What is a Good Neutral Rug Colour?

If you’re in the throes of creating a flexible, future-proof design space and are on the hunt for elements that will enhance the longevity of your aesthetics, you might be wondering: What is a good neutral rug colour?

While picking out loud, colourful accessories add a sense of fun to your living spaces, a neutral rug still reigns supreme as one of the most popular choices.

This is because they provide stability in your overall design concept and complement almost any genre from Boho and Shabby Chic to Industrial and Japandi.

Here are some reasons why the top designers at FCI London love them.

What is a neutral colour in interior design?

In the world of interior design, neutral shades are muted, subdued and to many, often appear colour deficient. However, they do contain traces of pigments that alter with different lighting, and these dictate the colour temperature you’re working with.

For example, any neutral shade with a brown undertone is considered warm and will make your home seem cosy and inviting, while tinges of blue donate a cooler colour and will give your spaces a fresher, more contemporary feel.

Examples of neutral colours include beige, grey, taupe, cream, brown, ivory, black and white. Despite not being on the colour wheel, they all go brilliantly with primary and secondary hues, making them an excellent base for any home refresh.

Neutrals can be employed in décor in two ways: either as the backdrop colour for dramatic accents or as a gentle, tonal addition to a refined, monochromatic palette.

Whichever you choose, a neutral rug is the most versatile option available and will help keep your attention fixed on other design aspects in your room rather than stealing the limelight and becoming the focal point.

5 Advantages of picking a neutral colour for your rug

Despite what you might think, a rug in neutral colours is far from boring. Here are 5 advantages that will make you change your mind:

1. They are a great choice if you’re still in the process of decorating your home and your overall vision isn’t quite finalised, because with a neutral rug, whatever furnishings you choose will blend in perfectly.

2. They give you the license to experiment with other textiles and accessories in brighter, more vibrant hues because they provide a blank canvas from which to work.

3. A light neutral rug will make your spaces look bigger, brighter and airier, while darker shades give your room a sleek, cosy appearance. And, because of their simplicity, all of them create a sense of calm.

4. A neutral rug makes an excellent foundation if you want to create a layered effect. To find out more, read our inspiring article on why layered rugs are still in style and how to use this technique like a pro.

5. If you decide to sell up in the future, neutral rugs create a relaxing, modern aesthetic, allowing potential buyers to see the possibilities your home could offer.

Tips for selecting a neutral rug colour for your home

At the end of the day, picking out a neutral rug colour depends on personal preference and the mood and tone you would like to set. These useful pointers will help you make a final decision:

Think about the type of flooring you have:

Do you have carpet, laminate, or hardwood floors in your home? These are factors that will affect the shade of your area rug. Selecting a dark rug with a dark floor, for example, will help to make your furniture and accessories the key focus in your room, whereas a light rug on a dark floor will become more of a feature.

Consider your wall colour:

If you would like to match your rug with your wall colour, make sure that it is either two shades lighter or darker to help create contrast.

Match your rug with your furniture:

A timeless decorating trick is to match a neutral rug with your furniture's upholstery. You can also do this with decorative cushions, curtains and bedding.

Use contrasting colours:

Use contrasting furniture colours to help your neutral rug stand out and become the focal point of your room. You can also use two rugs in contrasting neutral colours to add visual interest and depth

Indulge in patterns:

Don’t discount picking out a patterned rug – just because it’s neutral doesn’t mean that it can’t be interesting.

2 Neutral rugs we love:

To start you on your journey, our design team have picked out two neutral rugs they love working with:

1. The Harris rug by Eichholtz is the perfect addition to any sophisticated home. Hand-woven from viscose, it is soft, silky and hard-wearing, making it an ideal buy for high-traffic areas. Available in warm sand and a selection of other neutral tones, it will add a touch of refinement to your interiors.

2. If you’re looking for something unique, Knot & Loop produce custom-designed, quality rugs for any home. Come up with your own pattern and colour scheme and get it made to your exact dimensions or pick out one of their existing offerings like the Inamorata rug in shades of grey – either way, you’ll be tickled pink.

At FCI London, we work closely with this world-renowned brand in collaboration with London-based abstract expressionist, Anna Kosa, to create luxury hand-made rugs that will become art pieces in your home.

In conclusion

If you need some extra inspiration, take a look at our Coulins project where we created

If you’re in the market for a luxury rug, the FCI London showroom is a must-visit. Chat with us today or come into our showroom and meet our enthusiastic team of