As fall creeps in with its shorter days and bare trees, it’s worth remembering something Edgar Allan Poe, master of gothic horror, once said about rugs.
How Did Edgar Allen Poe Feel about Rugs?
“The soul of the apartment is the carpet.”
Poe wasn’t wrong. While his aesthetic was…particular (he also declared that “representations of flowers should not be endured within the limits of Christendom”), his larger point stands: rugs shape the atmosphere of a room more than any other single piece of decor.
Today, our tastes are more relaxed, and floral rugs are perfectly acceptable, even beautiful, but Poe’s broader idea about the importance of flooring still resonates.
Why Area Rugs Matter in Interior Design
The rug is the anchor of the room’s decor.
Flat surfaces are the base layer in any design, and a rug will naturally catch the eye, especially in open spaces. A large rug can influence the mood of a room more than a single piece of furniture or wall decor. That’s why it’s important to choose rugs with visual presence and appropriate weight.
The rug interacts with every other item in the room.
While it’s easy to hide a clashing pillow or lampshade in a corner, your rug sits beneath everything: the furniture, the curtains, and even the people. Because it touches, or is adjacent to, so many elements, a rug with strong patterns or bold colors can either unify your space or make it feel chaotic. This is why many designers advise decorating around the rug, rather than trying to fit a rug into a pre-designed space.
Clashing colors or textures create discomfort, even subconsciously.
Ever walk into a room and feel uneasy without knowing why? That could be due to mismatched decor, often from an uncoordinated rug. Some visitors will silently critique it; others might mentally redecorate your entire space. The rug is usually where that discomfort starts.
Poe’s Carpet Philosophy in Today’s Language
Interior designers today echo Poe’s statement when advising clients: the carpet, or more commonly now, the area rug, does more than protect your floor. It defines your space. Our company motto at Bond Products—“Every hard floor needs a nice area rug”—is basically a modern version of Poe’s old-fashioned phrasing.
While he might faint at the sight of a modern abstract shag or floral design, Poe would likely appreciate the intention behind them: comfort, atmosphere, and aesthetic harmony.
