What to Consider When Choosing an Area Rug

One of the many great additions to any room in your home is an area rug. From protecting your floor to adding life to a room, an area rug is an easy and cost-effective piece of decor that comes in a variety of options and has many uses. With the sheer amount of rugs on the market coming in different colors, sizes, and patterns, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some tips to make sure you choose the perfect area rug for your space!

WHAT TYPE OF AREA RUG WORKS WITH MY FLOOR?

Before you purchase your rug, you’ll want to consider the size of the room where it will be placed, the furniture that is already in the room, and even the room’s exposure to the sun. Beyond this, the style and color of your flooring will also come into play when determining what area rug is right for you.

For hardwood floors:

Depending on your preference, you may choose an area rug whose color complements or contrasts with your hardwood flooring. Warm-toned rugs go great with hardwood floors that have a reddish hue. For darker hardwood floors, you might choose a lighter-colored rug for a contrasting look. Lighter-colored hardwood floors are versatile in this area, pairing well with both darker and lighter-colored rugs.

The pattern of your flooring is important to consider when choosing the pattern of your area rug. One option you may consider is an area rug with a complex pattern, which goes great with hardwood flooring that has a simple grain pattern. If your hardwood floor has a more complex pattern or grain, a rug with a simple pattern would be a wiser choice. For rustic hardwood floors, a vintage patterned rug can really take a space to the next level. Finally, more modern-looking styles of hardwood, such as bamboo or pine, work best with rugs that have similarly modern styles.

For natural stone floors:

When picking out the color of your area rug, the shade of your stone floor can guide you in the right direction. Cool-toned flooring, in colors such as grey and light blue, pairs well with similarly cool-toned area rugs. Flooring with warm tones goes well with area rugs that also have warm tones, such as shades of orange or red. Picking a darker-colored area rug can help you avoid the issue of having your rug blend in with the flooring that surrounds it.

As with hardwood flooring, the complexity in the design of your natural stone flooring determines what type of pattern you’ll want to look for when picking an area rug. For more complex stone flooring, such as marble, it’s best to stick with an area rug with a simple design that complements but doesn’t distract from the beauty of the flooring. Stone floors with simple designs give you more options when it comes to patterned area rugs, so get creative!

For porcelain and ceramic floors:

The durability of porcelain and ceramic makes them excellent choices of flooring with one downside being that they can be fairly cold and hard underfoot. This is one instance where area rugs can be a great solution. As porcelain and ceramic flooring are often neutral in tone and pattern, the options for area rugs are pretty open with minimal risk of clashing. If you have patterned porcelain or ceramic flooring, a solid and neutral-toned area rug is a safe choice that will become a great addition to the space.

FURNITURE PLACEMENT

The way that furniture is situated on an area rug typically changes from room to room and also depends on the size of the area rug in relation to the furniture. In the dining room, for example, it is most common for all legs of the table and chairs to rest on an area rug. When picking out a rug, you may also want to choose one that will allow for the chairs to be pulled out from under the table while remaining fully on the rug. In the living room, there are a few variations in the way that your furniture can be oriented depending on the size of rug that you choose. For a smaller rug, such as one that is 5’x8’, it is common for the legs of the surrounding furniture to not rest on the rug at all. For a medium-sized rug, such as one that is 8’x10’, it is more common for the front legs of the furniture to rest on the rug with the back legs remaining on the floor. Finally, for larger rugs, such as ones that are 9’x12’ and beyond, it is common for all legs of the furniture to rest on the rug. For area rugs placed in a bedroom, it is most common that the rug is placed to run perpendicular to the bed with the bottom two-thirds of the bed placed over it regardless of the size of the rug.

THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY AND THICKNESS

Area rugs typically come in one of three different fiber lengths: low-pile, mid-pile, and high-pile. The thickness of rug that will work best for you depends on the area where the rug will be placed. If the room or space is a high-traffic area, a low-pile rug is recommended because it offers a lower risk of tripping and makes for easier cleaning. If the room is low-traffic and the rug will be supporting furniture, a high-pile area rug is recommended because it is far less likely to dent over time, and it can protect your floor from scratches, which is something that can be an issue when placing furniture on low and mid-pile rugs. Mid-pile is a great in-between choice for a space with enough traffic to consider an option that is easy to clean and trip-resistant while maintaining the “shag” appearance that is common in high-pile area rugs.

RUG LONGEVITY

Choosing the right type of rug for your space is integral in extending the longevity of your area rug. Aside from this, here are a few more tips to make sure you get the most out of your area rug:

As mentioned previously, one factor when placing an area rug is avoiding direct sunlight exposure to the rug. This is because sunlight can cause discoloration on an area rug over time. It’s important to place your area rug so that exposure to the sun is limited, or alternatively make use of blinds, curtains, and/or window film to block harmful rays.
Installing an anti-slip mat under your area rug can work wonders to extend the life of the rug. Over time, the rubbing between the underside of the rug and the floor underneath can wear the rug and floor down. Adding an anti-slip mat creates better friction, and greatly reduces the wear.
If you have children or pets, it may be wise to choose an area rug that is easy to clean or stain-resistant. With children and pets, messes are inevitable, but being proactive with the choice of an area rug that cleans easily will greatly extend the life of your rug.

As stated before, area rugs can provide many uses in a space, from floor protection to decoration. Depending on your use for your new area rug, the tips above can help you pick one that will complement your space, protect your floor, and last longer given the proper maintenance. With the countless options for area rugs on the market, you are sure to find one that you love!