Make your rug selection process easier with these helpful tricks!
Home design and decor is a creative process and there are a few objects that hold a decorative prowess to bind the room as perfectly as a rug! From serving as an inspiration to adding that finishing touch, an area rug works as a powerful design tool that adds layers of warmth and interest in any room!
Imagine, adding a colorful Moroccan rug in a soft-tone minimalist room or a vivacious eclectic bedroom was given a hint of subtlety with a neutral textured rug; the right rug can change the look and feel of space pretty quickly. But selecting the right rug includes a fair share of challenges. But once you understand what factors and features to look for in rugs, then your rug-buying expedition will be a fruitful affair!
To help you get started, we have curated an extensive guide that will answer all your valid queries about selecting the best rug that matches your preference, style and needs.
A) Important Things to Consider Before Buying a Rug
Buying a rug is simply not about browsing a certain rug catalog and picking one that’s purely based on its color or pattern. Understand that a rug as a soft furnishings or luxury home decor accessory will live in a chosen room for a longer time or area and serve a specific purpose. So you need to tap that ‘purpose’ factor to find the ideal rug.
Try to self-analyze viable questions like, is the rug going to be a statement piece or serve as a functional object that will help prevent accidental slips in high-traffic areas? Next, you want to checklist factors like size, shape, materials, pile, style, and care to zero in on the best rug!
Rug Size and Shape
Size is the first or prime factor one looks for when selecting the rug for a specific room. And it makes absolute sense to pick a rug that is size-appropriate, whether small or large! For example, in a compact room, you don’t want a large rug that feels overwhelming or a rug that is too small which feels like it is floating in the middle of a spacious room. The general rule of thumb is - to go for a rug that can accommodate prime elements of a room i.e.furniture pieces or serve as a guiding factor between built-ins i.e. to creatively divide the living and dining area.
Living Room - For a living room, ideally opt for a large rug. If you plan to keep the sofa against the wall, then make sure that the front legs of the sofa and the front legs of the accent chairs or armchairs get placed on the rug. Also, in a spacious living room with a floating seating zone, a large rug should ideally contain all furniture pieces with front and back legs and leave some space around the same too.
Entryway and Kitchen - Select a small rug or a narrow runner to add to the entryway and kitchen. Go for a 2' x 3’ or 4’ x 6’ size rug.
Dining Room - Use the dining table as your reference point to measure the rug. Be it round, square, or rectangular, the rug should extend around 22-24 inches from all sides so that a pushed-back dining chair can still be fitted in its range.
Bedroom - For a large bedroom, go for an area rug that fits under the entire bed, nightstands and still has an extra width on either side of the bed. For a compact bedroom, the rug should cover around 1/3rd of the bed’s base. You can also opt for small area rugs or runners on either side of the bed.
Outdoors - Ideally opt for a bigger rug. Get a rug that is around 12 to 24 inches smaller than the chosen area’s perimeter.
Quick Tip To Get the Right Size of the Rug
Simply take the general measurement of a chosen room and reduce its dimensions by 1 to 2 feet to get the correct size for the rug. You can also use the painter’s tape to outline the rug dimension in a chosen area, measure its perimeter and use it as a starting point!
Rug Materials
Rugs are made with different fibers and materials that add to the classification and aesthetics of the same. The ideal material for a rug depends on your lifestyle and the placement of the rug. Here are some of the most common materials for rugs:
1) Natural fibers - Wool, Silk, Cotton, Jute, Sisal
Pros - Durable and one-of-a-kind. Wool rugs are best to hide marks and stains.
Cons - Costly and need a professional’s help to clean the rug. Dyes silk rugs can shed the color when water spills over the same.
2) Synthetic fibers - Polyester, Acrylic, Polypropylene
Pros - Budget-friendly, easy to clean and maintain, and stain resistant.
Cons - Repeated spills can damage the rug fibers and synthetic rugs can get contaminated with bacteria and mildews more than natural fiber rug. Such rugs need replacement sooner than natural fiber rugs.
