Jupiterimages / Creatas / thinkstock.com
There are a lot of reasons to bring a rug (or several) into your home. Maybe you crave a little warmth—both literal and figurative—in your home. Maybe you’re tired of sliding around slippery hard floors. Maybe you want to control traffic flow in your home, or create different senses of space within a single large room in your home—or maybe you just want add a little visual interest to a room.
The list goes on. Whatever your reason for deciding to purchase a rug, you’ll quickly realize that rugs come in many, many variations. From patterns to sizes to materials, you’ll have more than a few decisions to make. These 6 tips will help you determine what you need.
Identify the Purpose
What are your main reasons for getting the rug? It could be a practical decision, an aesthetic decision, or a mix of the two.
Knowing where you intend to place your rug and what you want it to do (create warmth, prevent slipping, tie a room together visually, etc.) will help you determine the style, material, and size of the right rug.
Select the Right Material
Rugs come in many different materials, each with its own selling features. Your budget and needs will help you narrow down which material to choose. Most materials can be grouped into two categories: natural or synthetic.
Natural materials tend to cost more than synthetics, but they are also a higher quality. Rugs made of natural materials are more likely to stand the test of time and will wear nicely as they get used.
Some of the most common natural materials for rugs include wool (the material to which all others are compared: wool is durable, resilient to dirt, water repellent, easy to clean, and deliciously soft); cotton (slightly less durable than wool but very soft, absorbent, resilient and available in a variety of different colors and patterns); and rougher but more exotic feeling materials like bamboo, seagrass, sisal and jute.
Popular synthetic options include nylon (which comes in a variety of colors and patterns, stands up to a lot of wear-and-tear, and is very low-maintenance); polyester (a soft, luxurious-feeling material that is easy to clean and maintain), Olefin or Polypropylene (a wool-like synthetic that resists stains, repels water, is lightweight and affordable) and acrylic (great for bathrooms, as it resists mildew and stains).
AnikaSalsera / iStock / thinkstock.com
Sizing Up
Different areas call for different types of rugs.
A small scatter rug is intended to protect the floor beneath it, acting as a barrier for moisture and dirt. It’s a good option for bathrooms, the kitchen, a foyer or a mud room.
A long, narrow runner will define the intended flow of traffic in your home. It is most often used along hallways or in the kitchen.
A mid-sized rug is the perfect option if you’re looking to create a defined space in a room. It is especially useful in open-concept spaces. A cluster of furniture anchored by a mid-sized rug will designate the area for its intended use.
Finally, an area rug is the covering of choice for a large area or even a whole room.
A Rule of Thumb or Two
If you’re using a mid-size or area rug, there are a few generally accepted guidelines to help maintain the flow and scale of a room.
For instance, you’ll want the furniture to sit on top of the rug, not crowd around it. There are two variations of this rule: the first suggests that all four legs of a piece of furniture should sit atop the rug, while the second indicates that the back legs can rest on the bare floor beneath.
Another guideline indicates that there should be an 18 inch border between the rug and the wall, allowing a foot and a half of the bare floor beneath to separate the walls from the rug.
For rugs in dining areas, the rug should extend past the table far enough that the chair can be pulled out, and still stay on top of the rug.
Get Stylish
You’ve nailed down the purpose, size and material. Now comes the fun part: selecting the color or pattern of the rug.
Take the existing decoration scheme into account: do you want your rug to blend right in or to stand out? If you have neutral furniture, a brightly colored or boldly patterned rug can bring the space to life.
Lighter rugs tend to make a space feel larger, while darker rugs create a sense of coziness. Patterned rugs are perfect for high-traffic areas, since they hide dirt and stains well.
Don’t Forget to Break the Rules
Remember, rules can be helpful guidelines—but sometimes, they are made to be broken. Every room is different, and everybody has different personal tastes. Don’t be afraid to experiment—if an unusually-sized rug works in your room, then go for it!
