Choosing the Perfect Area Rug
Area rugs are a tricky business, as in anything else design, the choices are endless! Your perspective on what a rug’s role will be in your space will affect the order in which the rug is chosen. If you know you want a patterned rug, then you may want to choose this item first before fine-tuning the other elements in your room. If your intention is for the rug to only play a supporting role in the room design then it can be selected later in the design process.
Another important thing to consider is how you are going to logistically make sure that rug is the perfect fit for your space. Ideally you want to see the rug IN THE ACTUAL SPACE it will “live”. Some rug suppliers will let you do some discovery shopping to select a few options, and then they will bring them to your home for a trial in the space. (Keep in mind these rugs will come at a premium.) Other companies I work with make smaller 18”x18” samples so that you can seem them in your home environment. (I love this option as you can take this “portable” sample with you when shopping or other elements in the space!) Finally, you can always purchase the smallest size available to make it easier to check out a rug in your room.
Color: If you already have a lot of pattern in your space, you might want to stick with a single-color rug, either a neutral or a shade that complements your existing furnishings. If you love pattern then consider a tone-on-tone design that will feel like a single-color rug but be visually simpler in the space. If you want a patterned rug with many shades, it's generally easier to choose it first, and add in furniture and accessories that coordinate afterwards.
A rug will read as one of the largest pieces of "furniture" in the space, so be sure to take into account the tones in your flooring, walls and other fixed finishes when selecting. Don’t be afraid to step out of your box! A boldly patterned or brightly colored rug can be just the ticket to lift a room to the next level.
Texture: This is probably the most overlooked aspect when choosing a rug, but it shouldn't be. A room with a mix of different textures feels rich and layered, and an easy way to set this tone is by paying attention to the texture of your rug. There's so much more out there than cut and looped wool!
Let the finishes of your existing furniture guide you, and aim for contrast. With seating in a soft fabric like velvet, something smooth and hard like a sisal might be the answer, while a sleek leather sofa looks great on something with a longer, plusher pile.
Pile Height: A thicker carpet can feel more expensive, but don’t be mislead, with Orientals and finer rugs it’s the thread/yarn count that designates the quality. Turn the rug over to check out the detail from the back. The higher the knot-count per square in often indicates a well-made rug!
Size: This is the part in the rug-choosing game where you likely know the rules, and it's usually best to play along.
A rug should fit the size of your seating area (which is not necessarily the entire room) and be as large as possible within it. Ideally, all the furniture will be on the rug, but front-legs-only is a good and common compromise. The idea is that when sitting on the sofa, your feet are on fabric, not floor. Under a dining table, you want to be able to pull the chairs back and still have them sitting on the rug.
When the seating area takes up the entire room (as is often the case), you also have to think about orientation: square rooms look great with square or round rugs, and rectangular rooms with rectangular rugs oriented in the same direction.
Layering: Layering of rugs on top of another carpeted surface can be tricky! Two main factors affect your success; first, make sure to purchase a rug pad made specifically for this function. Second, take into account the thickness and weight of the rug you are placing on top. Trying to place a light-weight, handwoven dhurrie rug on top of wall-to-wall carpeting will most likely fail because the lighter weight rug will shift and wrinkle when walked on. For this application I recommend a heavy weight wool area rug with a pad that has felt on one side and rubber backing on the reverse. The rubber backing goes against the base carpet to limit movement.
Fiber Options: When choosing the material of your carpet durability and practicality are important considerations. Keep in mind how easy or difficult it may be to clean the rug. For instance, a natural sisal is not a good choice for under a dining table as they are difficult to clean and dirt and crumbs are easily trapped in the texture. Silk rugs and rugs with silk or linen fiber accents may not be a good choice for high traffic areas as these types of fibers don’t have the resiliency of a natural wool yarn.
Safety: Finally be sure to consider whether elderly people, or those with limited mobility, will be using the area. A raised pile or shag rug can be a tripping hazard. In these cases rugs can be inset into hardwood or tiled floors so the floor surface remains at the same level.
Lately, I have many clients who are searching on-line for area rug bargains. Beware – as it is very difficult to tell quality by a pretty picture. Read the descriptions carefully! And don’t be afraid to ask for sampling or trial options! Finding that perfect area rug can be done – but as I always say – do your homework!