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Area Rugs Tips for selecting a rug for your home
• Visualize the desired total look of the room. Do
you want a room that’s uncluttered and monotone or a room
rich with colors or textures? If you start with a
totally empty room, choose a rug, then paint or paper
the walls in colors found
in the rug.
•
Remember, the rug has to fit the room – in more ways than
one. Consider how the room is used, how much traffic the area gets
and who will view it under what light. For high-traffic areas such
as hallways and foyers, you may want a durable, patterned rug.
•
Choose furniture that enhances the rug design or
colors found in the rug.
•
If you start with furniture, choose a rug to pick
up the colors used in your furnishing patterns. Patterns can be
mixed if they are coordinated by color. Elements of a rug design
can be further incorporated into this overall design scheme. For
example, if the rug is floral, add framed prints or flowers in similar
colors.
•
Size up the size of the room and the area you want
to cover. The most common area rug sizes are 4 x 6 and 6 x 9 feet.
They work well under a coffee table. An 8 x 11-foot rug or larger
can cover an entire room. Smaller area and scatter rugs can be ideal
for adorning smaller spaces – a hearth, a bedside, the area
in front of a kitchen sink – with a splash of color and warmth.
•
A rug with a bold, overall design can be the focal
point of a room with a chair and sofa in solid or subdued patterns.
•
Light colored rugs make a room look more spacious,
and deeper colors lend coziness to a room.
•
Choose a rug that will perform well, with the right
combination of density and fiber. The denser the pile, (with closer
tufts or stitches), the better your rug will wear.
•
Synthetic yarns - nylon, polyester, acrylic, and
polypropylene - and the naturals - wool and cotton - are durable,
soft, and easy to clean.
•
You’ve got to hand it to machine-made rugs: they may look
strikingly similar to the handmade kind, but they’re usually
much less expensive.
•
Watch out for fringe elements. If the rug you like
has fringe, make sure it’s sewn on well, and very carefully
use the vacuum cleaner.
•
Don’t be boxed in by the idea of getting a rectangular rug.
A circular or octagonal-shaped floor covering can add flair.
•
Remember to take a swatch of any fabrics you’d like to match
with you when you shop for a rug. That way, you’ll have a
better idea of what will complement your existing décor.
•
Don’t underestimate the value of an underlay. Not only will
it absorb the impact of feet and noise, it will reduce wear and
tear on the rug and make vacuuming easier.
When buying a rug, it pays to select a reputable
dealer with a knowledgeable staff, wide selection, and a guarantee
that the store will stand behind its merchandise.
