We’re doing a little happy dance over our new rug, hence the celebratory title. Yes, it’s a bit theatrical around here—dancing, singing about how good the room feels—but mostly we’re just thrilled with how much the rug changed the space.
Here’s the new rug:
We couldn’t be happier with it.
For comparison, here’s a recent shot of the space before the rug.
It’s amazing what a single rug—even a neutral, “safe” jute rug—can do to pull a room together and provide balance in a 15 x 16′ bedroom (15 x 21′ if you include the sink nook). There are other subtle changes happening in the room that we’ll cover in a bit, but about the rug: we love that it’s laid horizontally. That placement still leaves about three feet of hardwood visible on each side of the bed and roughly six feet between the foot of the rug and the wall (actually around eleven feet to the sink nook), which creates great flow and visual balance. Here’s a more rug-focused shot so you can see how it sits with the hardwood around it:
At first we assumed we’d place the rug vertically since the room feels tall, but we taped each orientation on the floor before ordering and realized we preferred more rug on either side of the bed to step onto. So it went in crosswise, and the wider placement feels more balanced. Here’s a wide shot of the entire room:
We kept our faux sheepskin rugs on either side of the bed because there’s nothing better than stepping out of bed onto something soft. Visually, the white sheepskins help create a triangle with the feathery white light fixture and the white accents on the bed, which adds to the room’s balance. And yes, that fluffy center cushion on the bed was an inexpensive find—an easy way to add texture and an extra cozy touch.
We’ve always been fans of jute. This rug turned out to be softer than any jute rug we’ve owned before, and the subtle nubby diamond pattern was exactly what we hoped for: interesting enough to add texture, but not so bold that it competes with our patterned duvet. The color is just right—not too orange or overly tan—so the rug stands out from the floor instead of blending into it, which helps it fulfill its role of anchoring the room visually.
Now, about the other tweaks: initially we hesitated to remove the top slats from the headboard, but after living with the room and bringing in the rug, we decided to give it a try. Removing those decorative top slats didn’t affect the bed’s sturdiness and it opened the space visually. It also allowed us to raise the light fixture slightly without the petals bumping into the headboard. The bed’s “haircut” ended up being exactly what the room needed—sometimes a small change can make a big difference.
We’re enjoying these adjustments for now, but the room is still a work in progress. Plans include adding wall art, bringing in an antique dresser, eventually upgrading the nightstands, and possibly changing the lamp shades. We may add small finials to each bedpost for a more finished look, but we’ll wait and see. One small delight: even after raising the ceiling light a bit, it still reflects in the mirror above the dresser when we lie down, which feels cozy and intentional.
About the short bench at the foot of the bed: we removed it from some of the photos because it looked a touch top-heavy under the light. Ideally, we’d like a longer bench that matches the bed’s width, but for now the small bench stays because it serves a practical purpose—our dog hops on and off it to reach the taller bed. Here’s how the room actually looks with the bench in place:
Back to the rug: we love it, and so do our pets. The dog appreciates the traction and loves running circles on it, while our cat enjoys the texture and the nubby pattern. It’s funny how the same rug can please everyone for different reasons. That blend of practical comfort and visual warmth is exactly what we wanted.
To finish, here’s a reminder of how the room looked a couple of months ago. The difference is subtle but significant—the room now feels much more personal and finished. And of course, the holiday tree in the background during that older photo is a cheerful bonus.
We’re delighted with the change—the rug really made the room feel like ours.