The 15 Best Nursery Room Rugs That Are Cozy, Cute & Kid-Safe, According to a Design Pro

There are tons of exciting things to look forward to when you’re expecting a baby, but decorating the nursery is undoubtedly one of the most fun. There are so many decisions to make, but you can’t do it all at once (and that’s okay!). As long as you have a few key elements in place, […]

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There are tons of exciting things to look forward to when you’re expecting a baby, but decorating the nursery is undoubtedly one of the most fun. There are so many decisions to make, but you can’t do it all at once (and that’s okay!). As long as you have a few key elements in place, the nursery can always grow with your baby. One of those room starters should be a cozy, kid-safe nursery room rug that blends with your aesthetic and is soft and clean enough for curious little explorers.

Top Nursery Room Rugs at a Glance

Best Overall: nuLOOM Naima Tiger Machine Washable Kids Area Rug, $89+ (was $208)
Best Affordable: Safavieh Rag Skylar Striped Cotton Area Rug, $17+ (was $42)
Best Colorful: Pillowfort Rainbow Kids’ Rug, $65
Best Educational: blue page ABC Kids Rug, $51 (was $58)
Best Gender-Neutral: Lorena Canals Sweet Honey Washable Rug, $395
Best Sustainably Made: West Elm Sunburst Easy Care Rug, $129+
Best Washable: Ruggable Jungle Safari Multicolor Rug, $89+
Best Recycled: H&M Round Cotton Rug – Light Beige/Lion, $70
Best Renewable: Pottery Barn Kids Rainbow Ombre Rug, $299
Best Modern Aesthetic: Revival Rugs Comb Washable Rug, $149 (was $199)
Best Minimalist Aesthetic: Bamboo Leaf Washable Rug, $179
Best Handmade: Nestig Treasure Map Rug, $499
Best Long-Lasting: Crate & Barrel Imperfect Checkerboard Multicolor Wool Kids Area Rug, $549+
Best for Large Spaces: Off White Carved Polka Dot Shag Area Rug, $92 (was $125)
Best for Small Spaces: Lorena Canals Cloud Floor Cushion, $65

Nursery room rugs create a cozy and safe foundation for playing, crawling and nighttime feedings. They also add visual (and literal) texture and warmth to the room, pull the look together, and minimize the risk of slips and falls. But preventing accidents isn’t the only way rugs enhance safety in the nursery.

“Creating a non-toxic, clean, healthy home is super important to me,” said TV writer and expectant mom Erin Foster to SheKnows. Foster recently teamed up with Pottery Barn Kids to design her very first nursery, and like most moms-to-be, she had strong opinions about the furnishings she chose. “Of course, when you bring in a newborn baby, they’re so vulnerable to everything that it was extremely important that I do my nursery in the cleanest possible way.”

What to Look for in a Nursery Rug, According to Experts

Interior designer Naomi Coe, founder of Little Crown Interiors, feels the same as Foster. Coe, who specializes in nursery design and just released a book about it, Your Perfect Nursery, told SheKnows that there are three top considerations when it comes to choosing, well, your perfect nursery rug. There are design decisions to make, of course, but choosing the right nursery rug boils down to three key questions, says Coe:

Is it easy to clean?

“You’ll want a material that’s easy to clean and can hide spills. Patterned rugs are great for this, since stains aren’t as noticeable.”

Is it comfortable?

“You’ll want a rug that’s soft since baby will be crawling and playing on it, so stay away from anything scratchy or itchy like wool, mohair and jute.”

Is it non-toxic?

“The safest rug will be one that doesn’t have as many toxic chemicals. But even non-toxic rugs will have some VOC content, either from the adhesives, fiber processes or the fiber itself.”

What Type of Rug is Best for a Nursery?

Considering you’ll want a nursery rug that’s comfy, cute, kid-safe and easy to clean, these are the main types of rugs to keep an eye out for:

Natural fibers

Opt for plant-based fibers instead of synthetics whenever possible. Choose rugs made of out of natural fibers like cotton or even bamboo. Wool is another healthy option, as long as the weave isn’t too flat, and the texture isn’t too scratchy. “Wool rugs can be irritating to baby’s skin and tend to shed a lot,” Coe notes. Steer clear of potentially toxic materials like polyester and polypropylene.

Non-toxic and organic certifications

Rugs that are made sustainably, organically, use non-toxic dyes or have certifications like OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, which indicate they’re free of harmful substances, should be at the top of your list. As Coe notes, there’s no such thing as perfect, but companies that make a push toward using healthier textiles are the ones to watch.

Washable

Cotton and wool rugs can be notoriously hard to clean, but some brands have specially treated theirs to be washable—even machine washable. If this is something that’s important to you, seek out washable nursery rugs like those from Ruggable and Lorena Canals.

What Types of Rugs are Safe for Babies?

Rugs made (entirely or mostly) of natural plant-based fibers are safest for babies simply by virtue of being non-toxic. Those with organic certifications like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Greenguard Gold or Oeko-Tex Standard 100 are even better. Opt for low pile nursery rugs that are easier to clean (although a plush shag rug is hard to resist), and you’re better equipped to prevent dirt and allergens from building up and being inhaled by your baby.

“There’s no perfect rug, yet!” says Coe. “However, there are some things you can do to cut down on chemical exposure like letting a new rug lay out in the sun for a few days and/or sprinkling baking soda over the whole rug and vacuuming it up (repeat several times).”

You can’t go wrong with one of these chic nursery room rugs.

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Experts in This Article

Erin Foster: TV writer, expectant mom, and Pottery Barn Kids partner
Naomi Coe: Interior designer and founder of Little Crown Interiors