3) Artificial silk - Viscose, Banana Silk, Bamboo silk
Pros - Budget-friendly, Available in vibrant patterns that can conceal stains, and dirt easily.
Cons - Viscose rugs attract moisture and oil easily and water spills can ruin the rug fibers.
Rug Styles
Different interior styles are identified by different designs and decor elements. You can select the rug that matches the interior style of your home or a chosen room. You can of course mix and match different styles of rug for a creative and flamboyant mash-up of a design. Here’s a quick guide for selecting different styles of rugs:
Traditional Style - Persian, Moroccan, Oriental, Berber Rugs. These rugs can be antique and vintage pieces.
Modern, Contemporary Style - Geometric, Mid-Century, Country, Farmhouse, Coastal style rugs.
Bohemian Style - Ikat, Kilim, Shag, Southwest, Dhurrie
Natural - Silk, Wool, Sheepskin, Jute, Sisal, Leather, Cowhide
Rug Pile
The rug pile features the density or thickness of a chosen piece. Rigs with a coarser feel will have more pile than fine or intricate designed ones. The rug pile are generally bifurcated into two categories:
Low-pile rugs - These rugs feature shorter or trimmed fibers i.e.flatweave rugs. These make a good choice for high-traffic areas like the kitchen or dining room.
High-pile rugs - These rugs have taller and looser fibers i.e.shag rugs. These make a plush choice for the living room or bedroom.
No matter the height of the rug pile, a chosen rug will always provide fine sound buffering. A rug pile feature should be considered for aesthetics and performance. Thick pile rugs provide better insulation and add to the life of the rug.
Care for your Rug
A rug will inevitably receive spills, and stains based on your usage of the same. So it is crucial to maintain the rug to extend its longevity. Handmade or vintage rugs are known to be more durable compared to contemporary or budged rug options as they may not possess similar structural integrity. It may be seen that a newer rug will feature more structural defects than an antique rug due to the cutting of corners at the time of its constriction.
Here’s how you can care for your rugs that are made with different materials:
Synthetics - Spot or steam clean or vacuum. Synthetic rugs may appear dirtier as they can absorb dirt or greasy marks. Most acrylic rugs can be stain-resistant though.
Wool - The natural oil (lanolin) present in the rug helps keep the spills from penetrating the rug fibers. You can still blot the stains to soak up the excess spills. With a soft toothbrush and soap and water liquid solution, tease out the stains. Do not scrub on the stains as it can damage the rug fibers.
Cotton and silk - The stains on the cotton and silk rugs can get trapped within the fibers if you smudge them with a damp sponge or cloth. It is better to get the stains removed with a rug cleaning professional’s help
Get a Rug Pad
Buying a rug and placing it in the required room or area is never enough. You need to opt for a rug pad that goes underneath the rug. A rug pad adds additional layering to the area rug and keeps the rug in one place. An area rug secured with a rug pad will not shift or crease and thereby save you from slipping over it or damaging the floor.
For high-traffic areas like the bathroom, kitchen, and foyer, you should add a rug pad underneath the area rug or runner. Plus, a rug pad offers an additional layer of cushiony comfort to you when you walk over it!
B) Selecting the Perfect Rug By Room or Area
Living Room
Ideal Type - A large, mid to high pile area rug, made with wool or silk composition.
Standard dimensions - 8′ x 10′, 9′ x 12′, 10′ x 14.’
A living room is a prime area in your home where you spend most of your time. So for comfort and vibrancy, a rich, textured rug can take your interiors to the next level! Go for a wool or silk rug that is known to be durable and can clean pretty conveniently too. Opt for the color that matches your selected color palette for the living room. A flatweave or mid-pile rug is best for cleaning and maintenance purposes. Select a rug that will work as a conversation piece in your living room!
Also, you can select the rug that compliments your chosen interior theme or vibe of the living area. For example, a self-textured, geometric patterned rug can make a fine addition to a modern, contemporary style living room. Similarly, a vibrant shag or Moroccan style vintage rug, natural jute rug or dhurrie is apt for maximalist or bohemian style decor!
