Luxury Mid-Century Modern Rugs

Embracing the iconic styles of the mid-20th century, our collection of luxury mid-century modern rugs epitomizes the essence of an era that celebrated clean lines, vibrant colors, and innovative patterns. Each mid-century rug in this collection beautifully blurs the line between classic aesthetics and contemporary sensibilities—a perfectly balanced fusion of modern sophistication and vintage charm. 

What Is a Mid-Century Modern Rug?

A mid-century modern rug reflects the design aesthetics of the geometric, minimalist mid-century modern era with compositions that focus on clean lines and a dynamic color palette. In mid-century modern interiors, rugs with abstract elements and bold hues were designed to complement the mustard, avocado, and tangerine-colored appliances or the furniture that stood out in space-age colors like bright red, gold, blue, and green.

The mid-century modern style harkens back to a simpler time. Mid-century modern rug design, reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s, brings a retro feel to a room, along with a sense of nostalgia. They don’t have to be vintage rugs; they just have to look like them.

What Is the History Behind Mid-Century Modern Rugs?

Mid-century modern rugs, as with the entirety of the mid-century design movement, emerged from a significant shift in design principles—from the ornate and elaborate toward clean lines, geometric shapes, and bold, nature-inspired tones. Influenced by Bauhaus and Scandinavian design, mid-century rugs feature the same seamless integration of form and function. 

Rug designers during the mid-century period crafted pieces that complemented the work of notable designers and architects such as Charles and Ray Eames and Arne Jacobson, who played crucial roles in shaping the design movement as a whole. The widespread influence of this design philosophy naturally extended to various aspects of interior decor, including luxury rugs.

Today, luxury mid-century modern rugs remain versatile and appealing for their balance of bold visual elements and a sense of understated elegance. 

What Is the Purpose of a Mid-Century Modern Rug?

The purpose of a mid-century modern rug is to showcase distinctive design elements that represent the bold, forward-thinking spirit of mid-century aesthetics. When you want an iconic look with a dash of whimsy, a mid-century modern area rug is the way to go. Here’s how these rugs serve key purposes within the context of mid-century design principles.

Space Definition

Rugs as decor pieces play an important role in defining specific areas within a room both through their placement and in the spirit of their design. Mid-century rugs contribute powerfully to the visual structure of a room. They can delineate spaces in an open-concept floor plan or draw the eye around different functional zones, such as a seating area. 

Aesthetic Elements

The essence of this style lies in showcasing quality pieces, which can be the rug itself or another focal point in the room. A mid-century modern rug can be geometric and give a room dimension while also warming up a space and making it cozy. If you choose to go with abstract mid-century modern, you not only have a functional rug; you own an art installation. 

Imagine an Old Fashioned or Shirley Temple sitting in a glass on the coffee table, a drink cart at arms-length. With elaborate patterns, angular elegance, and daring design, a luxury mid-century modern rug can bring together the classic, vintage look you want. 

Where Should I Put a Mid-Century Modern Rug?

A mid-century rug can be strategically placed in various areas to enhance the overall aesthetic of any room. Consider these mid-century modern rug ideas to find the right spot to accomplish your design vision. 

Living Room/Hallway

If your mid-century rug is plush and comfortable, with a high pile not unlike shag carpeting, consider placing it where bare feet can enjoy, such as a living room or hallway. These rugs harmonize particularly well in areas with warm wood tones and unfussy decor. 

Dining Room

A mid-century modern rug, with its inherent playfulness and frivolity when it comes to color, can inject liveliness in a formal or even stuffy dining room. If you want to be more authentic to the period, place a vintage rug in the space.

Outdoors

While your outside space may not be your first thought for a luxury mid-century modern rug, they are a great way to spruce up a patio or deck. Modern outdoor rugs are designed to withstand the elements and can make for a cozy, colorful exterior space.

Bedroom

A luxury mid-century modern rug can add a pop of color and serve as a focal point in a bedroom, especially against minimalist elements. Typically placed completely under the bed, a mid-century rug can also be anchored to the side of a bed, depending on the size of the room and bed.

What Are Some Examples of Mid-Century Modern Rugs?

These mid-century modern rug ideas resonate with the era’s artistic and design influences.

Tufenkian Artisan Carpets: Retro Trace White Chocolate

Retro Trace White Chocolate is an intricately sketched design with contoured lines in contrasting natural hues. The white field overlaid with dark chocolate brown creates a unique, abstract work of art for the floor. 

Retro Trace White Chocolate is available in our standard sizes of 3' x 5', 6' x 9', 8' x 10', 9' x 12', 10' x 14', and 12' x 16'. Custom sizes, runners, squares, and rounds are also available.

Tufenkian Artisan Carpets: Delmonico III

Sometimes magic happens in a color-saturated carpet. Delmonico III is hand knotted with 100% bamboo silk. This unexpected gem is a rug you'll want to see from every angle. 

Molecular Loop Rosehip is a vibrant fuchsia statement rug. It comes in these sizes: 2' x 3', 3' x 5', 6' x 9', 8' x 10', 9' x 12', and 10' x 14'.

Tufenkian Artisan Carpets: Cosmos Greyscale

Cosmos Greyscale is a handmade rug that features a striking design, reminiscent of a modern abstract painting. Eyes will glide downward in admiration of this artwork on the floor. This 100% wool rug was hand knotted in Nepal.

What Color Rug Is Best for Mid-Century Design Style?

Choosing the right color for a luxury mid-century modern rug involves consideration of the iconic color palette of the era. Here are color suggestions that align with the mid-century design style: 

• Earth Tones: Olive green, mustard yellow, burnt orange
• Vibrant Blues: Teal, aqua
• Bold Contrasts: Black or red against white
• Pastels: Light pink, light blue
• Muted Neutrals: Gray, beige, brown

When considering mid-century modern rug ideas to choose the right colors, aim for hues that were popular during the era while also keeping in mind the overall color scheme of your space. A balance of colors adds warmth and authenticity in combination with other elements in the room. 

If you don’t find the exact hues you envision in our existing collection of mid-century rugs, we offer a bespoke solution. Create a custom luxury mid-century modern rug.

Why Choose a Luxury Mid-Century Modern Rug?

A luxury mid-century modern rug offers myriad benefits, each contributing to the aesthetic look and sensory feel of your space. Well-crafted luxury mid-century rugs effectively capture the essence of the movement with a commitment to the iconic styles found in the design, the materials, and the construction of each piece. 

Luxury mid-century modern rugs adhere faithfully to the design principles and color palettes of the era with unique and carefully curated designs. These rugs are crafted with precision and impressive attention to detail through expert weaving techniques that ensure durability and longevity. Those qualities are also found in the beautiful, high-quality yarns—which gain their color with truly colorfast premium dyes—that make up the piece. 

A luxury mid-century modern rug remains an investment with intrinsic value that beautifully appreciates over time in your space, especially when well cared for. 

Discover Tufenkian Luxury Mid-Century Modern Rugs

From beginning to end, our collection of luxury mid-century modern rugs is a testament to impact, both in design and in purpose. 

The mission of Tufenkian Artisan Carpets involves making great products while contributing to a higher goal. Besides making the world’s finest high-quality, handmade rugs and giving one-on-one attention to customers and designers, we use our profits to engage in a range of humanitarian and development projects through the Tufenkian Foundation. 

Every rug purchase, including those in our luxury mid-century modern rug collection, supports the improvement of the local economy, environment, education, social justice, and opportunity in struggling countries like Armenia. Embrace the beauty and meaning in every Tufenkian mid-century rug and join us in our number-one goal: to leave the world better than we found it.