Have you ever walked into a room and felt like something was missing? Chances are it felt that way because there wasn’t a rug in the room. Whether you want to add a bit of texture, incorporate a dash of color or tie everything together, rugs are a fabulous way to make the room feel complete.

However, selecting the perfect rug for your home can be challenging, so today I wanted to bring in one of my go to rug experts to help make the process a little easier for you. She’ll be sharing her insight on the latest rugs trends and giving you a few tips on how to select the best rug for your home and budget.

Without further ado, I’m excited to introduce you to Carol of Carol Piper Rugs.

LU: Tell our readers about you!

CP: For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for art, design, and textiles. I wove my first rag rug for my mom at camp when I was 12, so weaving has always been fun for me. I minored in Art in undergraduate and graduate school and studied weaving on the side. When I was able to, I began seriously studying weaving at the Camden Art Institute in London.

As my children got older, I started designing and selling rugs out of my home in the early 1990’s. Eventually, a friend invited me to sell my rugs in her antique shop at 1809 West Gray. Since then as my business has grown, we’ve taken over the building. We now sell our rugs and textiles in Houston, at our second shop in Dallas and throughout the region. I’ve loved every minute of it.
Carol Pieper, Dining Room, Rustic Farmhouse

LU: What is your favorite rug style?

CP: My favorite rug is the last one I fell in love with, which happens many times during each day. I’m completely charmed by exquisite designs, beautiful fibers, unique color combinations, exciting drawings and interesting tactile experiences. I’m equally devoted to antique, new, vintage and of course, custom rugs. My tastes and styles are wide open which makes it easy to collaborate with each designer or client to help determine the very best rug possibilities fit their needs.

LU: Where have you traveled to source your most unique rugs?

CP: Domestically, we travel to NYC and the west coast to collaborate with our exclusive rug and textile sources to pick out the best inventory for our stores. We get to see the latest trends from abroad, especially those from Europe, as they gradually appear in the US market.

Our own line of rugs is made directly from the mills in India and Nepal. We design these rugs from inception to completion, which is most exciting! It gives us the opportunity to interpret our designers’ creative ideas. Luckily, they happen to be our best source of inspiration.
Carol Pieper, Rug Selections

LU: Is there a certain type of rug that you see trending now?

CP: Over the last several years, the market has trended toward new rugs. These rugs have tended to be mainly quiet in color, geometric in design and have an understated, classical style. However, there are several colors that have emerged from the past with a bing bang – pink, orange and indigo blue.

During my most recent visit to New York, I began to see more new and exciting rugs with bold colors, dramatic reinterpretations of the beautiful 19th century antique rugs, and are you ready for it..rugs with large oversized flowers! Another popular design was to have whole rugs dedicated to one exquisite, unpredictable color woven with different weaves, textures and variations of fibers.

They’re gorgeous and I’m excited to be introducing some examples of the antique and colorful rugs I saw into our showroom, alongside the sophisticated tone-on-tone rugs I’ve loved for years. I can’t wait for you to come see the splashes of color!

LU: If budget is of huge concern, what’s the best investment piece?

CP: No matter how much money you spend, the best investment is to buy a rug you absolutely love. I like to think of rugs as a song you enjoy hearing. If you enjoy it today, there’s a high likelihood you’ll want to listen to it again and again.

However, there’s a golden rule about purchasing a rug. You can always count on an “enjoyment” return from your rug purchase, but don’t expect a monetary return. The latter has been proven to be almost impossible for decades, except in very rare exceptions. So when you purchase a rug make sure it’s because you love it!
When it comes to the price of a rug, the price is usually determined by size, the type of fibers used, and the weave. In general, smaller rugs and rugs that are machine made, flatweaves, tufted or “hand loomed” tend to be less expensive. Rugs made with wool, indoor and outdoor nylon, jute, hemp, seagrass, sisal or artificial silk are great alternatives that still give the space a very polished look. They’re great options if you have a limited budget.
Carol Pieper, Open Bright Bathroom, Neutral wood tones,

LU: If budget is of no concern, what’s the best investment piece?

CP: If budget is of no concern, consider a rug made with wool, silk, mohair, cashmere, or mercerized or fine cotton. You might also want to consider a rug made with metallic yarn or threads that have been spun with a combination of different fibers. And if you’re looking to add texture to a space, rugs that incorporate different types of weaves are perfect for that.

Another option if budget is no concern is to design a custom rug. I’ve worked with clients to create rugs based drawings and designs in many different colorways. Custom rugs are always so exciting to work on because the sky’s the limit when it comes to creative possibilities.

No matter your budget is, there are so many options in today’s market you can be sure you’ll find something exciting. At Carol Piper, we pride ourselves on providing rug selections that everyone would be proud to own. We believe in shopping by what’s chic instead of by price.
Whether you choose an antique, new or custom rug, the most important thing is to have fun while you’re shopping for the perfect rug!
Carol Pieper, Natural Rug,

Thank you so much Carol for sharing your tips and giving us an inside look at what’s trending in the rug market. I can’t wait to see all the exciting new pieces you’re bringing into your showroom!

I hope today’s post gave you some insight on how to select the perfect rug for your home. And if you’re looking for more rug inspiration, follow me on Instagram.