From making a statement to defining a zone, a rug is the ultimate style tool, so choosing – and placing – correctly is paramount.
Rugs anchor a room and infuse it with personality, style and warmth. They can be one of the more expensive pieces you buy for your home though, so it’s important to make sure you choose the right one. But it’s not enough to simply have your dream rug – it’s also important to know how to position a rug the right way.
Interior stylist Lisa Koehler loves the colour, texture and feel that a rug brings to a room and says this key piece is one of the main building blocks to creating a cohesive space.
“I’m a great believer in a holistic approach when you’re choosing a rug,” says Lisa. “You should consider each element in the room. I always get really nervous when someone goes shopping for a rug without considering the rest of their space.”
Lisa thinks a rug is just as important to a room as a piece of art, a sofa or chair. “The rug, sofa and artwork all need to act as a family and work together aesthetically, tonally and texturally,” she says.
Here, interior stylist Lisa shares her top tips on how to position the perfect rug to suit your style and space.
GETTING STARTED
The first thing to do is measure your space, then decide on the aesthetic you want.
Patterned or a solid black colour? What sort of material – natural fibre or synthetic? Does the rug need to be hard-wearing – is it going to be in an area that has a lot of foot traffic? Will it be partially covered by a sofa or coffee table? Do you want to be able to sit on it – is it important how it feels underfoot?
Decide what type will best suit your room and the needs of your family or space.
Then look at the layout of your room. If the rug is for the living or family area, consider the sofa arrangement – whether you have a single sofa, a classic combination of a two-seater and three-seater, or a modular lounge, your seating will determine the shape and size of the rug you’re looking for.
RUG STYLES AND MATERIALS
Take into consideration the sofa and wall colour, the size and shape of the room and the feel you want to create in the space.
If you want to create a harmonious, relaxing atmosphere, try a wool rug in a muted palette. If you prefer something dark and moody then look for a rug that features deeper, richer tones and lots of texture.
Are you looking for a plain or patterned rug? Again, weigh up where your rug is going to sit, what colours as in the rest of the room and what arrangement your sofa or chairs take. A dark rug is going to make a space feel more intimate while a pale rug won’t look so imposing or heavy.
Look at the space holistically and work out if the rug can be seen in its entirety when it’s in place. I wouldn’t go and buy a beautiful patterned rug if it’s going to be covered up by sofas or other furniture.
The material you choose for your rug depends on where it will live and what purpose it will serve; whether it’s purely functional or a touch of luxury in your room.
If it needs to be durable, look to synthetic fibres, wool blends or natural fibres such as sisal, which can take a lot of wear and tear. Think about whether you want your rug to be short pile or a longer, plusher pile.
ROUND VS SQUARE RUG
Rectangular or square rugs may be more traditional but they’re great for defining spaces. Saying that, there’s something beautiful about round rugs. A round rug adds softness to a room and it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t fit the space perfectly.
With a rectangular or square rug, it has to be the right size to be in proportion with the space otherwise it will look out of place. A circular rug is more forgiving in this sense.
CHILD-FRIENDLY RUG OPTIONS
A rug to suit kids needs to be hard-wearing as well as good looking. Think about texture, pattern and weave.
Go for something with a little bit of synthetic fibre in it. A wool blend would be my pick for children – it feels great underfoot – and consider protecting it with Scotchguard so that dirt and spills can be cleaned easily.
I would choose a patterned rug, too, rather than a solid block colour. A graphic rug with a two-tone thread would be a great child-friendly choice, especially one with a longer pile. Children like to sit and play on rugs, so I’d make sure it felt great as well.
SAVE OR SPLURGE?
Rugs can be expensive and the bigger the rug, the more it’s likely to cost; but there are lots of inexpensive, colourful rugs on the market that are fantastic to add interest and warmth to a room without breaking the budget.
These are great options, especially if you like changing up the look and feel of your room from time to time. If you’re looking to invest in a rug that will last for many years, go for something classic. Choose muted colours and natural fabrics such as silk or wool.
Oriental rugs are beautiful and often a great match for more formal rooms. Kilims and dhurries add texture and colour to a space, and offer a tactile feel.
Go for a pattern you know won’t date; be wary of dramatic, geometric and bold statements, unless you’re confident it suits your style.
LISA’S TOP TIPS ON HOW TO POSITION A RUG
To start with, the correct placement of a rug depends on how big the room is and what sofa configuration you have. It’s really important to get the balance right, and here’s how…
IF YOU HAVE TWO SOFAS…
If you have two sofas then the rug needs to be evenly positioned between them – it should be an equal distance from each sofa – not 10cm in front of one and 20cm in front of the other.
If it doesn’t work equally then it’s the wrong-sized rug for this particular space. Aim for symmetry.
IN A SMALL SPACE…
In a small space, I like the rug to sit in front of the sofa, so there is a narrow strip of floor showing – this makes the room appear lighter and more spacious.
This also gives you visual separation between the sofa and side tables – try a couple of these instead of a coffee table, as you’ll be able to see more of the rug.
IN A BIG OPEN-PLAN SPACE…
In a big open-plan space, the rug should sit under the front legs of both the sofas – or if you have a large rug, then both sofas can sit completely atop the rug.
If you have chairs in the space as well, then the front legs of the chair should be touching or “hovering” on the rug. This placement creates a cosy zone without closing off the area to the rest of the room.
WITH A MODULAR SOFA…
With a modular sofa, measure the space for the rug carefully – a standard-sized rug is 230cm by 160cm and that’s a really difficult match for a modular as it can fall short either side.
A custom rug is a better bet. A big rug makes a large open space feel more intimate by connecting all the elements.
OPEN-PLAN AREAS…
A rug is the best tool to zone a space in an open-plan area, whether you’re defining space for a living, family or dining area.
If you’re zoning the dining area (or if you’re putting a rug in your dining room), choose one that’s big enough for the table and all the chairs to sit entirely on top.
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