The Wood Paneling Trick That Makes Any Space Feel Instantly Homey

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Shopping for a new rug online is honestly such a gamble: What will the texture look like IRL? How will it feel underfoot? And the eternal question—did I pick the perfect color or is my screen playing tricks on me? We've all been there.

Enter Armadillo, the Australian floor-covering brand, with its gorgeous new Los Angeles showroom to save the day. Think a sweeping space with a snaking partition showcasing dozens of eco-friendly offerings—from jutes that won't shed to silk and wool weaves in the dreamiest sunset shades. I'm obsessed.

But the real perk of shopping in-store, especially here, is the built-in design inspo inside this former nightclub space. Inspired by the organic lines of fashion ateliers in Tokyo and Paris, the Armadillo team blended old with new—a big focus for cofounder Jodie Fried. Because the B Corp is all about sustainability, she didn't want to tear down and start over. Instead, they kept the original glass and metal windows (a gorgeous contrast to the interior's clean lines) and installed 100 percent renewable electricity. Love that for them.

The oak walls add the softest touch—but here's the trick: they're actually flooring repurposed as wall paneling (something you can totally try at home, btw). "In each showroom, there are generally three materials and colors that inform our textural palette: white oak, polished concrete, and crisp white," Fried says. "In our Los Angeles space, since we had already envisioned the concrete foundation and the white partitions, we ended up using the hardwood flooring on the walls." Run, don't walk to try this.

Another steal-for-your-apartment move? The living room area, designed by Swike, layered two similar-toned rugs (the quiet Eden with the plush Mojave on top), then added a glass coffee table so you can admire both floor coverings while keeping visual breathing room. Fried's layering advice: "You can keep it quite simple by centering a smaller rug on top of a larger rug for a distinct border, or like our Los Angeles showroom, you can layer them off-center, which feels more relaxed." It's giving effortless cool.

And when you're not soaking up all the good vibes, make sure to take home samples—an essential step in rug buying, says Fried: "I can't stress enough the importance of bringing a rug sample home so you can view it in the intended room, in natural light throughout the day, against the rest of your decor." My go-to tip, honestly. Thankfully, you can order them online too, wink-wink.

Julie Vadnal is deputy editor of Domino. She edits and writes stories about shopping for new and vintage furniture, covers new products (and the tastemakers who love them), and tours the homes of cool creatives. She lives in Brooklyn.

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