Fresh from the completion of her Calabasas home renovation, Brittny Button is no stranger to the rollercoaster of a redesign. The designer, who created a neutral abode for herself and her husband, F1 star Jenson Button, had a timeless ideology in mind. However, the key to an ageless space begins with the floor.
While the question of how to both elevate and future-proof a space often sparks conversations of color, Brittny explains that a certain soft furnishing is similarly impactful. The piece in question? A rug.
'I just finished decorating my dining room, and I wasn't sure if I should include a rug because I was already pleased with how it looked without one. However, I then tried a rug, and it completely elevated the space,' she says in an exclusive interview with H&G.
'I used a rug from the 1920s with gold burgundy tones with hints of brown. I got it on Facebook Marketplace for a few 100 bucks, but it totally improved the space – it added texture and made the room feel instantly more luxurious.'
'It taught me that a rug can make or break a space, so it’s worth investing in something that’s great quality. It’s a bigger decision than it initially seems – you have to choose the right rug for everything to sort of come together and transform the space.'
Recognizing the power of this piece is one thing, but knowing the best places to buy rugs is another. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Brittny, famously an advocate for all things vintage, recommends investing in pieces that have already stood the test of time.
'I would recommend going vintage. You can often spill things on vintage rugs, and they come up clean. It's like they're indestructible,' she says.
Decorating with rugs is an impactful way to improve the feel of a room, but as hinted, the right colors are similarly vital to success.
'I have lots of neutrals in my home. The walls are plaster, and I have used washed paint around the arches. I am the person who walks into a neutral space and feels calmer and more peaceful,' Brittny says.
'However, if you love bright colors and it's not just a passing trend of the moment, then go for bright colors. You have to do what makes you feel happy in your environment. Don't look too much to others, but go with how you feel and choose the things that grab you the most – that's the most important.'
Shop H&G's rug edit
This ivory rug will work well in a neutral living room. The design is understated but never boring: the stonewash effect of the slightly raised threads creates tonal highs and lows. Woven from sustainable synthetic materials with a slight sheen and a velvety feel, this rug is good for your room and good for the planet.
If you have a child or a pet, or you’re simply prone to slips and spills, this is the rug for you. Ruggable’s Impasto Slate Blue Rug is stain- and water-resistant, and it doesn’t show dirt or pet hair. Better yet, it’s completely machine-washable. Just detach your rug cover from your Ruggable rug pad, included in the price, and put it in your washing machine.
The Mae Traverse Stripes Rug is one of Rug USA’s newest designs, but it’s already one of their bestsellers. It’s easy to see why. The clean lines and geometric designs stand out, but the beige, gray, and charcoal tones blend in. It's also lightweight and highly stain-resistant. What more could we need?
