There’s a lot to think about when deciding on a rug that’s right for your home. It has to fit you and your family’s lifestyle, your personal style, and be durable. It also has to be right for each particular room.
A good area rug is not only practical, providing warmth and comfort, but also adds artistic value to a room’s design. All that said, here are some questions and tips to consider when choosing the right rug for your home.
1. WHAT’S YOUR LIFESTYLE?
You and your family’s lifestyle is an important consideration when choosing a rug. For example, do you have young children or pets (or both)? Will your lifestyle stay the same in the foreseeable future or will your children be moving out of the home soon?
Another question you need to ask yourself is where do you plan to place the rug? A rug that’s destined for a high-traffic area such as a hallway or family room needs to be more durable than rugs placed in less-traveled rooms.
2. WHAT SIZE?
One of the first steps you should take before buying a rug is to measure the area where you’ll be placing it. If you’re having trouble deciding on the correct size, you can tape off the area – using painter’s tape – to the size of the rug you’re considering.
However, there are some general guidelines you can follow:
For your family room, choose a size that covers an area as least as wide and long as your furniture.
A dining room rug should be large enough to allow space for chairs pulled away from the table.
With a wood floor, leave up to two feet of flooring around the perimeter of the room.
3. WHAT TEXTURE OR MATERIALS?
Don’t overlook texture when choosing a rug; a mix of different textures in a room gives it a richer, more layered feel. The finishes of your existing furniture should provide a handy guide when choosing texture – just remember that you’re aiming for a nice contrast.
Some things to keep in mind when choosing materials: 1) Wool is easier to clean and works well in a high-traveled room; 2) bathroom rugs should consist of cozier, comfortable material that’s soft under your bare feet; 3) avoid vinyl carpets in bedrooms and stick with cotton, wool, or silk.
4. WHAT COLOR?
Your rug is perceived as one of the biggest pieces of “furniture” in a room, so choose color carefully. Take into account the colors and tones of other parts of the room, such as walls, flooring, and other fixtures.
Here are some other things to consider when choosing your rug’s color:
A patterned rug is often a good choice if the primary piece of furniture in the room – such as a sofa – is a solid color.
The secondary color in a patterned rug should match your sofa, while the third color should match drapes, wall color, pillows, etc.
A solid-colored rug works well if your primary furniture has an upholstered pattern or an elaborate design. Solid-colored rugs should also match accent colors, such as artwork.
5. MAINTENANCE
Maintaining your carpet and area rugs are two different things, and area rugs often are damaged by lack of proper maintenance. At Carpet Tech, we understand that your rug is a valuable investment and our specialists will take care of it properly. We have a state-of-the-art cleaning facility that caters to all rug types. Call us today at 888.343.9650 to schedule an appointment.