Large green rugs

Muted sage and olive are the easiest to live with at 200 x 300 cm and above, because they behave almost like a neutral next to wood, linen and stone. Forest and dark green make a stronger statement and work best in rooms with plenty of natural light or pale walls to balance them. Mint and light green keep a large room feeling open.

Not on its own. What changes the feel of the room is the depth of the shade rather than the size of the rug, so a dark green at 240 x 300 cm will close a room in more than a sage green at the same size. If the room is short on daylight, a lighter or multi-toned green keeps the floor from reading as a solid dark block.

Let the rug lead, since it’s the biggest colour in the room. Warm greens such as olive sit well with tan leather, oak and brass, while cooler greens such as sage and forest pair more comfortably with grey, black and cooler metals. Keep the other large pieces in neutral tones and add colour through smaller items instead.