Blue Rugs

Blue rugs: what the colour blue does to a room

Blue is the colour of water and sky, and that is exactly how a blue rug works in a room: it calms, it orders, and it gives the floor depth. Unlike red or orange, blue does not push itself forward. It forms a quiet ground on which furniture, wood and textiles come into their own. At the same time blue is anything but dull. A deep navy lends a living room elegance, a light blue makes a small room feel wider and airier, and a strong petrol blue sets an accent that carries the whole scheme.

Blue rugs therefore suit almost any style: the pared-back Scandinavian home as much as a classical interior with an Oriental rug, a country house with plenty of wood or an urban loft in concrete and metal. Our range holds blue rugs as hand-knotted Oriental pieces and as modern designs, in a wide choice of sizes, shapes and finishes. On this page you will find which blues exist, how to choose the right size, and how to combine a blue rug with walls, furniture and decoration.

Blue rugs: light blue, navy, petrol and sea blue

One blue is not another. The effect of a blue rug depends above all on how light, how saturated and how warm or cool the shade is. Four blues run through our offering:

• Light blue reads as light, fresh and friendly. A light blue rug opens up small rooms, suits white walls and pale wood, and brings calm to a bedroom or children's room.
• Navy runs from marine blue to almost blue-black. It stands for elegance, grounds the room and forms a strong contrast to pale floors and furniture. A wool rug in marine blue reads especially rich, and dark blue rugs forgive daily life, because marks show up less.
• Petrol blue sits between blue and green. The shade has character, reads warm and deep, and harmonises with brass, walnut and mustard yellow. A petrol blue rug is a focal point without being loud.
• Sea blue is a clear, mid blue with a maritime air. It recalls the North Sea and suits light, natural interiors with linen, rattan and limed wood.

To these come fine nuances such as blue-grey, dove blue or indigo, which appear above all in Oriental rugs and shimmer with life on natural wool. Nuances like these make the difference between a rug that is simply blue and one that creates an atmosphere. If you want to see the difference between two shades, the best method is to lay two rugs side by side: only in direct comparison does it become clear how warm or cool a blue really is.

A blue rug: Oriental or modern?

The basic question with blue rugs is: Oriental or design? Both directions have their strengths, and you will find both here in many variants.

Blue Oriental rugs traditionally carry the colour as a ground or in the borders. A deep indigo with ivory scrolling vines, a medallion on a dark blue field, or muted, slightly washed-out blues in a Ziegler rug: pieces like these read as timeless and bring craft and history into a room. Blue was always a prized colour in Oriental knotting, because indigo is among the oldest and most durable of dyes. A blue Oriental rug therefore suits more than a classical home; it also sets an interesting counterpoint in a modern interior.

Modern rugs in blue, by contrast, play with surface, texture and gradation. Plain rugs in navy or petrol, abstract designs, a vintage look with washed-out blues, or geometric patterns: here colour and design take the lead. Vintage in particular is popular, because the washed-out blues suit almost any interior. Modern models are the right choice when the rug should read as calm and flat, or when you prefer a clear, graphic scheme.

Our recommendation: if you own furniture with clean lines, a piece from our Oriental rugs adds warmth and depth. If the room already holds many patterns, through wallpaper or cushions, you will do better with a quiet model from our selection of modern rugs. In the end your taste decides, and the two mix extremely well.

Size and shape: which blue rug suits your room?

Size decides whether a rug holds a room together or reads as an island. As a rule of thumb: go one size up. In the living room, at least the front feet of sofa and armchairs should stand on the rug, and better the whole seating group. Common sizes are 160 x 230 cm for smaller seating corners, 200 x 300 cm for a normal living room and 250 x 350 cm or 300 x 400 cm for large spaces. In the dining room the rug should extend about 60 to 70 cm beyond the table all round, so that the chairs stay on it when pushed back.

Besides the classic rectangle, other shapes are worth considering:

• Blue runners stretch long hallways, kitchen runs and the sides of a bed. Their width is usually between 70 and 100 cm, with the length governed by the room.
• Round rugs loosen up strict floor plans and suit reading corners, round dining tables or a children's room. Blue in a round shape reads as especially soft and calm.
• Square rugs fit beneath square tables and in rooms that need a clear zone in the middle, for instance under a U-shaped seating arrangement.

If no standard size fits, blue rugs can also be made to your own measurements where needed. You can read more on our page about made-to-measure rugs.

Blue rugs room by room

Living room: here blue may appear on a large scale. A navy rug beneath a light seating group reads as elegant and calm, a light blue rug with a grey sofa as fresh and modern. Watch the size, so that the rug links the furniture rather than disappearing between it.

Bedroom: blue counts as the colour of relaxation and therefore suits a bed particularly well. Two blue runners to left and right are popular, or one large rug that sits under the bed and shows on three sides. A high-pile rug in light blue turns a bedroom into a place of rest, and soft wool gives a pleasant feeling underfoot.

