The right rug can take your space from awkward to awesome in one easy step. Check out our tips for choosing a gorgeous rug your floors will love
How to choose the right rug for every room in your home
Of all the design elements you can use to style your home, rugs are one of the most powerful – and the most versatile. The right rug can inject some luxury and personality into a space, create texture and warmth, help to reduce noise, define various zones within an open-plan space and even tie a decor scheme into a cohesive whole.
A good rug is a major purchase so we suggest you take some time to understand exactly what you need before hitting the shops. Think carefully about colour, size and texture in relation to your space so you can invest in a rug you’ll adore for years to come.
Texture
Never underestimate the importance of texture when choosing a rug. A room decorated with the right combination of textures can feel so much more inviting and one perfect rug can be the final touch that brings it all together. When selecting a rug for your home, consider the finishes of your existing furniture.
If you have a leather sofa, a hand-woven or hand-tufted rug will soften the masculine aesthetic. If you have velvet lounge furniture, consider adding even more glamour to the room by using a soft cotton rug with a velour finish. If you have a neutral room and sofa, add a textured, loop-pile rug in a similar hue to add subtle interest.
Layering
Rugs aren’t just for covering up bare floors – they can be a design feature, too. If you have white or wooden floorboards, layering two jute or sisal rugs can look amazing. Different shapes work best, such as a rectangle and a circle, or a circle and an oval; have a play and see what works in your space. Another way to layer rugs is by placing them on top of carpet to add depth and dimension. If you have a low, cut-pile carpet, a textured or heavily woven rug can really enhance the room’s look.
Home zone
Rugs are ideal for zoning a room into distinct areas, especially in open-plan homes where living and dining spaces often blend into one another. To ensure the space is balanced it is important to choose rugs that complement, rather than compete with, each other.
Statement style
A rug can be a great focal point for a room and a good starting point for its decor. If you fall in love with a rug in a bold colour or pattern it is a good idea to repeat that colour in other places around the room so your rug becomes part of a cohesive design. Cushions in the same colour or pattern will help tie the space together, as will a piece of artwork or furniture featuring one or two hues from the rug.
Bedroom
If you have wooden floors in your bedroom, there is nothing nicer than placing your feet down onto a gorgeous rug first thing in the morning. An emerging trend we’re seeing is the positioning of a large rug under part of the bed so that it protrudes from either side and at the foot. If you like this look, play around with placement as, depending on the size of your space and the rug you’re using, you may wish to put the rug halfway or even two-thirds of the way along the length of your bed. You could also try a nice round rug in sisal or wool to soften a bedroom’s boxy shape.
Dining room
When it comes to using a rug in your dining space, the number-one rule to remember is the rug should be large enough to comfortably fit the table and the chairs when they are pulled out. If in doubt, always go bigger!
Lounge
A common arrangement in the living room is a ‘floating’ rug placed in front of the sofa with a coffee table on top of it. This is not a good look for any space as it makes the room feel smaller. For a rug to really work in your living space, it should be large enough to generously accommodate your whole seating area. At least the front legs of all your furniture should fit comfortably on the rug, and preferably all your sofas and chairs should be on top of it with room to spare. To avoid the ‘floating rug’ effect, measure the size of your living room as well as the length of your sofas and chairs to establish the minimum size your rug needs to be before you start shopping.
Ask for help
Staff at your rug or furniture shop should be able to help narrow down the best options for your needs. However, to help them, we suggest you take a sofa fabric sample or a picture to help them find the perfect look for your space. Happy shopping!
Words by: Vanessa Nouwens.
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