A great area rug can instantly upgrade your home decor. I’ve rounded up 40+ rugs in a neutral color palette to make it easy to find the perfect rug for your home decor style. I’ve broken them out into neutral jute rugs, subtle neutral rugs, neutral rugs with lines or checks, and traditional neutral rugs.
If you’ve ever found yourself stressing over how to choose a rug color for bedroom or living room rug ideas or the best rug for a nursery or… well RUGS!
Neutral rugs might just be your best friend.
I love a good neutral area rug because it grounds a space but it allows me to change up my decor without having to replace those bigger more expensive pieces. I mean, a few pillows? Can do! An area rug? That’s one of those design elements I like to hold on to for more years!
In this post, I’ve rounded up 40+ rugs in a neutral color palette. We love neutrals for home decor since they are so flexible to work with a variety of styles and color schemes.
To help make it easy to find what you’re looking for or to put a name to what you’re drawn towards, I’ve broken them out into neutral jute rugs, subtle neutral rugs, neutral rugs with lines or checks, and traditional design neutral rugs. Sometimes that can be the hardest part of shopping for something new… deciding what you actually like.
I have had two of these rugs myself for more than 4 years now but am totally eying some of the new styles that are out there!
So what makes the perfect neutral rug?
Of course, it comes down to personal preferences but if we were to specify: Beyond featuring neutral colors, we’re also looking at patterns that can work with a variety of styles- neutral patterns, you could stay!
Yes- some of them are bold or have intricate details, but even in their boldness, they have classic features that will make them feel like a neutral in your home.
Any of these neutral area rugs would be a safe choice to add some cozy texture into your home. The neutral area rug colors I’ve included in this collection of area rugs are not just black and white, but warmer earthy tones like brown rugs as well.
I think as a whole, homes are moving away from stark neutrals like cold grey to warmer neutrals like greige, beige, off whites and browns. This round up definitely reflects that (and so does my home!).
Do I need an area rug for my home?
Of course, an area rug is not a mandatory addition to your home decor, however I would put them in almost every single room. This is personal preference but it’s also great design. I’ve said it in so many blog posts now, but it’s one I’m happy to harp on- an area rug can completely upgrade the way your space feels.
A good rug cozies it up, grounds the space (and floating furniture!) and adds so much texture and interest without adding clutter. If you have large spaces, you can use larger rugs to break up the space, differentiating different areas of the space. It also feels really lovely to walk on.
I definitely might have harped on this in my tips for a cozy modern home style. I love how a neutral rug acts as a base layer to add interest and texture without clutter for a cozy modern home style. I even show photos of the before and after to show how much it helps!
I’ve included it in a tip in my affordable DIY home decorating ideas post as well as a way to cozy up your room (with window coverings and rugs!)… as you can tell- I think it’s a really great option to upgrade your home decor and it can be done for an affordable price too if you shop around!
Growing up, we only had an area rug in our living room. I thought it was impractical to have area rugs in other areas of the home.
As I’ve grown and have a house of my own and have learned more about design, it’s now something I prioritize in most spaces from bedrooms to dining rooms, and even outdoor areas like patios! You can see this in most of my room reveals.
It’s one thing I always try to include in bedrooms now, at this point I essentially have a formula for a cozy bedroom. I go for dark walls, light bedding, layered window coverings and a textured but neutral rug. It’s always, always a win.
And I’m not just talking large rugs. Even small rooms, nooks and unsuspecting spaces can benefit from a little area rug or runner! See how a runner adds so much personality to our hallway?!
It can be a great way to add a cozy landing for your feet in the morning while stepping out of bed as well. I even decided to cozy up my office which has a cold basement floor with an area rug.
Where to buy the best neutral rugs online
There are so many places to purchase rugs online, you no longer have to go store to store to find the perfect area rug for your home. All the rugs in this post are from Rugs USA, I find since they’re an online store their prices are generally more affordable rugs than anything I find in town. I have purchased two of the rugs on this list myself over the past 5 years and they’re holding up incredibly well to my cleaning and the daily use of our family of 6.
