How to Place a Rug Under a Sectional Sofa
Rugs are the perfect home accent. They can instantly cozy up any space while elevating your interior design with pretty colors, patterns, and personality. Plus, they do it all without encroaching on precious livable square footage.
And when it comes to timeless rugs that never fail to look fresh and trendy, it’s hard to beat mid-century modern rugs. They can range from subdued and neutral to super colorful with bold geometric patterns, so there’s one for every style.
Here, we rounded up our favorite ideas for mid-century modern rugs for every style, need, and budget so you can find the ideal complement to your home decor.
What is a Mid-Century Modern Rug
Mid-century modern rugs vary quite a bit, but they often feature clean lines, organic shapes and patterns, and/or a sense of elegant simplicity, all of which were inherent in the modernist design movement.
According to Justin Soleimani, “Mid-century rugs favor geometric patterns and clean lines. The mid-century style turned away from embellishments and excess in the home; it is characterized by functionality, organic materials, and bold patterns. Mid-century modern style adds personality to any room without jeopardizing simplicity.”
"Mid-century modern style adds personality to any room without jeopardizing simplicity.”
Another reason mid-century rugs are so popular is that they work well in a wide range of styles, largely thanks to their classic colors, shapes, and patterns. “I integrate mid-century modern items into all styles of rooms,” says Allison Knizek. “With all of the natural, round edge furnishings that are currently trending, a mid-century modern rug, especially in a shade of slate blue or avocado green, flows seamlessly with traditional, contemporary, and transitional room identities.”
“What I love about mid-century style is that it can be mixed with other styles—especially with transitional styles and modern pieces,” adds Rozit Arditi.
Mid-Century Modern Rugs: Our Top Picks
1. Sweater rug in forest
- Brand: Revival
- Price: from $299
This rug is hand-carded from 100% New Zealand wool on cotton foundation and is perfect to place in mid-century modern living room. Lush and inviting, this forest-inspired rug feels like sinking your toes into a cozy embrace. The earthy green tones are reminiscent of a sun-dappled forest floor, with hints of lighter hues peeking through like sunlight filtering between the leaves.
2. Line Drawing Flat Weave Rug
- Brand: Lulu and Georgia
- Price: $98+
With its fun, lively pattern, this abstract area rug offers a fresh take on mid-century modern looks. It also comes in a variety of sizes, whether you’re looking for a new runner rug for your hallway or an expansive area rug for your living room.
According to Allison Knizek, “The selection of Sarah Sherman Samuel rugs at Lulu and Georgia is amazing. The Line Drawing Flat Weave rug has an abstract, organic motif that really speaks the mid-century language — simple, clean, uncluttered and would serve as a visually interesting base for many styles of furniture.”
↦ Shop now at luluandgeorgia.com
3. Fez
- Brand: Tumble
- Price: $99+
Not only does this abstract area rug look great with its soothing pastel hues and organic pattern, but it’s also machine washable, so it’s a particularly great option for areas that see a lot of foot traffic.
The rug also features a stain-resistant spill-proof surface, and it comes with a cushioned, non-slip rug pad, so you can feel confident that once you place it, it will stay put.
↦ Shop now at tumbleliving.com
4. Luther Hand Knotted Rug
- Brand: Interior Define
- Price: $2,673
Made by Interior Define, this geometric shaped rug is hand woven from 100% natural wool fibers. Its simple yet modern design means it'll work in almost any mid-century modern-inspired room.
↦ Shop now at interiordefine.com
5. Mohair Shag Rug in Beige
- Brand: Revival
- Price: $530
Craving a rug that's unbelievably soft? Look no further than Mohair! Made from Angora goat fur, it feels like pure luxury under your feet, even softer than silk! But hold on, this fuzzy friend is surprisingly tough too. Mohair is actually stronger than steel of the same weight, so you don't have to worry about babying it.
The manufacturer blends the Mohair with New Zealand wool, known for its incredible softness and long fibers. Here's the cool part: just like your favorite wool sweater, this rug naturally repels dirt and dust. Plus, it has a special built-in shine that makes it look amazing!
