5 Rug Styles That Are So Outdated This Year, According to Designers

• Rugs can make or break a space, and some rug styles are best leaving in the past.
• Designers avoid high-contrast geometric, floral, and gray-and-bright color combinations.
• Faux vintage and synthetic materials are also no longer stylish.

Area rugs often serve as the finishing touch in any design, and their impact cannot be overstated. This is why selecting the appropriate size and style of area rug for your room is crucial. It should feel cohesive, enhancing the design rather than distracting from it.

However, finding the right area rug isn’t always an easy task. To help us out, we spoke to three interior designers to discover which rug styles should be avoided this year, and they didn’t hold back. 

According to interior designers, here are five area rug styles to avoid to create a fresh and modern space.

High-Contrast Geometric Patterns

High-contrast geometric-patterned area rugs were everywhere in the 2010s. Think black-and-white chevron trellis and quatrefoil patterns.

They once felt stylish, and were used to bring contrast and pattern into the ever-popular white-on-white and all-gray-everything spaces. Today, however, this style feels outdated and heavy.

“The harsh, graphic look can feel too busy, especially in open-concept homes where rugs should help define the space, not overpower it,” says Jodi Peterman, CEO and founder of Erin Elizabeth Designs.

Instead, designers favor organic shapes, nature-inspired designs, and vintage-inspired patterns. Think colorful traditional oushak patterns, muted and earthy colors, subtle stripes, and textured weaves, says Alison Truelock, founder and principal designer of Interiors by Alison.

Much like in the fashion world, animal patterns such as cheetah and leopard print are even making a comeback in bolder spaces (although high-contrast black and white is still a no-no, even in zebra prints). 

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Overly Ornate Florals

Another rug style Truelock says you should avoid this year is overly ornate florals. These are not to be confused with the highly popular vintage-inspired floral rugs we’re seeing everywhere right now.

Instead, think of the hyper-realistic ornate floral rugs your mom might’ve had sometime in the ’90s or early 2000s. These rugs command attention and lend an artificial look and feel. 

Opt for authentic vintage or vintage-inspired floral patterns that look handwoven to keep your space modern and fresh. In contrast to the ornate florals, these rugs offer character and depth to a room without demanding to be the focal point. 

Synthetic Materials

Modern design loves natural and sustainable materials, and Ally-Catherine Trenary, interior designer and founder of June St.George, says that area rugs are no exception. 

“It’s time to part ways with synthetic rugs that promise to be stain-resistant but are often treated with harsh chemicals, introducing harmful toxins into your home,” she says.

Similarly, she cautions against choosing the thin, mass-produced rugs. While they may seem affordable and convenient, these cheap rugs have short lifespans, requiring frequent replacements, which can add up over time.

Instead, Trenary says it’s time to return to the long-standing gold standard of rug materials: wool. Rugs made from sustainable and renewable materials such as wool aren’t just higher-quality; they’re more environmentally conscious, timeless, and durable, too.  

Gray and Bright Color Combos

Another dated look from the 2010s that designers are saying goodbye to is the combination of grey with bright colors in area rugs. These color combinations can feel overly artificial and sterile compared to modern design, which instead prioritizes warm, nature-inspired hues. 

A rug with warm neutrals like beige, off-white, or light brown combined with bold earth-inspired hues such as forest green, maroon, navy blue, and more will offer the same grounding neutral and pop of bold color in a stylish and contemporary way. 

Overly Distressed ‘Faux’ Vintage Rugs

Vintage rugs and vintage-inspired prints are in, but Peterman recommends avoiding overly distressed faux vintage rugs. These rugs are thin, mass-produced, and made from synthetic materials. The colors may be overly vibrant and high-contrast, giving them a noticeably artificial look. 

“The key to a great vintage-style rug is depth and variation, not just a printed pattern on a flat surface. If you want that old-world charm, go for a true vintage rug or a high-quality reproduction with real texture and dimension,” says Peterman.

While opting for the more expensive, high-quality version can feel like a hefty upfront investment, we promise it will pay off in the long run. Not only because it won’t require replacing as often, but also because the renewable and sustainable materials make it more durable and better for the environment.