Bedroom
Ideal Type - A mid or high-pile rug made with wool or silk composition.
Standard dimensions - 8′ x 10′, 9′ x 12′ or 2′ x 6′, 4′ x 6.’
A bedroom is essentially a space where you seek rest and comfort. So the rug you plan to add to it should be made of luxurious material like wool or silk. Similarly, the color or pattern of the same should be interesting and not visually overstimulating. A high-pile rug can make a plush choice to place in the bedroom and make a comforting choice whenever you put your feet on it.
Dining Room
Ideal Type - A flatweave or mid-pile rug made with natural fiber like wool or cotton.
Standard dimensions - 9′ x 12′, 10′ x 14′, 8′ for round rugs, 8′ x 8′ and 8′ x 10′, 9′ x 12′, 10′ x 14′ for rectangular rugs.
A dining room rug should serve functional as well as aesthetic purposes. Pay attention to the thickness factor when choosing the rug for the dining area. A very thin rug will not serve a practical purpose as it will bunch each time you slide the chairs and the repeated action will lead to wear and tear of it. Whereas a very thick rug i.e.shaggy rug will make it difficult to move the dining chairs and can trap the food particles in it. Ideally, opt for a mid-pile or flatweave rug for the dining area.
Kitchen
Ideal Type - A low-pile, bold-colored, patterned rug made with natural fiber materials i.e.jute, sisal and synthetic fiber rug.
Standard Dimensions - 2.5′ x 8′, 2′ x 3′, 3′ x 5′, 6′ x 9.’
A kitchen is a high-traffic zone and requires a rug that offers maximum performance. Avoid shaggy, high-pile or textured rugs that are likely to trap food particles, dirt or debris. Select a flatweave or low-pile area rug with a rug pad underneath that can help prevent the accidental falls. A kitchen rug or runner with vibrant color and texture will help camouflage the stains or marks.
Foyer
Ideal Type - A low-pile rug or runner, preferably a natural fiber made like a jute or sisal rug.
Standard Dimensions - 2′ x 3′, 2′ x 8′, 4′ x 6.’
A foyer is the first area in your home that anyone notices when they visit your home. In fact, it provides a glimpse of your entire home interior and works as an impression card for your space. That’s why you should decorate your foyer or entryway with the correct set of objects.
Add a rug that matches the size and shape of the entryway. For instance, a narrow runner is ideal for an elongated hallway. Avoid an overly large rug that will appear like an intrusion. Pay attention to the material as well and know that this high-traffic zone or corner in your home will need a durable rug and a rug pad beneath the same.
Outdoors
Ideal Type - A Large Area Rug with UV-resistant and polypropylene composition.
Standard Dimensions - 8′ x 10′, 9′ x 12′, 10′ x 14.’
Outdoor areas in your home including a deck, porch, or balcony will feel complete with an outdoor rug. Go for a rug that’s weatherproof, UV-resistant, mold and mildew resistant. The common materials for outdoor rugs are polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, and nylon as they can withstand heavy foot traffic and are stain, moisture and face resistant. Plus these are easy to clean and maintain too. You can also explore natural fiber options like jute or sisal rug too.
For the color and pattern, ideally, go for a bold color or busy pattern that doesn't make the stains too obvious. Light or neutral color rugs look great too but you have to maintain them regularly.
C) Shopping for the Rug
Buying a rug online is pretty common these days and you can get a deal or offer on a branded rug that will make a perfect addition to your home. But you need to focus on the website's photos, the rug’s dimensions and compositions, and responsiveness to know its credibility. You can ask the vendor for additional information like close-up photos, customized options, return policy, authentication, and more.
And if you are old-school and still prefer buying things by actually visiting the stores, then picking a rug from a rug specialty store is still a good choice! Because, you can see the rug, explore colors and styles, and finally select the rug that feels simply perfect!