6. Ometri Rug
- Brand: Industry West
- Price: $831
This indoor area rug’s geometric pattern complements all sorts of mid-century modern decor and furniture. It’s also versatile enough to suit other interior designs as well, such as contemporary or boho looks.
The rug comes in two color schemes and features a 100% wool design hand-woven by expert craftspeople.
↦ Shop now at industrywest.com
7. Barret Printed Rug
- Brand: Pottery Barn
- Price: $299+
Speaking of versatility, this kilim rug from Pottery Barn comes in seven different neutral hues that will elevate virtually any color palette. And thanks to a special printing process wherein skilled craftspeople create a random coloring effect, each rug is unique.
According to John Linden, “The vintage distressed rugs from Pottery Barn have a retro feel that is perfect for a mid-century modern room. I love the distressed look and the neutral colors.”
8. Mariela Geometric Area Rug
- Brand: Wrought Studio™
- Price: $26.99
This geometric area rug features a classic honeycomb pattern that will never go out of style. It rocks a medium pile for comfy softness and it comes in 11 fun hues, including Ivory, Pink, and Navy Blue.
The indoor area rug also comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, ranging from small circular accent rugs to expansive octagonal and rectangular area rugs.
9. Mcquaid Handmade Wool Rug
- Brand: AllModern
- Price: $46+
Hand-tufted in India, this abstract pattern rug features a cozy medium pile and a bold blue modern design that will liven up any look.
It also comes in 20 different sizes(!), so you can purchase a small size for your entryway, an expansive size for a large living room or home office, and pretty much everything in between.
10. Collet
- Brand: Blu Dot
- Price: $990+
With its quiet geometric design and chic coloring, this handwoven rug is the ideal complement to a mid-century modern look.
The rug’s low-pile height means it will look like new for years to come, even if placed in a high-traffic area. Plus, its timeless design looks just as great with modern furniture as it does eclectic, contemporary, boho, and other looks, so you can keep enjoying it even if your tastes change.
11. Block Party Rug
- Brand: Burrow
- Price: $339
This mustard yellow and soft gray area rug is a no-fail way to add a splash of mid-century modern look to your interior design.
But the modernist rug doesn’t just look great; it’s also highly stain-resistant thanks to its recycled polyester performance fabric, so it’s an awesome option for busy households with pets and kids.
12. Hazelwood Area Rug
- Brand: Apt2B
- Price: $198+
Soft, organic colors pair with a color-block design to create this inviting indoor area rug, which will look amazing in many different spaces.
You can choose from three different rug sizes, ranging from 5 x 8 to 9 x 12, so you should have little trouble finding just the right fit.
13. Lorenzo Wool Area Rug
- Brand: Castlery
- Price: $69+
This handmade, subtle shag rug is made from 100% wool with a cotton and latex backing, and it comes in many sizes, so you can use it as an area rug, runner, or large rug to sit under a bed. Due to its color and materials, this piece helps highlight natural light
Regardless of the rug size you choose, you can buy with confidence knowing the rug comes with a one-year limited warranty while enjoying the plush, comfy goodness that its shaggy weave offers.
14. Amara Rug
- Brand: Modloft
- Price: $1,249
Looking for something neutral without sacrificing a compelling design? Well, look no further than this beauty from Modloft. The rug, woven from viscose, has subtle tonal shifts and a smooth texture, giving it a luxurious look. Perfect for a stunning mid-century modern living room design.
15. Halfmoon Colorblock
- Brand: Society6
- Price: $59+
Featuring a dark and light blue color-blocked geometric design created by an independent artist, this mid-century rug can turn your floor into a work of art.
But you needn’t worry about keeping this artwork pristine; the rug is a breeze to clean with a vacuum or a quick soap-and-water scrub, so it’s a good match for busy households.
Meet the experts
At Living Cozy, we work closely with leading names across the industry to bring you the best home goods, furniture, and design recommendations. In this article, you’ll find advice from the following experts:
- Ben Hyman, Co-Founder and CEO of Revival Rugs
- Justin Soleimani, Co-Founder of Tumble
- Allison Knizek, founder of Allison Knizek Design
Rozit Arditi is the principal designer of Arditi Design
