A laundry room without a rug feels industrial in all the wrong ways. But add said hero accessory, and even clunky machines and stacks of clothing bins start to look quite charming. My go-to is anything harlequin. Diamonds, not squares; it’s a pattern that, having interviewed designers on this exact subject, I know reads expensive for its Euro-theatre roots. The geometry imposes a little order on the laundry piles; the theatricality makes you forget you’re looking at a washing machine.
Which is why I might be Rugs USA’s Adelaide Rug’s number one fan. For one, it’s indoor/outdoor, so the splash zone poses little threat. More importantly, it comes in black-on-beige, beige-on-brown, and cream-on-tan, letting you dial the harlequin drama up or down with the contrast. A very pretty rug for a very practical room.
This antique-inspired performance design is surprisingly game for laundry day. It comes in three neutral colorways and several sizes and shapes, including runners and rounds, with a 4.6-star rating across 157+ reviews.
At just $59 for a fairly substantial 4’ x 6’ size, this is a design that could just as easily exist in a 400-year-old Italian villa. It’s soft underfoot – no small mercy during long standing sessions – but also low-pile, highly durable, and resistant to mold, mildew, and stains. That’s long for: it won’t smell! If it can sit pretty outside, rain or shine, you'd best believe it can survive the laundry room and a little splish-splash of detergent. Easy.
Better still, cleaning this fancy-looking rug is actually much less fussy than most things you’ll contend with in here, like getting an oil stain out of a silk shirt (rest in peace…). Hose it down, add a bit of dish soap, give it a quick scrub. Unlike the jeans currently hanging over every available surface, the Adelaide is engineered to dry fast. One less annoying air-dry to-do.
Beyond preventing slips and looking stately on its own, the Adelaide makes every laundry room essential around it (basic hampers, wiry drying racks, detergent bottle collections, and worse) appear a little more intentional, and feel a lot more ‘living room.’
We’re scouting for grace and grit in equal measure. Here are a few more timelessly tasteful styles for a more ergonomic, elegant laundry room.
This evergreen-accented Lulu and Georgia number brings the outside in with a mesmerizing botanical grid, adding a fresh touch to what isn’t always the freshest space. Its tiled look takes the harlequin idea above somewhere softer and is especially lovely in a sun-soaked laundry room.
The only thing better than one border is two. This best-selling flatweave pairs a subtle chevron with what looks like jute, but is actually much softer (and stronger) performance olefin. Choose from several punchy Sunbrella canvas borders to wake up a sleepy space, with best-in-class comfort, color retention, and cleanability to boot.
Traditional tapestry motifs turn back time even further than the already-classic harlequin, especially in this sweet, grounding mix of chocolate brown, soft peach, and blue. Super soft underfoot and rich with character, this is the most effortless fit for an older home.
Laundry rooms aren’t the only unlikely space screaming for some underfoot comfort this fall. We’ve also rounded up our favorite kitchen runner rugs, borrowing a layered trick you’ve probably admired in many a Nancy Meyers movie.
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.