I’m excited to be sharing these affiliate links with you today. Affiliate means that if you click on them and buy something I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can see all of my blog policies including more about affiliate links here. I genuinely love the products, I do also have three of their outdoor washable rugs and love them as well!
One other thing I wanted to point out is that they do a great job of collecting customer photos of the rugs in action so if you click through to the product page, you can scroll down and see different styles of homes that have used these rugs!
Do I need a rug Pad?
I wanted to add this note in because it’s something I get asked from friends and family and something I’ve seen strong opinions on over on social media. Here’s the thing… you don’t NEED a rug pad, but I definitely do recommend getting one.
Why, Colleen? Well, we never used to use one.
We were young and budget was our top concern so a rug was a big enough expense. But by not getting one, we would deal with the rugs bunching, sliding, and the worst part? Wearing very fast.
Just like an area rug can help protect and extend the life of your hardwood floors in high-traffic areas, rug pads not only help make virtually any rugs into non slip rugs but they also help extend the life of your rugs so the wear will be less obvious making your investment last longer. They add a little bit of padding under your rug as well so it’s softer on your bare feet which we love.
Rugs USA sells rug pads as well, I’ve ordered from them in the past but you can also get them on Amazon!
You can get the more affordable rubber mesh ones like this which are nice and thin if you’d rather not add height to your rug (for door swing etc.) but for not much more you can get the thicker felt ones that are rubberized on one side which basically makes any rugs into non slip rugs. These are my fave for our home. Both are shown in the image above this section.
What about rug size?
There are whole blog posts about this with varying opinions, but there’s a couple of tricks I have found incredibly helpful to choosing the right size rug for your space.
It’s rare someone will choose a rug that is too large for their space. That’s probably due to budget- the more affordable rights are usually smaller (less material, less cost!). You know the look… a floating rug in the middle of the living space with just the coffee table on it.
Instead, try to choose a rug large enough to put at least the front legs of your furniture on the area rug.
In the living room, this might mean the front legs of the sofa and arm chairs but not the end tables.
In a bedroom, that means the foot of the bed. I like to pull them up to get the front legs of the nightstand on the rug as well but if that’s not an option, definitely the feet of the bed!
In a dining room, you want to actually have all of your furniture on the rug and preferably even when you are sitting in your chair, all of the legs should still be on the rug.
If you keep this in mind, you can easily measure out your space to choose the right size rug for your home.
Once you’ve measured it out, if you’re looking through new rugs online and deciding between two different sizes, you can tape it out. Use painters tape and apply it to your floor to easily help you visualize what the best size rug for your living room would be. We do this with so many things, but it’s especially helpful with rugs.
Now… on to my collection of the best neutral rugs for your home decor! Really, I should call these my favorite neutral rugs because I’m in love with these gorgeous area rugs!
Subtle Neutral Area Rugs
Let’s call these the true neutrals of area rugs. This section is full of calm, subtle rugs for your home. From a woven wool rug to tone on tone geometric patterns or natural materials in woven textures, these rugs won’t compete with the decor in your room making them the perfect blank slate… but better, because a cozy rug is always a great head start ;)
I wanted to include a subtle option for each of the other categories as well, so this one includes some repeats to show how easy it is to incorporate a trending style into your home but without the commitment to a bold option.
left to right, top to bottom
1. This woven rug is full of natural materials for a warm and cozy flatweave option. It’s mostly an off white wool but it also has some jute and cotton in there. The variation in colors make this such a great choice for a calming space that still needs to work to hide some dirt and spills (*cough* littlekids*).
2. How beautiful is this jute blend rug with subtle stripes? It’s relaxed and elevated all at once. Honestly- this baby would fit almost any home beautifully.
3. This gorgeous area rug is creamy and subtle but still so textural thanks to these broken stripes being a raised design.
