
Hardwood floors are a real feast for both the eyes and the feet. Natural and surprisingly beautiful texture, unique ability to retain heat, unprecedented environmental friendliness – all this inspires us to order hardwood flooring, again and again, even today, when the range of flooring is expanding more and more.
One of the undoubted advantages of such a floor is its self-sufficiency. Ordinary wood and hardwood are so good on their own that this flooring does not require any additional decor at all. However, it should be noted that in most cases, the owners of houses and apartments do not miss the opportunity to complement the interior with flooring of this type with a large or luxurious carpet or, on the contrary, with a compact and laconic rug. Is this decision justified? In this case, the designers are unanimous: it is not just justified – it is logical and natural.
If you plan to decorate your living room, bedroom, dining room, or hall with wooden floors with some pretty rug for a long time, then do not think that you can act spontaneously and generally at random in this case. For all its friendliness, wood texture is quite demanding on all elements that come into close contact with it, be it furniture, decor, or textiles. That is why you should take a closer look at the rules and features of choosing a rug that can make a harmonious pair with the hardwood floor.
Why use a rug on a wood floor?
As we said earlier, wood floors delight both with a beautiful and noble appearance and a fantastic feeling of warmth that wood can maintain even in prolonged cold weather. Modern trends in interior design more and more often make it possible to abandon floor textiles and leave hardwood as open as possible for viewing – and most often, this does not harm the interior in the least. So why add a rug to the decor? Designers make pretty compelling arguments:
You can apply wallpapers, paints, etc. on walls and see how they look in various interiors.

Rooms where you can place a rug on a hardwood floor
So, you are a happy owner of an apartment, a house, or even just one room with a floor made of wood, and you liked the rug in the store. Another situation is also possible: you have decided that carpets will make the room more comfortable, stylish and balanced, and now you are going in search of a suitable product. In any case, it’s time to decide now how your rug will be arranged on the wooden floor – especially since there are really more than enough options:
Rug materials: a variety of solutions
Having solved all the pressing issues with the feasibility of buying and the location of rugs, it’s time to move on to the materials from which it will be made. Today, designers offer many solutions – all that remains is to choose what seems the most harmonious and suitable for a hardwood floor.
Wool
Natural and at the same time quite expensive materials, rugs from which have been woven for more than one century. A wool carpet on a wood floor is a unity of two natural elements, harmonious, consonant, and relevant in any interior style, including classic, loft, Scandinavian, and even minimalism. In addition, both wool and wood are very friendly materials to each other, and therefore there are usually no problems when placing such a rug on the floor.
Cotton
Cotton rugs, charming in their modesty, remain one of the most striking trends today. The thinness and absence of lint combined with natural weaving make them a real find both for modern and ethnic interiors and design in “rustic” styles – country, farmhouse, and French country.
Silk
A silk rug on a hardwood floor is a real rarity, valuable, and exclusive. As a rule, such accessories are used only in expensive interiors and mainly as an independent accent since no furniture is placed on them. However, it looks really great, and the natural wood background only enhances its sophistication.
Natural plant fiber
Another wonderful union of a floor accessory and a natural wood covering – and not only harmonious but also highly relevant. Today, rugs made of coconut, jute, bamboo, and sisal decorate interiors in various styles – from eco to eclecticism. However, when choosing such a model, make sure that the substrate for the hardwood floor is safe. However, more on that below.
Sheepskin
The combination of fur rugs and wood floors is especially welcome in chalet style, and this is not surprising: the more the interior warms, literally and figuratively, the better. A soft, fluffy, and bliss-promising sheepskin rug will suit you if you live in northern latitudes or are often cold – and at the same time prefer interiors with an apparent ethnic influence.
Synthetics
Carpets made of synthetic materials are practical, durable, and presented in various options, both in shape and texture. A quality product can complement hardwood flooring but ensure that the underlay is harmless to the floor surface.
Rug and wood: color schemes
And now, let’s move on to the most interesting: selecting carpet colors for wood floors. As you know, there are quite a few of them, but to reduce the time to choose from, we suggest focusing on the shade of the wood flooring. For your convenience, we will divide them into three groups.
Natural wood shades
This palette includes the familiar woody tones in a reasonably wide range – from brown and light brown to honey, amber, and deep yellow. Such floors require warm or deep and rich colors – you can try:
Light wood floors
Light wood floors can make a room more spacious, airy, and at the same time naturally cheerful. As a rule, colder, gray tones of wood are related to this palette. Therefore, when choosing a carpet for such a floor, pay attention to the following shades:
Dark wood floors
Dark wood floors look noble and mysterious, but at the same time, dark shades can create a somewhat overwhelming feeling. A lighter rug in the following tones will help to avoid this:
As for the patterns on carpets, experts recommend being especially careful with them. So, if the texture of the wood is very pronounced, then textiles with a pattern can create a solid visual disturbance. In this case, try a quieter geometric pattern or put the rug perpendicular to the wood structure for a clear and crisp contrast.
Dangers: how to protect hardwood flooring when placing a carpet
At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing criminal in the combination of a wood floor and a rug. However, this is a very dangerous misconception: carelessness in placing the rug can cost your surface appearance. To avoid this, use the following tips:
Another small remark: be sure to specify the type of varnish that covers the floor. So, some varnishes strongly fade in the sun; therefore, putting a carpet on such a floor, after 2-3 years, you will receive a coating with a dark spot in place of the carpet. Before treating the wood with one or another composition during repairs, ensure that it is durable under ultraviolet rays.
Carpet on the wood floor: Conclusions + Photo gallery
A rug on a hardwood floor is a classically consistent and, in most cases, a sensible solution. By choosing the right color, material, and size, you will get an interior that combines tradition and modernity in the most beneficial way.