Picking the right rug for your home can be intimidating — from the color to the pattern to the exact size, the technical aspects of purchasing a rug can be overwhelming. We've compiled our top six tips for choosing a perfect rug so you can be informed before you come into the store to pick out the rug that's right for your home.
1. Color is probably the first thing you think about when choosing a rug. Keep in mind that the color should mainly be determined by the color scheme of the paint on the wall and the colors of your furniture. The rug shouldn't necessarily match the key elements in the room (e.g., a solid red couch doesn't need a matching red rug); instead, the rug should accent and complement the room. The deep green in this indigenously patterned Savan Rug is a great way to bring relaxation and calm to areas in your home such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and nurseries. As a rule, warm colors give rooms such as dining rooms and entryways energy, whereas cool colors bring a sense of tranquility to the space.
2. Style can be intimidating, especially if you aren't aware of what effects specific style elements have on a space. Rugs with bold or geometric prints such as the Diamond Canary Rug will make rooms with high ceilings feel cozier and smaller as they tend to draw the eye to the floor. On the other hand, rugs with minimal designs make rooms feel more open as they draw minimal attention to the ground. And remember, when using stripes, horizontal stripes in a long narrow room will create a feeling of space, whereas vertical stripes in a small hallway will make it seem longer.
3. The shape of a rug can completely change the way you perceive a room. Square-shaped rugs are great for large, modern living rooms and perfectly circular rugs such as the Astro Round Rug immediately draws a person's attention with its unique shape and centrally-focused pattern. Other shapes to keep in mind: ovals are interesting alternatives to traditional rectangular rugs, and the rare kidney shape is excellent for modern living rooms as a statement piece.
4. One of the most important things to consider is the room in which you'll be placing the rug. In a family room, durability must be taken into account since that's where everyone will gather, watch TV, and eat snacks, suggesting that you need a sturdier, stain-hiding rug that withstands wear and tear. The living room or foyer, on the other hand, calls for more of a statement piece such as the gorgeous Big Horn Collection Rug that would perfectly complement the spare furniture in a modern, spacious room.
5. Material may initially feel very instinctual (especialy when you sink your feet into a thick, lush rug and think "Ahh..."), but keep in mind the area in which you'll have the rug. Luxurious, thick rugs such as the hand tufted New Zealand wool Georgia Rug is great for open spaces for lounging such as the living room or study as you can get both comfort and warmth from this material. For your outdoor rugs, however, you want a rug made from more durable, synthetic materials like woven vinyl or polypropylene.
6. The placement of your rug is the final and often most frustrating aspect of integrating a new rug into your home. As a rule, if you have a rug with beautiful colors and patterns that you want to be the center of a room such as the Sofia Collection Rug, you want to get smaller sized rug (approximately 3' x 5' to 6' x 9'). This smaller size will allow you to place the rug in between the sofa and additional seats, leaving a sliver of exposed floor between the rug and furniture. Bigger rugs, on the other hand (8' x 10' and larger) can be tucked under the two front legs of your furniture - the only rule of thumb is to leave between 18" to 24" of exposed floor between the wall and rug, creating a border that frames the arrangement.
Happy rug hunting! Hopefully you have all the information you need now to have fun picking the perfect rug for your home.
