Living in a colorful house has given me plenty of opportunities to think and practice slow design. Color is such a massive part of the aesthetic in this home, and by using design theory, it’s been so much easier to make design decisions, like selecting a focal point in each room and adding complementary decor. 

Focal and complementary pieces are fun, but let’s talk for a moment about the unsung heroes of design: grounding elements. Grounding elements support the broader color and design concept while providing a firm foundation for the overall design.

Here’s how I think about the way all three of these elements work together:

Focal Element – This is the star of the show. The focal element is the first thing someone will notice in your space. 

Complementary Elements – These are the costars: decor accents and design elements that are noteworthy and complement the focal point but don’t steal the limelight from it. 

Grounding Elements – These elements might not be the first things you notice, but they hold everything together. They’re the breathing room in between the bold design elements. Even though these items aren’t the “stars,” there is still a lot of thought and care that goes into making these design decisions

Particularly because of the footprint they take up, rugs can completely change the feeling of a room with little effort. With the right rug, you can add drama, infuse calm, or change the color temperature from warm to cool. 

One of my favorite places to shop for rugs is ECARPETGALLERY because of the vast selection of rugs on their site (it’s long been my go-to place to shop for vintage rugs!). It’s a HUGE website, and one can get lost on here for hours (guilty), especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for offhand. 

If you know what you want your rug to do—draw the focus, complement the focal point, or ground the space—you can use these parameters to narrow down your selections to find the perfect rug.

Want some guidance as you begin your search? Find a couple of my favorite rugs below, plus my entire curated selection here!

Turkish Kayseri Vintage Wool Rug

Turkish Kayseri Vintage 4’9″ x 7’9″ Hand-knotted Wool Dark Copper Rug

$475

Turkish Ankara Teal Kilim

Turkish Ankara 5’5″ x 7’5″ Flat-weave Wool Teal Kilim

$250

Indian Tribal Gabbeh Kilim

Indian Tribal Gabbeh 2’11” x 5’1″ Flat-weave Wool Brown Kilim

$125

Pakistani Peshawar Khaki Rug

Pakistani Peshawar Finest 9’9″ x 13’9″ Hand-knotted Wool Khaki Rug

$2,025

Turkish Red Kilim

Turkish Bold and Colorful 4’0″ x 5’9″ Flat-weave Wool Red Kilim

$175

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Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.