Dining room: beneath the dining table, a dense, low-pile rug proves itself, one on which chairs move easily. Navy or a patterned Oriental rug forgives crumbs and small marks far better than pale plain shades.

Hallway: a blue runner makes the entrance of a flat or house welcoming and catches the eye. Robust, low-pile wool qualities stand up best to the coming and going, and a narrow wool runner fits even a tight hall.

Kitchen: blue may lie in the kitchen too, best as a runner in front of the worktop. Choose a low pile in wool that is easy to vacuum, and dab splashes off at once.

Children's room: light blue and sea blue bring calm to a children's room without reading as childish. A round rug becomes a play island and an accent of colour, a rectangular one defines the sleeping or reading zone.

Study: blue is held to aid concentration. A restrained rug in blue-grey or navy dampens footsteps and the noise of castors and creates a quiet atmosphere at the desk.

Combining blue: walls, furniture and decoration

Blue is rewarding to combine, because it settles into almost any colour scheme. A few combinations that work:

• Blue and white: the classic. White walls and a blue rug give a clear, maritime and timeless impression. Navy produces a high-contrast picture, light blue a gentle one.
• Blue and beige or sand: warm natural tones take the coolness out of blue. Linen curtains, a beige sofa and a petrol blue rug make a balanced, liveable room.
• Blue and wood: oak, walnut or teak bring warmth into play. The darker the wood, the lighter the rug may be, and the other way round.
• Blue and grey: a calm, modern combination. To stop the room turning cool, warm accents in brass, leather or terracotta help.
• Blue with mustard, rust or coral: complementary colours in small doses, as a cushion or a picture, bring a blue rug to life.

For walls the rule is: if the rug is a strong blue, keep the walls light and quiet. If the walls are coloured, in greige or sage for instance, choose a rug with muted blue nuances or an Oriental pattern that picks the wall colour up. Furniture in black and metal reads as refined on navy, pale furniture as light and modern. Accessories such as cushions, throws or vases in a second blue link rug and interior without everything having to share one shade. Often a single accessory that picks up the blue of the rug is enough. That creates a thread running through the whole house, which in this case happens to be blue.

Material, pile and care: low or high pile in blue

Wool and silk are the materials we rely on: wool as the base, silk in many Oriental rugs as an accent in the pattern or as a pure silk rug. Wool is ideal for a rug. It is elastic, dirt-repellent through its natural lanolin, regulates the humidity of a room and takes colour especially deeply. That is why blue reads richer and more alive on a wool rug than on many other materials. A hand-knotted wool rug also feels warm and soft, a sensation only natural fibres offer. Silk brings sheen and a fine drawing to the pattern and makes blues shift with the fall of light.

With pile height it is a question of effect and use. A low-pile rug is easy to care for, shows patterns clearly and is the right choice for hallway, dining room and kitchen. A high-pile rug in blue reads as soft and comfortable, dampens noise and suits a bedroom or reading corner. Hand-knotted Oriental rugs generally have a short to medium, very dense pile that lasts a long time with good care.

For care:

• Vacuum regularly, and on wool without a rotating brush, to protect the fibres.
• Dab liquids up at once with an absorbent cloth, never rub.
• Turn the rug occasionally, so that light and traffic wear it evenly.
• From time to time have it cleaned properly, so that the colours stay luminous. You will find information under rug cleaning.

Advice and showroom in Hamburg's Speicherstadt

Colours read differently on a screen than in a room, and with blue in particular the light makes a large difference. So we recommend seeing blue rugs in person before buying. Morgenland Rugs is a family business, and in our showroom in Hamburg's Speicherstadt you can unroll our selection of Oriental and modern rugs in blue side by side, compare them and judge them at leisure.

If you are unsure which blue, which size or which shape suits your home, use our personal rug consultation. We help with the choice between Oriental and design, give tips on combining with your furniture, and settle questions of material and care. Further questions, such as a particular measurement, we are glad to discuss with you in person, for example the possibilities of a made-to-measure rug.

Common questions about blue rugs

Which blue rug makes a room look larger?

Light blues such as pale blue or a gentle sea blue reflect more light and make a room appear wider. Size matters too: a rug that is too small divides the floor visually, while a generous rug that links the furniture makes the room read calmer and larger. A quiet pattern or a plain surface supports that effect and brings more repose to the room.

Should the rug be lighter or darker than the sofa?

A clear contrast usually works best. A navy rug suits a light sofa and grounds the seating group. A light blue or patterned rug suits a dark sofa and loosens the whole. Tone on tone works if texture or pattern provides some variation.

Which colours suit a blue rug?

White, beige, sand and grey form the quiet base. Wood in any shade warms blue up. As accent colours, mustard, rust, coral and brass work well depending on taste. Green too, especially sage or olive, harmonises with petrol and sea blue.

Should a rug be larger than the sofa?

Yes. The rug should extend at least 20 to 30 cm beyond the sofa on both sides and take in the front feet of all the seating. That creates a self-contained zone, and the rug reads as planned rather than placed by chance.