The best area rugs, whether they’re trendy or time-honored, have to meet certain standards. They must anchor a room’s design scheme. Plus, they should look and feel fabulous.

Luckily, the popular rug styles for 2022 are up to the challenge! From washable area rugs to the best neutral rugs on the market, explore our selection of 16 fabulous and trendy area rugs, highlighting this year’s top design trends.

Before purchasing any new floor coverings, there are several factors to consider. First, think about the design tone. Popular rug styles for 2022 include vintage, neutral and monochromatic styles, geometric patterns, and washable rugsof any design.

The best area rugs create atmosphere. While they don’t need to perfectly match the furniture, they should make sense with the rest of the space. If a room already has several colors or patterns, choose a neutral or monochromatic rug. Got solid walls and monochrome furniture? Choosing a carpet with a bold pattern could be a great design choice. And contrasting ultra-modern furnishings with an antique rug would create another pleasing contrast.

Not sure what size rug to pick? The basic rule is to leave about 20 inches of floor space between the area rug and the room’s walls. Then, try to center the rug in the room, leaving equal lengths of exposed flooring on all sides. Finally, in an open-plan home, an area rug can help define distinct spaces. So choose a size that will delineate one area, without overwhelming others on the floor.

Rugs come in three basic constructions: low, medium, or high-pile. Low-pile rugs are better for high-traffic areas, since they’re easy to clean and they’re more durable. High-pile rugs are softer, more luxurious, and more expensive. But they’re also harder to clean, and more susceptible to damage. So these are better for low-traffic areas, such as a master bedroom or a formal living room.

Now that the basics are covered, it’s time to get down to shopping trendy area rugs. Whether refreshing an existing space or decorating a new one, any of these 16 selections could form the basis of a fresh and timeless design concept.

Vintage-style rugs are a top trend this year, and for good reason. Classic and beautiful, they add character to any design concept, from traditional to transitional and even in modern spaces! There’s no need to search the attic for these trendy area rugs. Instead, check out these three brand new styles, with purposeful distressing to create that antique look.

Available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, this low-pile, synthetic area rug from Target comes with a distressed, monochromatic rosette design that works perfectly in traditional or contemporary spaces.

Trendy area rugs come and go, but an Oriental design will always be in style. For that reason, playing the vintage trend against this Amazon rug’s classic background ensures the rug will stay relevant for years. Since this Turkish made, low-pile rug comes in seven different sizes, it’s simple to incorporate in nearly any space.

The hand tufted finish on this 100% wool Pottery Barn rug delivers true luxury with an antique feeling, thanks to timeworn distressing. Available in three sizes, it marries practicality and beauty thanks to a durable synthetic latex backing.

Inspired by authentic, ancient Persian patterns, this plush and trendy area rug layers on the vintage aesthetic with a subtle distressed finish.

Traditional floral patterning meets artful distressing to create this antique style rug with strong Boho vibes. Best of all, thanks to its low-pile, man-made construction, spot cleaning this ivory-based area rug is fairly simple.

Neutral rugs are incredibly versatile and can deliver elegance to any room design. Great for contemporary or traditional design concepts, these pieces can blend in or stand out. But the best neutral rugs, like the ones highlighted below, do a little bit of both.

Available in nine different sizes, this hand-knotted, 100% wool Lulu and Georgia rug comes with a neutral color palette and a bold geometric pattern that really pops. Featuring two of the most popular rug styles for 2022, this piece is a winner all around.

Crafted in a soothing mix of blush and grey tones, this soft polyester area rug from Amazon is easy to spot clean, making it a perfect selection for high-traffic areas. Choose from 10 different size options to find the right every time.

A true classic, this is one of the best neutral rugs for traditional design concepts. Boasting a silver base, subtle floral prints and a chic vintage fade, this 100% polypropylene rug gives the look of an antique rug with the durability of modern fabrication.

While it sounds strange, this neutral rug displays a vibrant grey color scheme, thanks to its hand-woven, yarn-dyed construction. Add in a 100% recycled cotton backing, and the piece is both style and eco-conscious.

Crafted from a fine viscose and wool blend, this subtly distressed rug comes in a high-quality mid-pile, best for rooms with moderate traffic. Like the previous area rug, it also has a recycled cotton backing, making it a planet-friendly purchase.

Geometric patterns are popping up on all this year’s trendy area rugs, both in neutral tones and in bold, vibrant colors. Some of the most popular choices include diamonds and herringbones, but smaller, more linear designs are also on point.

This hand-woven 100% wool area rug is probably not for homes with young children. But the sleek charcoal-and-white color palette, combined with the ultra-trendy diamond pattern, make this rug a must have for modern room designs in need of layered texture.

After diamonds, herringbone patterns are one of the top choices for this season’s area rugs. This lovely geometric style from Rugs USA adds luxury to trendiness, thanks to a hand-tufted blend of viscose and leather materials.

For a linear twist on the geometric trend, try this machine-woven, polypropylene rug that combines black, gray, charcoal and off-white tones for an elevated neutral blend. The contemporary low-pile construction means cleaning is fairly easy, despite the off-white base palette.

This Target rug combines almost all of the most popular rug styles for 2022. It begins with a central geometric motif, adds a distressed vintage finish and wraps it all up with a beige background, one of the best neutral rug colors for design versatility.

This low-pile Turkish rug comes in a neutral color palette and a traditional geometric pattern, making it a universally appealing selection. Easy to spot clean and slide under furniture, this is the best area rug for those who love a pale color palette, but have a bustling family life.

Life got a lot harder over the last two years, especially for families with children stuck at home. It also got harder to keep home furnishings clean, which is why washable area rugs are so on trend this year. It’s easy to find pretty, washable designs in almost any of the most popular rug styles of 2022. But this one happens to be an exceptionally lovely selection.

This washable area rug hits all the high notes. It’s one of the best neutral rugs because it combines a wealth of colors—black, blue, grey, beige, dusty pink and more—while still blending subtly into the background. Plus, the subtle fade and traditional pattern lend it a hint of antique authenticity. And the silky-soft chenille polyester blend feels so great to the touch, it’s truly hard to imagine this can go right into the washing machine!

Which trendy area rugs will you be shopping for this year? Share your finds in the comments below!