Do you have a rug in your dining room!? I know some people steer clear of them in places where food is involved, but today we're here to show you how great it can be! Rugs are a practical way to define a dining space visually while adding color, personality, and texture. Here's how…

Sometimes a rug can be your muse! In this space, we started with this rug as inspiration. We love this rug for so many reasons—it has a neutral base, colorful accents, and brings an amazing dose of texture with the bits of shag.

Match your furniture with your wall. We love the mix of the dark green and navy blue with the pop of coral in the rug, so we used those three colors as building blocks for this dining space while adding in blush to lighten and soften the room. A really fun way to tie furniture into a space is to paint a main piece in the exact color as the wall, like we did with the dining table here. When doing this, it's really important to make sure you bring in lots of accent pieces in contrasting colors so that not everything is monochromatic.

Credenza for storage! If your dining room has enough space, bring in a credenza! They're great for tucking away items in the dining area (special plates, serving pieces, etc.) while also giving you a spot on top to display photos, make a little mini bar, or set up appetizers or desserts for a party. We love this one because it's a nice neutral white BUT has a really pretty scallop detail on it that brings in texture and fun to the space.

Mix in metals! Metallic details are a great way to add sophistication simply. It's sleek, chic, and gives any space a touch of glam. For this space, we brought in these great chairs with velvet cushions and gold framing.

What are your thoughts on rugs in a dining room? Do or don't?

Sources shown: Target Pirouette paint, Ban.do Forever Busy decal*, Lulie Wallace woman painting*, Banquet You Are Awesome print, Oh Joy patterned mat DIY, Society 6 women in yellow print by Isabelle Feliu*, Target Bonsai paint (past season), Target mirror, Young House Love credenza*, Anthropologie green canister, Anthropologie white canister, Poketodashed line canister, Leah Reena Goren tray, Anthropologie speckled metal bowls, vintage striped glasses, Lamps Plus pink lamp*, Arro Home rug (past season), Wayfairchairs*, Target round white pillow, Anthropologie plates, Ikea black flatware, Anthropologie bird glasses, CB2 napkins (past season), Anthropologie pink & green striped pot, Willful Goods marbled salad servers*, Anne & Kate swizzle sticks, Anthropologie woman vase, vintage gold pitcher, Xenia Taler coasters. 

{Photos by Lily Glass, Concept/Production/Styling by Julia Wester, Production Assistance by Jess Hong. Written by Traci Michael and Joy Cho.}