When it comes to having a room look finished, a great rug that is the right size, color and pattern does wonders! A rug anchors the room both in style and defining the space. Choosing a pretty rug is easy, however choosing the right rug that enhances your room, ties the style of the room together, and reflects the lifestyle of the people living with it is a bit more difficult.

When designing a space there a few steadfast rules I use to select a rug, I consider the color, pattern, texture, but I also go beyond that and look at the room size, the furniture layout and flow of the room, and the material used to make the rug. When presented with your room design, I want it to look like it was effortless even though behind the scenes it was more than just a quick thought.

CHOOSING A RUG SHAPE AND SIZE

Whether you are starting with all new furniture or existing pieces, you want to look at how the room functions. A rug works well when it is as large as can be as the rug acts as an anchor to the furniture. An area rug will tie your furniture layout together by defining the space on the floor.

Rule of thumb – the feet of the furniture should all be on the rug. A room looks better with a bigger rug!

When in planning mode, we layout the furniture first and then scale in the right shape and size of the rug that would work. Even as a seasoned designer I still like to stand in a space and put a tape measure down on the floor to map out rug sizes once we have the furniture layout. So, get out your tape and measuring tool and hit the ground.

Keep in mind there are some standard rug sizes to work form 2x4, 3x5, 4x6, 5x7, 6x9, 8x10, 9x12, so keep these in mind as you size out space. In many of the homes we design, we make the rugs to fit the space, and this customization could be a whole rug is woven just for you or a carpet the is cut down and finished to fit your specific space.

CHOOSING THE RUG CONTENT AND FIBER

Once the size and shape of the rug is determined the hunt begins. The fiber content will set the tone of the room and how it feels to walk on and how it performs, and it’s durability. The fiber content will also let you know how cleanable the rug will be. Rugs vary in content such as wool, cotton, natural fiber such as just or coir, silk, and synthetics.

As an experienced designer, I look at each fiber with a different eye and experience.

· Wool – this rug can last for years if treated right. You will need to professionally clean it every 2-3 yrs and certainly can spot treat as needed. Trick when buying look at the back of the rug to see that the pattern is woven well and not damaged. I buy wool new but also use antique wool rugs in almost every home I have done. Wool lasts if treated well and is a go-to for my clients.

· Cotton – This is a great material to use when you need something washable an easy. Cotton is my go for bathrooms, kitchen, and back doors to catch the mess, but knowing I can throw it in the washer. As long as a rug says 100% cotton in my house we throw it right into the washer. Cotton rugs don’t last forever in high traffic areas.

· Natural Fibers – I LOVE the texture of natural fibers, but beware these are not cleanable! I do use them with my clients understanding this. In my own home, I have many and use them when I layer rugs as the base rug which is a great look. I avoid the ones that you find a Latex or a rubber backing as this just release pollutants and toxins into your air. A simple rug pad works perfectly under a natural fiber.

· Silk – This is a very delicate fiber. Think of your silk shirt and if it gets anything on it. I have used silk rugs in bedrooms or very low traffic areas. Homes with kids or pets may want to rethink a rug with any amount of silk. Beware of Viscose as this looks like silk but is not cleanable at all.

· Synthetic – these come in many different fibers, and I stay away from most as they introduce toxins into our home that I avoid. There are exceptions, so I will always read the content and look at each fiber individually. An exception would be rugs from Flor as they do not use harmful chemicals in fabrication and are low VOC and super stylish!

· Do NOT forget ALL rugs need a proper rug pad. When buying the rug pad, also make sure you pay attention to the material in it as this is a place that toxins lurk, and we have very good options that are natural.

IMPORTANT NOTE – I never select a rug that has Stainguard or chemical application to the fibers as these are all toxic chemicals and will release into your home and create poor air quality. They are usually billed as stain protection and are a number one no in my book.

With all the experience of shopping the market and knowing the mindset of selecting a proper area rug, we take out all our fabrics and finish samples, paint chips, and anything else about the rooms décor and start looking.

If you struggle with the are rug or carpet for your space, reach out and let us know. We can help you solve this issue and love your room. Click here to schedule your free discovery call to discuss what your specific needs are.

Here are a few highlights we have seen in the market recently. Enjoy!