Rugs 101: Basic Guide For Shopping for an Area Rug
If you’ve ever looked at magazines or a store windows and wonder why your home doesn’t look as nice as theirs, it could be you’re missing an area rug.
They’re really rather amazing, area rugs, creating maximum impact in minimum space, sparking visual interest, adding welcome cushioning, and muffling the sounds of foot traffic. (Good Housekeeping)
But how to you get started? Here are some basic guidelines for shopping for an area rug.
Measure Your Space
The common mistake people make is that they don’t measure their room, so they tend to buy area rugs that are too small.
Area rug is only under the coffee table. Your guests may trip on the edge of the rug if it is too small for the room.
For living rooms and family rooms, look for a rug that can be placed under the front feet of your sofa, loveseat, sectional, or chairs.
Note how the area rug will provide comfort for guests while they are seated.
For bedrooms, you don’t need to place the area rug under the entire bed where no one will see or feel it.
Instead, choose runners that can be used on either side of the bed.
Choose two narrow area rugs instead of one large one for the bedroom.
For the dining room, the area rug needs to be 18″ wider than the dining table. This is so dining chairs will not get caught on the edge of the rug.
Choose a large area rug to fit your dining table AND chairs.
Consider Budget Wisely
Use the same philosophy in purchasing an area rug as you do your furniture: buy what you can afford. Cotton rugs will not last as long as wool. But if that’s what you can afford, choose cotton. Jute and sisal rugs look great in magazines and are also affordable, but if it is a high traffic area, they will not wear as well. Plus, they don’t offer the comfort as cotton or wool.
Color and Pattern
Besides adding comfort, an area rug is a great way to easily add a pop of color to a room. Here is your chance to be bold. Use an area rug to define a space in a large room. Look for colors and patterns that truly warm your heart. If it makes your heart sing, that is the rug for you.
Patterned area rug with this Delta City sectional adds a pop of color to unify the entire room.
Area rug adds warmth and texture to this chic Teodora dining room.
If you would like to create a room planner like the ones in this post, click here.
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