Quick Q+A: The perfect rug for a sage green room : Annie Elliott Design

Dear Annie, What are the best rugs to pair with a sage green color wall? – Izzy via TikTok

First, let’s clarify what we mean by “sage green.” I tend to think of this color as a light grayish green, popular at Pottery Barn (along with cranberry) in the, what, mid-aughts?

Grayish green color walls — Benjamin Moore’s Sweet Spring

So my first question is: can you re-paint the walls? Because THAT “sage green,” that dead, listless, belly of a dead frog color makes me sad. (Do not confuse “calm” with “soul-sucking.”)

If the light green to which you refer has a little more life, a little more yellow, or a little more brightness, like Benjamin Moore’s popular Silver Sage, I will be much relieved:

Room with green beadboard — Benjamin Moore’s Silver Sage. Do you see the difference? It’s a little clearer and less muddy

But let me not get too far off track: you asked for rug recommendations! With any interpretation of “sage green,” I suggest raising the happiness level of the room by using a bold, multi-colored rug — preferably one with a lot of red, dark orange, and/or pink in it.

You could use an antique rug if that’s your style,

Room with red and sage green oriental rugs — The rug on the right even has sage in it! Annie Elliott Design, photo by Angie Seckinger

(or a modern interpretation of an antique rug),

Pink oriental design rug by Ashley Stark Carpet — The Kali rug by Ashley Stark. You already know how obsessed I am with this rug…and a client is using it in her bedroom! Hooray!

a whimsical rug,

Colorful red rug with animals on it — Menagerie Forest by Loloi

a braided rug,

Colorful braided rug — Does anyone actually use braided rugs? It looks pretty cool in this room

or striped.

Multicolored striped wool flatweave rug — Kit Kemp for Annie Selke!

I would NOT recommend a natural fiber rug (yellowish jute would look especially terrible with sage!) or any shade of gray. An ivory rug would be okay, but super duper boring. You’d have to promise me you’re bringing in color elsewhere, like via the sofa upholstery, pillows, or colorful art.

I hope this helps, Izzy! Good luck!

Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC, and we have offices in St. Michaels, Maryland, and Middlebury, Vermont. You might enjoy the recent string of shop-with-me videos on my TikTok account…they’re amusing yet informative. Ask your teenagers to show you ;)