Although rugs aren’t a permanent change, picking the right one can come as a difficult task. This is mainly because there are so many options and it’s hard to narrow them down! The right one can bring a room together whereas the wrong one can make a room feel unfinished and look very out of place. It’s not unlike selecting a new flooring and the decision shouldn’t really be treated any differently! Although rugs are a lot cheaper than splashing out on a whole new floor, they’re certainly not always cheap. Let’s take a look at some of the key things to consider when looking to purchase a rug.
Sizing
Rugs come in wide variety of sizes and shapes. Of course, the first decision that needs to be made is whether you’re looking to fill an entire room or just the odd one in the corner. If you’re going down the route of lots of smaller rugs, make sure you pay special attention that they all complement each other. It’s very easy to end up getting a rug that doesn’t fit right in your space!
When it comes to the living room, the rug should fit the size of your seating area, no bigger no smaller. Don’t worry if the furniture sits on top of the rug, this is actually beneficial as it stops your furniture sliding around, especially if you have wood flooring. As a general rule, if you’re not sure then opt for a larger option as you can always tuck it under the furniture and they’ll be no annoying gaps!
Material
In most cases, rugs are purchased to increase the comfort in the home and the material its made from plays the biggest part in this. First of all, decide what you want to prioritise; chances are you can’t have everything you’re looking for. Perhaps you’re after a rug that feels luxurious or one that’s sustainable and natural. Once you’ve decided on your priorities, you can start to look a little closer at the options.
Wool is a very popular choice for a rug, due to its incredible insulating properties as well as being warm and luxurious. Not to mention it can be dyed almost any colour and will work well with any interior. It is also very resilient to wear and tear, standing up to high foot traffic and retaining its appearance for a long time as well repelling water.
Cotton is another popular fabric when it comes to rugs and it takes well to colour. Although not as durable as fabrics like wool, it is less expensive and shows off a more casual look.
If you’re looking for a cheap fix, then synthetic rugs are widely available and can be very hard wearing. There’s also a huge range of natural materials such as: jute, sisal, seagrass and coir for those of you who are all about natural!
Design
This will largely depend on what flooring you already have. If you have something with a pattern like herringbone, then a plain rug might be more suitable as opposed to a rug with a busy pattern. On the other hand, if you have a floor made of long, narrow planks, which is simple in style, then a patterned rug would add character and charisma to your space.
A wicker rug is a great route to go down, as they go with pretty much everything and present that sought-after natural look.
If you’re not sure on where to start, a basic rule to follow is to choose a rug that matches the subtle colours your room already has, this’ll really bring it to life! Aztec, wicker, traditional, plain, fluffy, there’s a whole rug world waiting for you.
