So you are on the lookout for a new black and white rug. Well first of all good choice, a black and white rug goes with pretty much anything and even if it doesn’t quite look right then swapping a couple of pieces around may do the trick.

Seen as a more modern approach to floor decoration, black and white rugs come in all shapes, sizes and styles today. They can add a touch of class to a space while also offering a fairly unique reason to buy a rug - an illusion. The colours and certain styles can make your room appear larger or smaller and used in the right way can really transform a place.

Draw inspiration or pick up a few ideas from our tips below and make your black and white rug the star of the show.

1. Match Your Black and White Rug to Some Cushions.

If you are struggling to imagine what life will be like with a black and white rug in your living room and are feeling like it’s going to steal all the attention from your beautiful sofa then try matching some cushions to your rug.

This really marries the living room and unites both pieces of furniture together. This works really well for patterned black and white Aztec rug as the patterns don’t have to be exactly the same.

2. Black and White Are Everywhere

If you are really into the black and white look and you are all about neutrals then you don’t have to go out of your way to source everything black and white. 

The black and white rug works really well in the space above because the rest of the furniture and fittings all have accents of black and white. The table, shelves and picture frames all have black elements when exposed against the white walls will create the black and white style you are looking for.

3. Black and White Woven Rugs With Wicker

Wicker chairs work so well with black and white pattern rugs. The natural tones of the wicker really complement the binary black and white patterns. Almost creating a coming together of the outdoors and the indoors. 

Add to your look a plant or some aspect of greenery and you have a perfect environment where the colours and the styles work in harmony.

4. Go Big

If you are lucky enough to have a fairly sizeable living space then maybe think about choosing a large black and white rug. When you have a space like the one above a rug of that size not only adds comfort underfoot but it also creates a smaller space in a large airy room and will make your living room a little cosier.

Large black and white rugs like the living room above add style and a modern twist to any room. The patterned style is unique and breaks up the white walls and sofa. 

A large black and white outdoor rug also works really well for your garden or patio and can create a space within your outdoor area.

5. Black and White Rugs Matched with Mustard

Mustard is definitely a colour that widely adorns the living spaces of many homes across the world today. Whether its a sofa or a few accessories that you have in mustard then a black white rug really compliments the deep yellow. 

This black and white diamond rug adds another angle to the living space above. The mustard alongside the wooden furniture unifies the rug into a modern living area.

6. Minimalistic With Some Showstoppers

There are many styles of home decor and many sub-styles in each style. It’s all about preference and how the space makes you feel. If you sway to a more minimalist style then try adding your black and white rug to your living room with only a handful of other furnishings. 

The red sofa in the space above really highlights each black and white stripe. With such a bold coloured sofa the black and white rug softens the space.

7. Faded Black and White Runner Rugs

It doesn’t have to be big, bold and show-stopping if you are looking for a black and white runner rug. A slightly faded or muted black and white boho rug is a great way to add some texture to a room.

The space above works really well by adding a modern set of draws to a more rustic and boho style rug with the wire chair bringing the two styles together.

8. Geo With Stripes

At Woven Rosa we’re not afraid to mix up a few colours and throw in a multicoloured cushion or pink rug now and again. This also goes for various different patterns, if you have a polka dot bed cover don’t be afraid to match it to some zebra print or if your sofa throw is striped then why not go for the black and white geometric rug. 

Patterns add depth and texture to a room and can break up an otherwise flat looking space, black and white patterns work really well when matched together too. 

9. Black and white round rugs

If you have a living space that can accommodate a black and white round rug then they can really provide a touch of style to finish a room.

The patterns with a black and white round rug can be really unique, they make perfect rugs for round tables or even as a stand-alone piece as pictured above.

10. Classic Yet Modern

If you have a traditional style living room or bedroom then don’t be afraid to invite the touch of a modern black and white carpet rug. The modern patterns can work really well with the classic look.

Try adding a back and cream rug to a brown leather sofa, the wooden floor unifies the two and will transform a tired space.

Stripes or Geo?

How do you decide on a Black and white striped rug or a black and white geometric rug? Apart from the obvious answer of preference you really have to take a look at the furnishings that you already have in the room.

If for example you already have stripes, whether it’s black and white or not then a striped rug may be your answer. If you want to make a small space look larger then a black and white striped carpet when facing the right way can elongate a room, it also has the opposite effect on large rooms when stripes appear horizontal.

If your space is lacking a depth and you have only a few key pieces in you room but it feels like you are missing something then a black and white geometric rug can be the showstopping piece without loud and bright colours.

What sort of cushions match a black and white rug

If you have a black and white striped rug then striped cushions in any colour will subtly unify your living space. This is the same for any style of patterned rug, geometric cushions work really well with a geometric rug.

If you have a neutral coloured sofa, try adding either black or white cushions as a base cushion and then a brighter cushion on top.

Black and White rug dimensions

Black and White rugs come in all sizes. Woven Rosa rugs are all handmade on back-strapped looms, they are unique pieces so the lengths and widths are all different. They range from 75cm - 190cm in Width to 150cm - 250cm in length.

There are many various black and white carpet rug dimensions and it all depends on how large your living space is. There are however some fairly common dimensions that rug makers, (particularly machine-made) stick to for example there are many 200 x 300 large rugs and 300 x 400 large rugs. This isn’t always the case as different manufacturers and rug brands use slightly different ratios and measurements but generally, you will come across these measurements more frequently.

How to clean black and white rugs

When you come around to cleaning your black and white rug make sure you take into account any instructions that are on the label or that came with the rug. If you don’t have a label or any previously supplied information try to hand-wash the rug.

First of all, you’ll need to get your best beating stick out and give it a good old whack over the washing line, if you’re not into traditional cleaning methods a good hoover will suffice. For stains, use warm water, adding detergent if the stain persists. 

Rooms for black and white rugs

Black and White rugs for living room

A living room is a great place to stage a black and white rug. Whether you have a fairly bold room and you are looking for some extra spice to add to your floor or you feel you need a little bit of depth then adding a black and white rug can be the answer.

Tucked under a sofa and almost reaching the fireplace or underneath a wooden coffee table are great ways to style your black and white rug. Try adding a couple of similar styled scatter floor cushions to your sofa which unifies the colours.

Black and White rugs for playroom/nursery

A playroom is inevitably the location of many leaks and spills. A black and white rug that has fairly intricate patterns will not only hide the stains that don’t come off but also adds some depth and fun to your little one’s room. It can be the patterns that were missing and really bring together a playroom. 

Black and White rugs for bedroom

Bedrooms are great spots for black and white rugs. Rugs always look great coming from beneath the bed, which make selecting a size a lot easier as if the rug is too big then you can slide a little extra underneath. 

Try adding some Luxury cushions to your bed to create a classy look. 

How to keep black and white rugs from slipping

A question that is normally asked after someone has bought a handmade black and white rug. This is usually because the materials that are typically used in handmade rugs are wool or cotton which make for fairly frictionless materials when laid upon tiles or wood. 

The problem is easily solved with one of the many antislip underlays that are available online today. 

Depending on the size of the rug and the material you may opt for various types of underlay. We have found that there are a number of organic underlays on the market at the moment which work as well as their plastic counterparts. This one from Urbanara is particularly good.