Rugs may not be the first thing you think of when planning what furniture to place in a room, but they are often an essential part of a room’s design. They can be used as a room’s focal point or they can be used to unify and balance a room’s overall look. In addition to adding style and comfort to a room, they can also be used to protect floors and keep your furniture in place.
Color and Style
An area rug can be used as both the focal point or the balancing piece in a room. Looking to add a rug into an already decorated room? Consider the colors and textures that already exist in that room. For example, if there are a lot of colors and patterns in the rest of your decor, consider a low-pile rug that is more neutral or muted in color. If you’re starting to decorate a room from scratch, then perhaps start with an area rug. From there, you can build up the rest of the room’s decor.
Texture
When do you imagine standing on a rug, what texture comes to mind? Something soft and comfortable? Smooth and thin? Or a little rough under your feet? Area rugs are made out of all sorts of materials and come in a variety of textures. Not only should you think of how your rug will feel under your feet but also how the texture contributes to your room’s style. You can create a sophisticated look by layering rugs of different textures together, but too much contrast could also feel wild and cluttered.
Size and Shape
What is the best size and shape for your room? This is probably the most-asked question when homeowners are figuring out how to choose a rug. When choosing a shape, look at the other shapes in your room. Round rugs can make a small space appear larger; place it underneath a ceiling-mounted light fixture to create a focal point in your room. A square rug pairs well with square-shaped tables and works well in square-shaped rooms. Rectangle rugs, arguably the more traditional shape of the rug, and are ideal for large spaces. They come in a lot of different measurements to fit all sorts of places, from your living room to your hallway.
Before choosing what size of rug to get, measure the area or room where you’ll area rug will be placed. Rugs are not meant to fill up the entire floor of a room. If you’re looking for a rug to fill up the whole room, a general rule of thumb is to leave a minimum of 6 inches and a maximum of 2 feet of space between the edge of your rug and the wall.
Maintenance
Maintenance and practicality are other essential factors to consider when choosing an area rug. There are so many different styles, materials, and textures of rugs, and they will require different types of cleaning. Raised pile rugs could be a tripping hazard for the elderly. If you have young pets, you may not want to have a shag rug that resembles a grassy field.
These are just a few factors to keep in mind when choosing an area rug. As always, there are so many other details that can be considered. Whether you’re looking to style a new home or update the decor of your current one, WPL Interior Design is here to bring on the style and comfort. Give our design team a call today at 215-592-9570 to get started!
