Take a look around in any fashion magazine or interior design portfolio. Whether we’re talking clothes or furniture, black is the go-to color, and it’s easy to understand why. Black, as they say, goes with everything. A little black dress with a string of pearls adds up to instant elegance, and a black dining table set or accent piece can immediately transform a room into the height of home fashion. So it’s easy to understand why black rugs are so popular. It just goes along with that whole “black is beautiful” concept right?
Yes and no. A black rug in the right home and setting can be stunning, but there are definite pros and cons to using black area rugs. If conditions aren’t right, it could end up being an eyesore so let’s take a minute to talk about when a black rug is right, and when it isn’t.
Who lives in your house?
If you’ve got more than just a couple of adults under your roof, than you might want to think twice about getting a black area rug. Pets, especially the kind who shed (think of a white Persian cat, or a golden retriever) can turn the most beautiful black Oriental rugs into fur collection. Black shows everything, and light colored hair in particular will stand out from a mile away.
If you have children, you’ll have the same concerns. No, kids don’t shed– at least they don’t shed fur. But they do tend to leave trails of pretzel crumbs, popcorn pieces, and spit up behind them. All of which will show up on a black rug of course.
Where are you putting it?
The purpose of the room where you’re putting the rug will play a big part in whether or not it will work well. For example, black bath rugs are a great choice, as there is little to be concerned about besides water drops falling on it. And of course, black and white is a classic bathroom color scheme.
Black kitchen rugs on the other hand won’t fare as well. Again, there are plenty of colorful crumbs around that will stand out on that black canvas like a sore thumb. And the fact that it’s a high traffic area won’t help either.
What works?
Black shag rugs are one option that can work very well in most settings. This is because the depth of the fibers will block most dirt from showing, as it will just sink to the bottom and out of view.
If you don’t have kids or pets, black and white rugs are a great choice for the living room floor. A zebra-styled rug will turn an otherwise simple room into a chic and fashionable setting, but make sure to clean it regularly. With careful consideration to placement and style, a black rug can be a spectacular choice.
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