Guest Picks: Colorful Patterned Area Rugs for All Tastes

Right now I’m down in South Florida, at the little condo my husband and I purchased almost two years ago. Yes, it’s a funny place to spend summer, but we’ll be back on the cape in August.

But there’s big news down here! The flesh-tone walls have been painted with multiple coats of Benjamin Moore’s Decorators White, and the pink-flecked white carpet has been replaced by the most fantastic cork flooring. It’s like a whole new place! We made one last trip to Ikea (is there ever a last trip to Ikea?), and the final furnishings will arrive on Wednesday — and for $79, the guys are even going to put the dressers together. The dingy blinds will need to go once I can save up enough for crisp white shades, but the only real decor component missing now is the rugs.

You see, I promised my family that I’d add some comfort. While the wall-to-wall carpet was hideous, I begrudgingly agreed that it was sort of, maybe, kind of comfortable. So now that the whole place is white with some pale wood and natural cork coloring, it’s time to pick three patterned rugs. The boys will get something in the aqua family. The living room is littered with pink and orange pillows and artwork, so I’ll be sticking to those tones. But I’m not sure what to do in the master bedroom. So here I am, treating you to the greatest hits of my patterned rug search. Chime in with your thoughts! — Marni from StyleCarrot

Assembly Home Complex Color-Block Handmade Rug - $89I really like this one. The geometric pattern is on trend without being so obviously 2014, and the colors are fun but not too bright or girly. It would be a great option for the living room. Sadly, the largest size is 5 by 7 feet. I think I would like to cover more floor space than that. Snap.


Steven Alan Grid Shag Wool Rug - $199Like everyone else these days, I am most definitely attracted to Moroccan Berber rugs in black and white shag. This one, by menswear designer Steven Alan in collaboration with West Elm, is a more modern take on the vintage style. It’s a bit too black, white and bold for me to actually use, but it is a great piece.


Fez Area Rug, Periwinkle/Rust - $144I’m not going periwinkle down here, but I love the airy, Moroccan-inspired design and offbeat color combo here. The rug is fabricated out of vinyl and polyester, and washes clean with a garden hose; thus it’s meant for the patio. It would also be a fun choice for a playroom, especially under an arts and crafts table.Buy


Contemporary Montauk Rectangle Blue Area Rug - $224This could be a perfect pick for my boys’ bedroom. The pattern is sort of a cross between a tailored stripe and a feathered ikat, and the teal color would work with the subdued turquoise and green duvets on the beds. It’s boyish and design-y, but not obviously so in either direction. Plus, it’s cotton pile, so it would be sufficiently soft underfoot for my delicate angels.Buy


Hawkins New York Shapes RugThis rug, designed by Alyson Fox, is a work of art: the geometric pattern, the unexpected color pairing, the interesting shading in the shapes. In fact, it's inspired by the work of artists Joseph Albers and Mondrian. It looks rich enough that it could be a silk and wool pile, but it's actually a wool dhurrie.


Hummingbird Ivory Rug by Alexander McQueen - $5,445Stunning. This is an Alexander McQueen design for The Rug Company, and thus out of my reach price-wise. But wow! These striking hummingbirds on an ivory ground would be wonderful in a living room, family room or bedroom, and the rug has just the right amount of color for an elegant, all-neutral tableau.


Flaunt Rug by Kelly Wearstler - $2,445Kelly Wearstler is the queen of pattern. I love how the sketchy markings are done on the diagonal here. It’s a restrained but still vibrant design that I could absolutely live with. The blue wouldn’t work in any of my spaces, though.


Montauk MTK711C Rug, Ivory/OrangeHere’s another design with feathering, and the rectangle color blocks are so very Albers. One of my sons’ rooms on the cape is this exact shade of orange, so this would be perfect, though he already has an orange chenille rug in there from Urban Outfitters, and it’s holding up quite well. Now, if it were a bit more pinkish, I’d consider it for the Florida living room.


Banded Color Stripe Rug - $399This is one of my favorite realistically priced rugs. Do you remember the Novogratz collaborations with CB2? I always admired the Family rug from the first collection, which is no longer available. This looks like it could be a detail of that rug design. The overlapping angles of saturated color, from gray, blue and green to yellow and orange, are done in hand-tufted wool. I’m definitely contemplating this one.


Surya Bombay Collection New Zealand Wool Area Rug, Bone and Deep Sea Green - $109.80This oversize floral would add a touch of the garden in a style that’s more ’60s mod than Grandma’s chintz. The mix of green hues is satisfying, as is the loose, painterly rendering of the bloom. This would make a great statement piece in the center of an open, airy room with plenty of sunshine. Or it could also be great for my bedroom if I decide that we don’t need a rug under the bed.


Ocean Rug, Sea Glass - $525This is one of my favorite Angela Adams rugs, and one that I used in a friend's living room that I decorated. The soft color palette is beautiful, and although there's a lot of blue, it's still pretty neutral. And it has a sculptural texture that, while a pain to vacuum, adds depth. We paired it with a gray velvet sofa and turquoise chairs by Jonathan Adler.


Swirl Rug by Paul Smith - $2,010I never tire of this Paul Smith Swirl rug. I probably first saw it 15 years ago and have been smitten ever since. If I could afford this pricey piece, I would use it in my Florida living room or Boston family room. Swirling, swooning.


Anemone Cocoa Rug by Marni - $1,575I’m not much for brown decor — though admittedly, there was a time around the mid-’90s when I was obsessed with chocolate brown paired with pastels while it was in fashion. This rug brings me back to those years. But even more so, it reminds me of the dress I wore on the first day of kindergarten — brown with flowers just like these!


Kozan Kilim - $900It’s chevrons gone wild with this vintage Turkish rug, which is naturally dyed in a striking palette of feminine favorites mixed with a bit of black. It’s an acquisition by Jamie Meares of the beloved Raleigh, North Carolina, boutique and design firm Furbish Studio. It sure is tempting, but it might be overpowering, even with so much white in the rest of the room.


Goa Collection 100 Percent New Zealand Wool Area Rug, Ivory and Poppy Red - $109.80This would be an easy, safe choice for the living room. The graphic pattern goes with everything, but I just can’t bring myself to go so safe. Safe is for year-round homes. Vacation pads should be more daring. Agreed?


Mara Hoffman Rug - $128Ah, the evil eye. And here I thought it was reserved for funky jewelry. Fashion designer Mara Hoffman, she of the majorly patterned maxi dresses and bikinis, designed this thick and shaggy wool rug with fringe, available at Anthropologie.


Agua Collection 100 Percent Wool Area Rug, Ceramic - $62I think this tie-dye number could be perfect for the boys’ room. I love the blue-green colorway and surfer-dude vibe of the tie-dye effect. It is a durable wool flat weave, comes in a large enough size and is not overly pricey. I’ll see if they like it.


NuLoom Handmade Looped Moroccan Wool Rug, Multi - $346.99I like this pastel take on a Turkish-style kilim, with its spare markings. The palette is neutral without coming across as boring, and it has a touch of vintage that somehow feels fresh and modern.


NuLoom Handmade Kids Stripes Multi Rug - $189.99Hmm, I like this rug by NuLoom a lot. The colors are right. It’s casual, playful. What do you all think? Is it too kidcentric for a main room, even in South Florida?


Red Ombré N10242S RugThese colors are perfect for the Florida living room, in my opinion anyway. I suspect my husband would find the palette too pink. It’s also probably rather too luxurious, given that it’s a custom silk piece by interior designer Doris Leslie Blau. But a girl can dream.

Next: 11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them

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