The Settle
The Best Affordable Area Rugs
By Goldie ·
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You do not need to spend a thousand dollars to make a room look finished. The trick to an affordable rug that doesn’t look cheap is knowing where to shop and what to prioritize. Here’s the settle.
The pick: Loloi II
Loloi is the rare brand that gives you a designer look at a non-designer price. The Loloi II line is power-loomed rather than hand-knotted, which is exactly why it’s affordable, and the designs come from collaborations with names like Amber Lewis, Chris Loves Julia, and Joanna Gaines. You get current, tasteful patterns, sold widely through Amazon, Wayfair, and Home Depot, often with many styles under $300.
For most people furnishing a real room on a real budget, this is the best balance of style and price you can buy.
Biggest selection on a budget: Boutique Rugs
If you want the widest net, Boutique Rugs carries an enormous range across every style, with most rugs under $550, free shipping, and deals running almost all the time. It’s the place to go when you have a specific size, color, or pattern in mind and want options.
Best affordable washable: Ruggable
If the room in question is a kitchen, entry, or anywhere spills happen, the smartest budget buy is a washable rug rather than a cheap one you’ll replace. Our Ruggable review covers why, starting around $89.
When to spend a little more
The one thing budget rugs rarely give you is genuine hand-knotted wool. If you want a heirloom piece for a living room you’ll keep for a decade, that’s where a brand like Lulu & Georgia or Serena & Lily earns its price. We weighed exactly that in are Serena & Lily rugs worth it and are Lulu & Georgia rugs worth it.
How to buy affordable without it looking cheap
- Get the size right. A correctly sized budget rug beats an expensive one that’s too small. See the rug size guide.
- Choose the right material for the room. Durability is where cheap rugs fail first. The material guide shows what holds up where.
- Lean neutral. Simple patterns and mid-tones hide wear and date more slowly than trend colors.
Frequently asked
- What is the best affordable rug brand?
- Loloi II. Power-loomed designer collaborations with Amber Lewis, Chris Loves Julia, and Joanna Gaines, many under $300, sold through Amazon, Wayfair, and Home Depot.
- Are cheap area rugs worth buying?
- Yes, if you get the size and material right. A correctly sized budget rug in the right fiber beats an expensive rug that is too small or wrong for the room.
- Where can I find the biggest selection of budget rugs?
- Boutique Rugs. An enormous range with most rugs under $550, free shipping, and near-constant deals.
- What is the best cheap rug for kitchens and entryways?
- A washable one. In spill zones, a Ruggable from about $89 is smarter than any cheap rug you would end up replacing.