Explore how bold, colorful rugs can anchor your space and unify your interior design.
Few elements in interior design hold the transformative potential of a colorful rug. More than a floor covering, it can anchor a space, define zones, inject personality, and tie disparate design elements into a cohesive whole. This principle comes to life spectacularly in a whimsical, art-inspired apartment in New York City’s NoHo district, where bold patterns, layered textures, and a symphony of colors come together in a visual masterpiece.
At the heart of this apartment’s aesthetic story is the deliberate and masterful use of the colorful rug, each piece thoughtfully selected to elevate the room it inhabits. Interior designer Isy Runsewe, known for her eclectic and globally inspired approach, demonstrates just how integral rugs can be to expressing individuality in interior design.
A Colorful Beginning: Design Rooted in Rugs
The journey began with a singular design spark: a bold red-and-teal rug discovered on Instagram. While this exact piece wasn’t chosen for the final layout, it ignited the vision for the entire apartment. The vibrancy of that rug set the tone for the color palette, becoming a foundation for the creative process.
Runsewe’s background in fine art is evident in how each room is approached as a composition. Much like a painter uses a canvas, she used each colorful rug to layer energy and identity onto the space, balancing visual stimulation with harmony.
Living Room: A Rug as a Design Anchor
The living room features a graphic rug that grounds the space amid an exuberant palette. Shades of teal and crimson pop against a whitewashed floor and walls, creating a gallery-like environment that lets each design choice breathe. The rug serves not only as a grounding feature but also as a conversation starter.
The colorful rug interacts dynamically with plush velvet seating, sculptural side tables, and a medley of curated art pieces. This balance between soft and structured, playful and refined, is a testament to the rug’s anchoring power.
Dining Room: Whimsy on Display
Nestled in a serene oak grove, the living room masterfully blends softness with structure. A custom curved sectional anchors the space, wrapped in textured upholstery that echoes the warmth of the floor-to-ceiling beige wool curtains. At its center, a sculptural Christian Liaigre coffee table adds quiet sophistication, while the plush, custom wool rug beneath mirrors the room’s neutral palette with subtle depth. The harmonious contrast between tactile softness and architectural elements, such as the clean-lined built-ins and layered artwork, creates a space that feels both grounded and gracefully refined.
Guest Bedroom: Bold and Intentional
Runsewe doesn’t shy away from using statement-making wallpaper or saturated colors in the guest bedroom. A richly patterned rug amplifies the palette while adding comfort underfoot. In a room designed for visitors, the rug is not just functional—it’s part of the visual welcome, introducing bold red and teal tones in continuity with the rest of the apartment.
This thoughtful use of a colorful rug ensures each element in the room, whether furniture, bedding, or artwork, feels intentional and aligned.
Lounge Area: Curves and Color Harmony
The lounge space is all about softness—rounded silhouettes, cozy textures, and organic movement. The bouclé sectional curves gently around nesting tables, and the wallpaper mimics flowing waves. A rug with curved motifs and muted tones is chosen to unify these elements. The result is serenity, not clutter.
The colorful rug here quietly performs its role—uniting the room’s shapes and tones without overpowering the soothing palette. It’s a reminder that vibrant doesn’t always mean loud.
Office: Energizing with Color
The home offices are often practical and subdued, but not in this apartment. A green-and-white striped ceiling energizes the space, while a mustard desk chair adds warmth. Beneath it all? A playful, striped, colorful rug that ties it together.
The rug’s palette reinforces the ceiling’s geometry while breaking up the visual verticality with horizontal flow. This dynamic interplay would fall flat without the colorful rug anchoring and energizing the composition.
Why the Colorful Rug Is a Design Essential
Across this New York apartment, the colorful rug is a design linchpin. Its benefits are numerous:
- Spatial Definition: Rugs define zones, which are especially crucial in open-plan apartments. A colorful rug distinguishes the lounge from the dining room and the office from the bedroom without erecting walls.
- Texture and Warmth: Beyond visual appeal, rugs introduce tactile comfort. A layered rug creates warmth, both physically and emotionally.
- Color Integration: In eclectic interiors, a colorful rug blends multiple hues into a cohesive palette, becoming a unifying thread.
- Acoustic Benefits: A rug absorbs sound, improving acoustics and making spaces feel cozier, especially in hard-surfaced apartments.
- Expressive Personality: A colorful rug reflects personal taste. It narrates the owner’s aesthetic voice, whether bold geometrics or soft florals.
How to Choose the Right Colorful Rug
When incorporating a colorful rug into your design, consider the following:
- Color Coordination: Choose a rug that picks up existing colors in your space. Or let the carpet set your palette.
- Scale Matters: A rug that is too small can feel out of place. Ensure its proportionate to the furniture and space.
- Material Choice: Wool, cotton, jute, and synthetics all have different benefits. Consider use and maintenance.
- Pattern and Style: A graphic rug can energize a minimalist space, while a traditional motif can add elegance to a modern room.
- Layering Possibility: To add dimension, don’t be afraid to layer a smaller colorful rug over a neutral base.
Making a Statement, One Rug at a Time
In urban environments like New York, where floor plans are compact and natural light is precious, the rug becomes an especially powerful tool. It can brighten a dim room, suggest visual boundaries in multifunctional spaces, and express personality in ways paint or furniture cannot.
Designer Isy Runsewe’s work in this apartment proves that rugs are far more than decor—they’re functional art. Using a colorful rug as a central design device in each room, she added aesthetic harmony and created a vivid, immersive living experience.
Grounded in Style: How Rugs Transform a Space
A well-chosen, colorful rug has the power to transform any space. It anchors, defines, softens, and enlivens a room. Whether you live in a sprawling home or a compact apartment, embracing rugs with bold hues and expressive patterns can elevate your design to a new level.
Start from the ground up if you’re curating your home with a focus on character and cohesion. Invest in a colorful rug, and let it guide your interior journey—just like the vibrant rugs that sparked a complete design transformation in this unforgettable New York apartment.
At TAPIS Studio, the philosophy goes beyond aesthetics—each colorful rug is crafted as a meaningful expression of identity and space. Much like how vibrant rugs brought cohesion and charm to a whimsical New York apartment, TAPIS Studio’s custom designs are curated to ground interiors with elegance and soul. Whether you’re seeking to add depth to a minimalist layout or amplify bold styling choices, the right rug can offer both visual impact and emotional resonance. Explore TAPIS Studio’s collection to find the piece that tells your story.
Source: luxesource.com