4. This fringed wool blend area rug is available in both grey or beige (I’ve featured beige here) and is such a beautiful rug. Instead of an intricate pattern, this rug has subtle raised lines and blocking with different textures… did I mention beautiful tassels? It’s both incredibly neutral but also somehow so interesting. If I were choosing one of these subtle area rugs for my own home right now, I’d probably choose this one.
5. This popcorn rug is considered ivory but with jute fibers woven through the wool rug, it’s a super cozy and warm option to bring some natural elements into your living room or bedroom.
6. This off white wool rug has the softest knit pattern and the light color can really brighten up a space. For years I had a felted wool rug that had a chunky knit pattern like this and I’ve never had an item in my home that I got asked for the link to as much as that rug. It was discontinued so I’m excited to have a comparable rug to share! I had used that rug in my living area for a cozy feel to the floor during the years I had young babies that played on the floor. I love a wool rug as a more natural choice versus synthetic for spaces you’ll be laying or sitting around on the floors with little ones. The reviews on this particular rug are glowing as well.
7. This geometric patterned rug is so plush and cozy with a raised geometric arch pattern and chunky tassels. The bold design stays neutral and subtle thanks to the tone on tone off white color of this modern rug.
8. I wanted to include a traditional option in this section. I really love a classic oriental rug with intricate detail. This one opts for tone on tone instead of different colors to make it a really great choice for a neutral rug that can play with almost any home decor style.
9. Is this lines and checks? Heck yes, it is! But it’s small and subtle so I’m adding this one to my true neutrals category. With a deeper base than the other subtle area rugs in this category, I love the greige blend of tones in this wool rug.
10. This braided texture ivory area rug indoor/outdoor number is the exact rug I have in my entryway but in a dark grey. We’ve had it for 4 years and it gets HEAVY use with our 4 kids and giant dog. It’s been hosed down in the driveway more times than I can count and gets vacuumed often. It’s holding up excellent! I really love this rug, I actually included it in my best outdoor rugs roundup as well. I love the ivory version and how the different shades of ivory come through with the braided pattern.
Neutral Jute Rugs
Jute and other natural fiber rugs are some of my favourite aesthetically. The natural fibers are so warm and inviting and they truly work with any color scheme or design style. It’s no wonder they’re such a popular choice for area rugs! You can get basic jute rugs every where from budget rug IKEA to higher quality (and priced) Serena & Lily.
The options I’ve rounded up for you are somewhere in between those, they’re lower price than some of the higher end rugs but definitely still great quality natural rugs!
Again, I included some rugs that could have fallen into other categories in this shopping guide. Like checkers, lines and neutral woven patterns. Jute rugs are natural fibers, but they can have so many beautiful designs and even different colors to complement your home design!
We used a diamond pattern jute rug in our Tux House classic living room and early on in our marriage had a dark brown jute rug we loved. They wear really beautifully and have a casual feel that is so inviting. We opted for a shag area rug when we moved after we had babies as it was softer and cleaner for the twins to crawl around on.
I still love the look and texture of a Jute rug though, one day when we don’t spend so much time on the floor, I’d love to reintroduce that texture into our home!
One question I hear often about these babies (and our Tux House Cleaners)… can you vacuum jute rugs?
The answer is yes! We had a large brown jute rug in our apartment living room for the first 5 years of our marriage (you can see a peek of it in this post if you’re interested what 2009 Colleen liked ;) https://www.lemonthistle.com/moving-on-goodbye-apartment-living/) and vacuumed it at least weekly, they do shed natural fibres so you’ll also want to clean underneath them more often than traditional rugs. And how to clean a jute rug? Just spot clean with a damp rag and vacuum!
One last note- most rugs feature multiple types of material. So jute rugs can often also have cotton or wool or other materials, but these ones all look distinctly jute in addition to featuring the material- that’s how they made the cut ;)
1. Okay, I’m starting this list off strong. This is probably my personal favorite rug from the jute section of this blog post. Featuring a playful offset checkerboard, this jute rug is so playful but the light off white portions help the rug feel even lighter and brighter than regular jute. The irregular rectangles in this checkerboard help keep it young and casual even though it’s playing off a traditional checkered tile pattern.
