When it comes to decorating with color, pattern, and personality, few designers do it better than Justina Blakeney. We recently sat down with the Los Angeles–based creative and founder of the Jungalow brand for our Layered Lives series to dive deep into her design philosophy around good vibes – spaces that feel alive, layered, and full of character and charm. Her signature mix of vibrant textiles, organic forms, and lush greenery has made her one of the most influential voices in modern bohemian style.
So when Justina offers a decorating tip, it’s worth paying attention. In this case, it’s about one of her favorite ways to transform a room: with rugs. It's a subject on which she is an expert, having designed rugs for brands such as Ruggable and Loloi.
Far more than floor coverings, she sees them as art – tactile canvases that anchor a space, add warmth, and create rhythm through pattern and placement. Here, Justina shares her simple but powerful trick for layering rugs in a way that’s as creative as it is grounding.
Justina's best rug layering trick that always works
‘Rugs add so much warmth to a space,’ Justina says. ‘And one of the things I love about them is being able to have more than one on the floor, but set at different rotations. This can totally change the feel of the space.’
Playing around with her Ruggable collection, Justina has a key rug placement rule that's somewhat unexpected. She explains how she likes to place one pointing away from the sofa and one at right angles to it, creating a sense of having a modern, irregular tapestry that is a lot like creating an art installation or gallery wall, but lying horizontally instead of hanging vertically.
‘I find this approach to be very grounding,’ Justina says. ‘Rugs are always something I take very seriously as they have an important effect on any room.’
She doesn't just pair or place any rugs, though. ‘My first launching point for choosing the right rugs is the color,’ Justina says. ‘And I want to find shades that contrast with what else is in the room. You know, floors can hold a lot of color, so you can afford to be brave and bright in this area. Even in more minimal rooms, where there is a lack of color elsewhere, you can throw in a more punchy rug and all of a sudden you have an explosion of decor.’
So take this as your permission to be brave with layering rugs, to place them at right angles, and to use them to jolt even the most pared-back of palettes. It's the Justina Blakeney way.
Shop Justina's style
Plants and botanicals have always been a part of Justina's Jungalow aesthetic, so it's no surprise to see them cropping up in one of her designs for Ruggable.
Justina believes that you can be bolder with color on the floor than you might be elsewhere in the room, so this very strongly-hued rug from her Ruggable collection should do the trick.
With its peach, red, and terracotta tones, this graphic rug by Justina Blakeney would warm up even the coolest of schemes.
It's worth remembering that Justina hasn't just designed rugs for Ruggable, but pillows too – an easier and more affordable purchase that still allows you to mix her style into your home.
Rugs don't have to be bold in color to make a big impact, and a graphic pattern can do the same job. This design from Justina's Ruggable collection is more neutral in palette but just as graphic.
Justina takes a lot of inspiration from art, and is currently fascinated by the work of Algerian artist Baya. Her graphic use of color can be seen in this design from Justina's Ruggable collection.
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