The Transformative Power of Irregular Rugs and Runners for 2024

In today’s interior design world, modern irregular rugs and runners stand out as versatile, statement-making pieces that elevate any room. Traditional rugs are symmetrical and standard, but contemporary irregular rugs and runners are circular, geometric, and organically shaped.

In this article, we share styling tips, explore odd-shaped rugs, and highlight our favorite modern irregular rugs for 2024.

How To Style Irregular Rugs

Styling irregular rugs and runners requires a balance of creativity and strategic design. It’s essential to consider the room’s overall aesthetic and layout, especially if you have an odd-shaped room. However, don’t be afraid to experiment with different textures, patterns and colours. Here are few of our top tips to provide you with irregular rug styling inspiration!

Define Zones

Modern rugs play a crucial role in interior design by helping to define areas within a room. Unusual area rugs and runners are particularly great for defining zones in a space, due to their shape variety. If you have an irregular room layout with a curve or an obscure point, an irregular funky carpet will suit perfectly. This is great because not everybody has a perfect rectangular or square living room.

For example, if you have a bay window, an odd shaped rug with a curved side would be a lovely option for the space. Consider using a large irregular rug to anchor the seating area in a living room. But also, a narrow irregular runner can indicate a pathway. Strategically placing irregular rugs  can create distinct areas within a room while maintaining a cohesive design scheme.

If your room is particularly hard to define, we can create a custom rug with the exact measurements and shape required. We have worked with many clients worldwide to bring their unique rug vision to life.

Learn more about our Bespoke rug design service here.

Multiple Sized Rugs

Consider the scale of the room and the furniture within it when styling irregular rugs and runners. Experiment with adding 2 or 3 odd shaped rugs in varying sizes and shapes to create an eclectic and curated aesthetic, ensuring that the rugs complement each other without overwhelming the space. This style can come in handy if you have an odd shaped room and need help anchoring your furniture within the space – if you have an irregular room get an irregular rug!

Irregular Wall Hangings

While modern rugs are traditionally meant for the floor, it is sometimes overlooked that you can hang an irregular rug on your wall as a striking piece of art. Odd shaped rugs make a powerful statement when displayed on a wall, adding interest and texture and giving oil paintings a run for their money!

Many of our clients choose to display our Vibrant Contemporary Rugs as wall hangings. To see them in action, take a look at our client testimonials here where you’ll spot irregular area rugs from our collection hanging on their walls as art.

Explore our blog, “Using Designer Rugs as Wall Hangings” and discover how to install your modern rug as a wall hanging, as well as the benefits modern rugs have when displayed on the wall.

Pair with Unusual Furniture

The unique shapes and asymmetrical designs of both irregular furniture and irregular rugs complement each other beautifully. For example, the iconic Noguchi table, with its organic silhouette and sculptural form, pairs perfectly with odd-shaped rugs, enhancing fluidity and movement. Both the Noguchi coffee table and irregular rugs are statement pieces, amplifying each other’s visual impact when paired together. The Noguchi table features a clear glass top, allowing you to admire your modern irregular rug beneath.

Another great pairing is the Womb Chair, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1948. Created as part of Saarinen’s exploration into organic form, it’s an inviting, comfortable lounge chair. The Womb Chair, paired with an irregular rug and the Noguchi coffee table, makes any home interior instantly contemporary and unique.

Pair with Unique Accessories

As well as furniture, styling irregular rugs with unusual home accessories can also infuse a space with personality and charm. To achieve an eclectic and visually compelling look, consider mixing textures, shapes, colours, and artisanal pieces.

For instance, pair the irregular carpet with handmade functional sculptures like these beautiful ‘Infinite’ floor lamps by Alicja Strzyzynska, which are initially cast in plaster then carved by hand and sealed with matt varnish, available through Rossana Orlandi.

You could also consider the magnificent ‘Fungus Vases’ by David Valner Studio, which are functional objects that draw inspiration from the fungus’s shape, colour and surfaces, and of course the awe of their uncanny beauty. Handcrafted in delicate glass, their family design studio is based in Czech Republic, where they follow traditional glassmaking techniques. Also seen on Rossana Orlandi.

You could also try exploring the possibilities of unusual artwork, like multidisciplinary artist Kimathi Mafafo whose practice ranges from embroidery and oil painting to installation. Her practice celebrates the black female, while depicting abstract forms often inspired by lush greenery and drapery. The tactical material of fabrics combined with the plush material found in a wool rug could be the perfect combination, producing a warm and comforting environment.

