True story: I have a black and white rug, and I love it. As a minimalist (or at least attempting to be) who has a love for modern furniture and clean lines, it adds a bit of pattern to an otherwise pretty plain apartment. The one I have is striped, ICYWW. This adds dimension to my small living space and contrasts against my green velvet sofas and the rest of my matte black coffee table.
If like me, you wouldn't be caught with wild amounts of color in your home, but you need something fun to break things up, then you're onto a winner with a black and white rug. Geometric designs are popular in Scandi schemes and checkered rugs give all the YK2 interior vibes you've probably seen on Instagram. And while the chessboard rug trend is totally having a moment RN, you'll be pleased to know that monochrome styles will certainly never go out of fashion.
Timeless and ~glamorous~ enough to be on the silver screen, you really can't go wrong. If you need a bit more black-and-white inspo to get your old Hollywood glam on, here are a few of my favorite rug picks and how they're styled in real homes.
1. Earn your stripes
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Stripes are simple but super effective. I know you're probably picturing a crosswalk, but honestly, this classic pattern will maximize small spaces and inject fun where color can't. From animal print to clean pinstripe lines, there are lots of stripe styles to choose from. FYI: The first pick is the one I have in my home.
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2. Checkerboard
Checkered rugs are going viral right now, and I'm here for it. You may be able to get purple, pink, blue, cream, and other colored check rugs, but nothing beats the classic black and white chessboard in my eyes. Channel YK2 funk or bring back a bit of '70s punk with this checkboard trend.
3. It doesn't have to be bold
Yes, black and white are polar opposites, but rugs in these colors don't have to be so bold. Patterns like waves, curves, and geometric lines soften the starkness. You can be into Scandi-chic styles or in love with a super neutral scheme, and a black and white rug still works.
