17 stylish nursery rugs that last well beyond the baby years

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Arguably one of the most exciting (and overwhelming) parts of planning for a new arrival is setting up the nursery. From smaller details like mobiles and humidifiers to anchor furniture pieces like the crib and dresser, it’s a seemingly endless parade of decisions. One less obvious piece that can make a huge aesthetic impact? The nursery rug.
Do you need a rug for the nursery?
Whether you’ve got bare or carpeted floors, rugs offer a cozy way to ground a space or help define one area from another. From the earliest days, they’re a place to bond and play but if chosen well can last well through babyhood and into the big kid phase. (And given the investment, it’s a good idea to spend the money on something that will last.)
What do we mean by “chosen well?” Well, beyond looking for something that thinks outside the typical juvenile patterns, it also comes down to fabric and construction.
“Washable rugs are everything right now. We are huge fans of area rugs that are washing machine washable. Besides being easy to clean and get clean there are many styles with soft smooth surfaces that don’t shed. They’re also perfect for nurseries with littles ones rolling and crawling around but also great for families with sensitivities or allergies because they don’t shed,,” says Lisa Janvrin, founder and CEO of YouthfulNest, a virtual interior design experience that helps parents design stylish kid-focused spaces.
That said, poly blends and wool fabrics aren’t out of the question. They can be easy to spot clean and patterns are forgiving.
What’s the best rug size for a nursery?
Obviously that’s going to depend on the room size, but in our opinion bigger is better. A larger rug that covers the majority of the floor creates a more cohesive look as opposed to chopping the room up.
And while there are millions to choose from, we’re here to make life a little easier with our current top-picks. From gender-neutral nurseries to minimalist Montessori nursery spaces, these are the nursery rugs we love right now.
Check out the best nursery rugs below!
Whether you’re expecting in months or mere days, let Motherly guide you with our registry featuring curated collections of essentials for you and baby. Click here to check out Motherly’s essential registry guide.
A version of this story was published August 30, 2021. It has been updated.