Mafafo often uses the fold of the fabric to create her irregular shapes, seen in work such as ‘Untitled 10’ (2021), which is sewn and stitched to create curves and creases, leaving it to hang where it naturally falls instead of stretching it onto a rectangular or square frame.

Types of Irregular Rugs

Irregular Geometric Rugs

Characterized by shapes like squares, rectangles and triangles, geometric rugs are often arranged in repetitive patterns or symmetrical layouts. Thus, creating visually appealing and structured designs. An example of this is the After Matisse Rug by Sonya Winner, which features layers of coloured squares, and overlapping hues creating sharp geometric shapes in an irregular outline. When styling an irregular geometric rug, think about other furnishings. Try and echo the shapes within your.  For the After Matisse Rug, a good option could be a coffee table with sharp points instead of curves, or some contemporary colour block wall art.

Irregular Circle Rugs.

Irregular circular rugs, as the name suggests, feature a circular shape rather than the traditional rectangular or square form. These rugs offer a minimalist option for those seeking an unusual area rug, while still defining zones and adding interest. For example, The Deep Sunset Rug by Sonya Winner uses a rich palette of reds, yellows, purples, and pinks, inspired by a Middle Eastern sunset. Its unique shape makes it a perfect focal point in dining or open-plan seating areas, especially under a glass circular table, creating a glowing conversation space.

Irregular Illusion Rugs

Rug design is an art form that inspires creative thinking, making an irregular illusion rug a fun feature for your space. Whether it’s a rug with a captivating design that shifts as you walk around it or an irregular shape that defies expectations, these pieces transform a room into a dynamic, visually stimulating environment.

A great example is the Amoeba Sunset Rug, a collaboration between Sonya Winner and artist Yoni Alter. Yoni’s work blends graphic shapes and vibrant colors, while Sonya’s rug design expertise results in a series of irregular modern rugs with optical illusions. You can see the collection here. 

The Sunset colorway features a gradient of warm hues with violet and blue accents, evoking a sunset’s beauty. The gradient creates visual twists, giving the illusion of movement, and brings excitement to any space.

You can delve deeper into this unique rug collaboration and read about more about their design journey here.

Irregular Organic Rugs

Irregular organic-shaped rugs add natural whimsy and artistic flair to any space. These odd-shaped rugs embrace curves, waves, and asymmetry, mimicking nature’s organic forms. One example is the Lichen Greige Rug, created in collaboration with Alice Hislop, inspired by the intricate patterns of lichens. Lichens, with over 18,000 species covering 8% of the planet’s surface, influence this rug’s wavy edges and intricate wool carving. This irregular organic rug captivates with its craftsmanship, bringing weaving to a new level as an art form. Modern organic rugs like this are perfect for nature lovers who want to bring the outdoors in, while enhancing their home’s luxurious, modern feel.

You can read more on this irregular rug collaboration and follow its design process here.

Irregular Runners

Irregular runners must also not be overlooked! As you walk down your corridor or hallway, these unique pathways create movement and flow. Each step becomes a tactile experience, as your feet navigate the curves and contours of the irregular carpet. Beyond their obvious practical functions, odd shaped runners have the power to transform mundane hallways into captivating passageways.

Irregular modern runners inject personality and charm into the often forgotten areas, infusing them with energy and style. Whether a subtle accent or bold statement, irregular shaped runners elevate narrow spaces, making them more inviting and inspiring.

Pictured here, the Sonia and Sonya Runner by Sonya Winner, a colourful irregular carpet to adorn your floors. For this design, Sonya Winner finds inspiration in iconic artist Sonia Delaunay to create this beautiful modern irregular runner. Also made as an irregular circular rug, using a variation of colourful semicircles arranged within an unusual rug shape.

Explore more about the inspiration behind the Sonia and Sonya Rug and Runner here.

Conclusion

Breaking boundaries and pushing rug design limits, these unconventional irregular rugs and runners add uniqueness and creativity to any space. With distinct silhouettes and shapes, odd-shaped rugs challenge the traditional rectangular or square format, offering a modern aesthetic.

If you’re feeling inspired by these beautiful irregular rugs and runners, and would like to explore the rest of Sonya Winner’s unusual rug designs, view our full Modern Rug and Runner Collection here a. To request a complimentary visualisation service so you can see our award winning designer rugs placed digitally in your room(s) and the transformational effect they will have.

If you need assistance in choosing some rugs for visualisation, please book a free video consultation with our design team by emailing enquiry@sonyawinner.com or call us +44 (0) 203 283 8776.