Dwell On This: Layer Your Rugs

A few years ago, in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, I hiked several miles beyond the ruins into the surrounding canyons to reach a stony precipice where a lone tea vendor had set up a tent. His was the last stop on the trail, catering to parched hikers stubborn enough to make it this far. The reward was a view that literally took my breath away—and a refuge from the hot desert sun. Taking a seat to sip on a brew, I noticed a rich tapestry of layered rugs, beautiful in its simplicity and ultra comfortable to lounge on. I would return home inspired to recreate the cozy refuge from memory. 

While I had no intention to purchase a caravan of rugs to drape across the entire floor like my Bedouin tea vendor, I could integrate the idea in a more approachable fashion. In the living room, I used a large woven jute rug to create a border around a smaller, vibrant design; in the bedroom, a long, narrow rug runs diagonally across a more generous covering. In both cases, the arrangement strategically guides the eye toward seating or the bed while providing a soft cushion underfoot. If this all seems a bit maximalist, try layering rugs of the same or similar colors, but with different textures or patterns.  

An unexpected bonus was that each room felt more hushed and intimate, the plush surface dampening sound, reminiscent of that oasis in Petra.

Illustration by Mar Hernández