2. How gorgeous are the deep burgundy stripes woven into this jute number. The offset grid makes it totally playful and casual for a space that’s maybe not symmetrical or that feels TOO symmetrical. Y’know? ;) It also has some charcoal threads and some creams in here but this also comes in charcoal and blue rugs options if you’re looking for some slight color.
3. This woven rug is such a fun twist on a jute rug. It has a grid like pattern that’s super subtle from a distance. It’s a flat weave rug that has not just jute but also soft cotton. This is definitely a true neutral rug that would blend easily with virtually any home style. It’s a tighter weave than a lot of natural fiber rugs and the subtle grid pattern is just such a win.
4. This neutral off-white chunky jute rug is so beautiful! With short tassels and a woven appearance, this is like the typical jute rug’s sophisticated sister. It’s still casual and inviting but can also play with elegant, upscale decor with the lighter color.
5. This jute checkerboard rug is textured and earthy and oh so cool. Checkerboard is having a moment righ tnow for sure, but it’s also an incredibly timeless pattern. This one features off white and neutral jute but there’s also a natural jute with charcoal option if you’re looking for something a bit darker!
6. This jute and wool rug is a subtle but modern grid pattern. I love the warmer neutral colors that are more mid tones instead of the lighter accents we typically see in jute rugs. It’s masculine but also totally elegant.
7. This one actually comes in two colors as well! I chose the natural jute with off white diamond checkerboard, but there’s also one that trades out the warm jute for a charcoal. It’s bold, yes, but it’s a classic pattern (think tile floors) so it definitely plays as a neutral in home decor.
8. I shared a close up photo of the corner of this jute and wool blend rug since it has such interesting texture, zoomed out though this rug features wider stripes. It’s part of a designer collection from Emily Henderson who I’ve loved following for the past 10 years- she’s incredibly talented and if she’s chosen it, it’s almost definitely a win ;)
9. I’m sure you’ve noticed, but we’re loving stripes right now. This one features chunkier stripes in a lighter cream jute with some casual fringe on the ends. The jute is a richer color than some of the others, such a beautiful neutral!
10. Capping it off with another repeat, I really just love this neutral striped jute rug. Stripes are such a great pattern that can cross into pretty much any home decor style and the subtle difference in natural fiber colors on this one makes it such a beautiful option. It’s called ‘summer stripes’ which I think is fitting, don’t you?
Traditional Rugs in Neutrals for your Home Decor
Whether your personal home style is more modern, a contemporary feel or totally bohemian… a traditional design rug can actually be a great fit. It’s a chameleon for design styles. This style of rugs has truly stood the test of time and by choosing a traditional neutral rug, you’ll not only be confident in a timeless pattern, but also benefit from the visual appeal and flexibility of neutral tones.
I personally really love this style of rug, I have a traditional patterned rug right now in my dining room, my hallway, and even our kids playroom in a bit of a brighter color. These are a classic choice of design rugs for living room decor. The medallion style especially is seen so often in various styles of home decor!
Since there’s a lot of variance in what’s available in this category, I included 20 options instead of 10 like the others. From warmer tan options to cooler whites and even darker rugs that have a timeless feel that will play with almost any color scheme!
Can we talk for a minute about how busy these rugs are? Even though they have very intricate and busy patterns they feel so calm and subtle due to their neutral color palette and timeless pattern.
In my opinion this makes them one of the best rug under kitchen table options. We’d had a more plain, neutral woven cream rug under our dining table and we had to clean it very regularly. Since switching to a busier neutral oriental style rug with a medallion pattern, we’re so much more relaxed about spills. I’d definitely recommend a busy pattern as the best rug under a kitchen table.
1. This one has a bit more of a southwest feel with a blockier medallion and border pattern. The taupes are so neutral and relaxed I’m thinking it would be perfect for a family room rug.
