

Enlist the help of a large, neutral workhorse rug like jute. Lay the jute rug down as a baselayer to cover as much of your existing floor as possible–think of the jute as your new floor. Now layer another rug or rugs on top of the jute to create defined spaces and areas, just as you normally would with rugs and furniture–i.e. sitting area, entryway, bedroom nook, etc. This is your opportunity to layer texture, color, pattern, and softness. The jute hides the floor; the other rugs tie your design together.

Have more design questions? Our in-house design team is here to help. Book a complimentary design consultation where we’ll work with your style, space, and budget to make choosing the right pieces for your home effortless.