Area rugs are an excellent option to consider as opposed to wall-to-wall carpets. They're easy to remove, replace, and clean. Plus, you can always switch them out if you decide to redecorate.
Area rugs can be defined as large in size yet still an accent in a room. Although it's large, it should never extend to the walls. Area rugs are mainly used to anchor the furniture and define spaces. When it comes to using floor rugs in your home, we have eight important guidelines to follow. Before you decide on which rug is best for you, make sure to check out these do's and don'ts.
Do Cover High Traffic Areas.
You should definitely make sure any high trafficked areas in your home are fully covered and protected by a rug. You want to make sure that these areas are covered widely so that when people are walking through, they don't have one foot on and one foot off. Don't worry about wearing out your rug, either. Flooring is way more expensive than a rug.
Don't Choose The Wrong Size.
People's biggest mistake when buying a rug is getting a too small rug for their space. This is understandable when people buy on a budget because good rugs aren't cheap. But a properly sized rug will save you in the long run, so you won't have to purchase a new rug when you realize you don't like the small size. Whatever rug you choose, it should be appropriately sized, no matter what room it's for.
When it comes to the bedroom, your rug should extend beyond the sides of the bed. This is aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. When you step out of bed in the morning, you don't want to step onto the cold floor. As a general rule, a bedroom rug should be 24-36 inches wider than your bed.
In the living room, rugs should extend underneath furniture. This means under the coffee table and at least under the front feet of the furniture. This can easily anchor a space, so it doesn't feel like it's floating in the room.
In a dining rug, the rug should cover the entire table and anywhere a chair might be, including when it's pulled out from the table. The right-sized rug will make any room appear larger.
Do Select Your Seating Before Your Rug
It's quite important to understand your seating arrangement and sizing before being able to select the correct rug. Some people think choosing the rug first is better because of the colour palette, but we say otherwise because of more practical reasons. If you don't know where your seating is placed and how much flooring it will cover, there's no way to tell what size rug you need. You don't want to spend a ton of money on a rug only to find out it doesn't cover the area you need it to.
Don't Be Off-Center
The most important part for many homeowners and renters is having a space that flows. An easy way to make your space flow is to have symmetry and centre your furniture. If you leave an equal amount of floor space on each side of the rug, you can quickly fix any imbalance in the environment. Eighteen inches is the general rule, but you can get away with eight inches for a smaller space.
As we mentioned before, part of being able to centre a rug is the size. Size is so important. A too small rug can throw your furniture off and create a disorderly feeling. To centre your rug, first, figure out which furniture you want to anchor on the rug. This will help you determine the size you'll need.
Do Explore Colour and Pattern
Area rugs add personality to your space. They can create ambience and mood and can even be fun. Don't be afraid of colour and pattern. If you get sick of it after a few years, it's easy to change it out for a new one when you redecorate. A patterned or colourful rug can easily fit into your design guidelines, no matter what style you're going for.
Don't Be Too Matchy-Matchy
Although you want your room to be cohesive, matching everything 100% can be tacky. You don't want to have the exact same rug pattern as you do your furniture or curtains. However, you can embrace elements from the room into your rug or vice versa. You will still have a theme but can distinguish the rug from other furniture. If you want more information about colour and pattern, check out our Rug Colour Guide.
Do Know How To Clean It
Cleaning your rug is the least fun part, but it's an important part every rug owner needs to understand. There are always cleaning instructions provided when you purchase a rug, and those guidelines will change based on the material. Natural fibres such as Sisal and jute are inexpensive but harder to clean. Synthetic fibres are the easiest to clean, and some are even machine washable. Since rugs are expensive, you'll want to make sure you protect them. So always read the instructions before trying to clean up a spill or stain yourself.
Don't Forget A Rug Pad
As we mentioned, rugs are not cheap, so you always want to make sure you purchase a rug pad when you buy a rug. When rugs bunch, they can wear the fabric down and cause it to age. With a rug pad, your rug will always stay fully expanded and in place. You also want to protect yourself and those who come into your house. Without a rug pad, it's easy to trip and maybe even spill in the process.