2. This traditional rug is in a color called ‘stone’ which sounds so similar to what I suggest for picking neutrals when I’m talking to friends. I always take the color I like and choose one with ‘muddy’ undertones, that’s the best way I can think to describe it- ha! This medallion rug has a border as pattern and is already aesthetically faded so it will wear beautifully. This makes the pattern more subtle… did I mention this one is also washable? Helloooo dining room rug!
3. This one is truly brown and I love it so much. It’s so deep and moody and inviting, you just want to hang out here and cozy up with a good book, right? It’s also washable!
4. I really love this tan (they call it khaki!) area rug. It’s a flat weave and has fringe tassels on the ends with such a great texture. The design is a more casual traditional pattern and customer photos make it look even more neutral in color than it is here!
5. This one is very similar to a rug we had for years from Ruggable in pattern. I love the warm tones and the faded look to add some charm to newer homes
6. This vintage floral rug does it all with a medallion pattern and a border. The browns in here will make it really easy to wear and hide any dirt or puppy prints. I do love how these more brown tones warm up a space!
7. I really love bordered rugs for spaces that don’t have a symmetrical layout. I think these could be some of the best rugs for home office designs that have a desk facing chairs as there’s no ‘center’ that is obvious in these rugs. The intricate pattern will also hold up well to wear without showing much in terms of dirt! This one also has fading in the colors so wear over time will look great.
8. So many of these beautiful classic rugs are washable which makes them a perfect addition to a family home or a pet family. I like the relaxed vintage tones in this medallion rug with a more noticeable border- so pretty! It comes in quite a few neutral color options if you’re looking for something a bit different.
9. This rug is called beige but it’s so much more interesting than that. With a medallion pattern and a detailed border, this rug has some deep, rich colors and even some blue tones mixed in there to make it a total chameleon for your home decor.
10. When I started playing with warmer tones in my home decor this is exactly the sort of colors I added in. It’s called grey but has warm undertones to it making it a great accent rug if you’re unsure about the bolder browns and tans.
11. This floral rug is perfect for you light and bright home decor lovers! It’s in the color ‘ivory’ and the pattern is a bit more random but the light color makes it so neutral and airy.
12. This taupe medallion rug is really beautiful. It has some warmer almost reddish details that would play so well with cognac leather! It’s also washable.
13. I really love this faded medallion rug. The colors in it are so pretty and toned down… plus it’s washable which is a plus for this busy home! The color on this one is called light grey but it mixes plenty of warmer tones in so it can work with cooler or warmer wall colors.
14. Here’s a really great blend of light neutral tones with darker accents. Even though there’s quite a bit of contrast in this vintage garden pattern, it’s still so calm and classic feeling. Plus… it’s another washable option!
15. The look of jute natural fibers but washable?! Heck yes! This traditional medallion rug mimics jute but is totally washable which is amazing for us jute lovers that find ourselves cleaning up spills from tiny humans more often than we’d ever imagined.
16. This is such a great neutral rug with classic vibes! It’s light and bright with enough detail to hide some dirt, it’s neutral but has touches of warm tones and it has the cutest little fringe. And it’s washable.
17. Have I picked a fave in this category yet? I think this might be it for anyone that’s wanting to lean into warmer colors but not ready for the deep browns. Not only is it washable but it’s also reversible! So you can do this lighter side or flip it over to test out how you like a warmer option!
18. This beige area rug is washable and features almost smaller medallions over the rug. The more random design is great for less traditional homes that still love that classic feel!
19. I’d say this is the most bold pattern we actually have on these traditional rugs. The contrast in the neutral tones is pretty high but it’s such a beautiful design! This color is called beige but there’s brighter colors if you’re interested in playing with color in your decor.
20. I really love this one, it’s pretty dark for a neutral but ohhh is it ever pretty with such a mix of neutral colors peeking out! And you guessed it, it’s washable too ;)
The Best Neutral Area Rugs Featuring Checkers & Lines
I’m usually not one to lean into trends, but checkers and lines are having a MOMENT. But they’re also timeless. Which really, is my favorite kind of trend.
