This is the single biggest rug mistake you can make, says Jake Arnold – and what to do instead

Jake Arnold is the undisputed master of textiles, and his celebrity clientele agrees. 

From Sophia Bush to John Legend and Katy Perry, the British-born, Los Angeles-located designer is admired for his unmistakable flair – combining a quintessential London aesthetic with a more relaxed Californian style. Though, his ventures expand beyond his eponymously-named studio. 

Jake Arnold's latest venture comes in collaboration with home decor powerhouse Lulu & Georgia, and to celebrate, the designer shared his aptly-timed tips with H&G. 

Knowing how to choose a rug that is the right size, color, and material for your space may seem like an easy task. However, as Jake Arnold explains, part of the process involves knowing what to avoid. This is the biggest mistake you can make when investing and what you should do instead. 

The biggest rug mistake you can make – according to Jake Arnold

'Sizing is key. We always design spaces with all of the furniture laid on top of the rug. Spaces designed with rugs that are too small often make rooms feel unfinished and not properly scaled,' Jake says. 'When in doubt with rugs, bigger is better.'

Navigating the world of rug trends can feel somewhat overwhelming, especially if you're already working with so many different textiles and colors in your home. And, while Jake may have already explained the biggest mistake you can make, it is equally important to know what you should do instead. The designer recommends starting with these three steps to success. 

1. Begin with materiality 

When choosing which rug to put in a space, Jake begins by considering materiality. 

'Do we want the rug to add texture, coziness, and pattern to anchor this room? We often turn to jute to add a more understated casualty to a room, we look for viscose or wool blend for a more formal luxurious feel – and pattern can often add interest to a more minimalist or pared-back space,' he says. 

2. Choose a rug to 'anchor your room' 

In our studio, we often start with furniture selections and fabrics simultaneously, and once those are more solidified, that’s when we think about layering in rugs. In our approach, rugs are meant to anchor the room and ground the space; often, they are not the main event of a room, and instead, we design and curate them to be complementary to the furniture pieces we select,' Jake says.

'With that in mind, we often think about what is missing from this room, whether that be texture, color, materiality, or pattern, and use the rug to incorporate some of those elements depending on the type of room it is and the existing palette we have already created.'

3. Use rugs as a neutral base against bolder prints

'Feel free to have fun with your furniture and the color of the rooms you're placing the rugs in. Experiment with print, whether that be on furniture, throw pillows, or even wallcoverings – the rugs are a neutral base that can work with pretty much anything.'

Jake's tips cover your room color ideas, too. He suggests painting your space 'something more impactful or bold or being playful with your furniture' to allow your rugs to sit as a stylish, neutral base. 'These rugs are meant to be versatile to work with all types of homes and styles and can handle a lot of variety when it comes to furnishings,' Jake adds. 

'I personally love mixing the jute styles with an unexpected stone or travertine table, the classic solid viscose hues with pieces upholstered in nubby mohairs and colored velvets, and the light linen embroidered rug with grainy woods.'

The collection will retail from $98-$4,698, ranging in size from 2x3 to 12x15, and select runner styles, exclusively on Lulu & Georgia's site.