Kilim rugs in the living room, 10 pairings that work

A kilim rug in the living room brings colour, pattern and a flat texture that suits a contemporary home as well as a warmer, more classic space. Without a plan, though, it can end up as a splash of colour that has nothing to do with the rest of the room. Here you will find 10 concrete pairings, organised by style and situation, followed by the right sizes, the mistakes to avoid and the essential care.

Why a kilim works in the living room

A kilim is handwoven with no pile: it is thin, so it does not lift the sofa legs, it does not catch under doors and it is easy to move. Its geometric pattern sits well with both modern furniture and period pieces. The general rules for styling one at home are in our kilim guide; here we look at it room by room and style by style.

Decorating with a kilim, 10 living room pairings

1. A neutral or pastel sofa with a multicoloured kilim

A beige, light grey or powder pink sofa is the easiest base: it lets the kilim take centre stage. Choose a kilim with a light ground and red or yellow motifs, then repeat just one of those colours in a cushion or throw.

2. Kilim and warm wooden floors

On oak or walnut, the brick reds, ochres and browns of Afghan kilims blend with the grain of the wood. To keep the pattern from disappearing, choose a kilim with a strong contrast between ground and motifs. For other floors, read how to match your rug to the floor.

3. Kilim and cognac leather

A cognac leather armchair or sofa with a kilim in reds or oranges creates a warm, library style living room. Add a touch of matt black metal, such as a floor lamp or side table, to lighten the look.

4. Kilim layered over jute

If the kilim you love is smaller than the space, lay it over a larger jute rug: the jute defines the seating area, the kilim brings the colour. Leave 20 to 30 cm of jute showing on each side. You will find suitable bases in our jute rugs collection. If you like the Moroccan look, with kilim and Berber rugs together, see our guide to decorating in Moroccan style.

5. A minimal black and white living room

With white walls and black or graphite furniture, an ivory kilim with a graphic pattern keeps the clean look without making the room feel cold. The Kilim Box Ivory, in wool and cotton, is a good example: visible texture, an almost neutral colour.

6. Kilim and the green of houseplants

Reds and oranges are complementary to green: two or three large plants, such as a ficus or a monstera, next to the rug make both stand out. For a tone on tone effect, look for a kilim with a green ground, such as the Kilim Tonum Green with its patchwork effect.

7. A kilim by the fire in winter

In front of the fireplace a wool kilim keeps your feet warm and marks out the relaxing area. Wool resists sparks better than synthetic fibres, but it is not fireproof: keep the edge well away from the fire opening and use a spark guard.

8. Two coordinated kilims in an open plan space

In an open plan kitchen and living room, two kilims from the same colour family separate the zones without walls: a large one under the sofa, a smaller one under the table. They do not need to match exactly, they just need to share one or two colours.

9. A kilim runner leading to the living room

In the hallway leading to the living room, a long, narrow kilim previews the colours of the room. Choose a width that leaves about 10 cm of floor on each side, so the passage looks tidy.

10. A modern striped kilim in a contemporary home

A striped kilim, such as the multicoloured Kilim Hippie, works with clean lined sofas, light wood and design lamps. Run the stripes along the length of the room to make it look longer.

What size kilim for the living room?

The size depends on how you place the kilim in relation to the sofa. As a rule, the rug should be at least as wide as the sofa.

Every layout is explained, with examples, in our guide to the rug under the sofa. A kilim is light, so always use an anti slip underlay: it keeps the rug in place and extends its life.

Mistakes to avoid with a kilim in the living room

• Too many patterns: a kilim, patterned cushions and floral curtains compete with each other. If the rug is busy, keep everything else plain.
• Too small a size: a kilim floating in the middle of the room makes it look smaller and messier.
• No underlay: on tiles or wooden floors a flatweave slides and creases.
• Rotating brush: a vacuum with a beater bar can pull out the weft threads.
• Sun always on the same spot: colours fade unevenly. Turn the kilim 180 degrees from time to time.

Kilim care in brief

Vacuum once a week with the plain nozzle, on both sides if the kilim is reversible. Twice a year, flip or rotate it to spread the wear. Blot stains straight away with a white cloth and cold water, without rubbing. For a full wash, use a specialist rug cleaner: every step is in our guide on how to clean oriental rugs.

Living room kilims at CarpetLiving

In the kilim rugs collection you will find handmade models for every style. Four ideas linked to the pairings in this guide:

• Kilim Sivas des 1: handmade in wool, with geometric motifs, for a neutral or pastel sofa, from about 42 euros.
• Striped Kilim Hippie: handmade in multicoloured wool, for a contemporary home, from about 34 euros.
• Kilim Box Ivory: ivory wool and cotton, for a minimal living room, from about 66 euros.
• Kilim Walter Multicolour: 100% wool and a geometric design, for a statement piece, from about 400 euros.

To compare other styles, browse our designer rugs for the living room. You have 14 days from delivery to withdraw from your purchase, which is useful for seeing the colour in your own light.

Kilim in the living room, key points

• A kilim is thin and versatile: it works under modern sofas and with leather, wood and plants.
• With a neutral sofa, let the kilim bring the colour and repeat just one shade in your textiles.
• If your kilim is small, layer it over a larger jute base.
• For a three seater sofa the most versatile size is 160x230 cm, always with an anti slip underlay.
• Vacuum without a rotating brush and turn the rug now and then for even wear.