I give the same advice in almost ever ‘best of’ or ‘tips for home decor’ style post- and that’s to choose what you love, because your loves won’t change half as fast as the trends. But if you happen to love checkers and lines, this is a really great trend to jump on because it’s truly a timeless one that just gains or loses popularity but never truly goes away.
1. This striped area rug 100% wool and has the most beautiful neutral brown tones woven into stripes. This is a flatweave rug making it great for high traffic areas and the shades of brown in here would help it hide wear so well.
2. Another Emily Henderson rug I’m just loving so much I had to include it twice! The plaid like lines on this rug are so playful but at the same time completely traditional so I could see it in a boho space or an old library room.
3. This fringed area rug has deep brown blocking that is modern but also very timeless. It has an almost western feel to the colors that I’m absolutely loving. This one is synthetic so it’s a budget rug if that’s a key consideration for you!
4. I’d call this a low pile shag rug… and it’s really, really cozy looking! With a cream on cream grid pattern, this one could have fallen into the subtle neutrals category as well! How sweet would this be in a light and airy nursery?
5. I love the warm cream with greige tones in this rug. The imperfect lines and shapes make it perfectly casual but the varying textures and materials make it look so luxurious. I’m really loving the style this one this adds to a space!
6. Classic stripes but with so much texture and color blocking in the background makes this rug a great addition to a casual family home. Anything with a lot of texture like this just feels upscale casual in the best way.
7. Jute and cotton stripes and blocking are such a fun combination in this coastal cool area rug. It would work so well in any kind of California style or even boho!
8. This one is another that could have fit right in to the true neutrals collection. The subtle, small scale woven stripes in this wool blend rug are so beautiful and full of texture. It would be the perfect rug to upgrade almost any space.
9. This ones like an elongated checkerboard with the closely matching tones feeling more neutral than some of the other checkerboard options. It’s laid back yet sophisticated, this cotton rug can play in almost any style again from beachy to farmhouse to transitional.
10. This one has been around for quite a while but I’m still loving it! With pinstripes in a moroccan pattern, this shag type rug has cute tassels and is highly durable. And I know… because we have this exact one in my daughters bedroom. And she has absolutely abused it with makeup and crafts and it still looks great (although it needs a bit of a clean right now! ha!).
11. This wool blend rug has knobby woven lines that build a check pattern. With more greys than browns, again this is a sophisticated option that has some fun texture to it! I love the delicate tassels on this one as well.
12. This rug with dark beige offset stripes is 100% wool and… reversible! How awesome is that? If you love the colors but aren’t sure exactly which amount of mid tones or light tones you’re wanting to bring in- this is such a great option. I’d even love to flip it from summer to winter to change the feel of the space. So you could see what both sides look like, I’ve added it in two spots on this collage, see them stacked on the bottom right hand side (one is just zoomed in).
13. How fun is this casual tasseled area rug featuring tons of texture and subtle stripes. The woven stripes are almost two different rugs spliced together. It’s visually so interesting but it’s also such a neutral.
14. This ivory checkered rug is actually made out of jute! Would you have ever guessed? With a raised braided grid in an ivory color against a greige backdrop, this neutral rug is a really great option if you’re looking for a rug made of natural fibers without leaning into the browns or tans.
15. We love some tassels! This cotton and wool number is a great neutral that leans more into greys and off whites than it does browns. It has raised texture making it plush and cozy to walk on without being a total shag rug.
16. This casual checkerboard area rug was featured in the jute rugs section as well but like I said… I love it so much so it deserves a place with the checkers too!
17. Summer stripes jute… again! Because it’s truly dreamy, right? Look at those little tassels :)
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Whew! That was a big one, right?
There were so many great options available this time and after I dug through almost their whole online catalogue I wanted to make sure to give you more than just a couple options for each of these neutral area rug styles to make it easy to pick the right rug for your favorite places in your home!
I’m planning to put a few more of these guides together- if there’s something you’ve been shopping for and struggling to find great options, let me know and I might pop that to the top of my list! Happy shopping!
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