Choosing the Right Rug - 4 Key tips

Rugs bring a sense of style and elegance into our homes. They come in different sizes, fabrics, textures, and colors, and some are made according to long-standing traditions. But how can you choose the perfect rug for you? Here are 4 tips for choosing the right rug.

1. Choosing the right rug size

Rugs come in different shapes and sizes to suit not only different tastes but also differently sized spaces in your home.

To create the perfect, meticulously designed decor in your home, it’s important to choose a rug that is the right size for your space.

The visual impact of your decoration is very important, which is why it’s vital to carefully check the size of the space where you want to lay your rug.

Rugs that are too large can make a room seem small. Small rugs that are incorrectly placed in a room can give the impression that a room is missing something.

Measure your space

It’s important to measure the space where you will lay your rug and ensure that space is left around the borders. How you use your rug will also affect the size of rug you choose.

For example, if you want to lay your rug in your living room, you will need to decide whether you want your rug to sit under just your coffee table, or whether you want it to cover more of your room.

If you want it to just sit under your coffee table, you need to make sure that the table sits inside the edges of the rug.

Alternatively, your rug should be big enough to sit under your sofa and still leave a border around the edges.

In your dining room, it’s best for both the dining table and chairs to sit on your rug and for there to be enough room to move your chairs away from the table and not go over the edges of your rug.

When choosing the right rug, you should also ensure that its size does not obstruct any doorways. This is why, as we said before, it’s important to measure your space.

2. How will you use your rug?

Rugs are not just for decoration, they can have many uses. Some rugs are ideal for winter as they insulate against the cold. Others, such as those used in bathrooms or children’s bedrooms, must have an anti-slip base.

Generally speaking, you can use rugs to differentiate between rooms. Deciding how you will use your rug will help you choose the right one.

3. Fabrics

Rugs also come in many different fabrics, each with its own charm.

The most commonly used fabrics for rugs are:

• Natural fabrics – cotton or wool

Rugs made in natural fabrics are ideal for living rooms or bedrooms. They are a little more difficult to care for and maintain, however that shouldn’t pose a problem.

• Synthetic fabrics – vinyl, nylon or polythene

These fabrics are found in kitchen and exterior rugs. Cleaning and maintaining rugs in these materials is very easy and the process is not complex. Many of these rugs are also water-resistant, so you can clean them with a mop.

4. Textures 

There are two main points that you need to consider when choosing the right texture of rug:

• Where you’re going to lay your rug – If you’re going to place your rug in your kitchen, it’s best for it to be a flat rug and for it to be resistant to liquids, such as vinyl rugs, for example.

If you’re going to place your rug on your terrace, it’s best to opt for a texture that you can use to wipe your shoes on when you enter the house.

• The time of year – we’ve already explained that rugs can help to keep out the cold. During the winter, it’s best to use fluffier and softer rugs, whereas in the summer you can use lighter rugs.

The most commonly used rug textures are:

• Fur rugs (synthetic)
• Fringed rugs
• Flat rugs (which aren’t embossed or embroidered)
• Hide rugs (synthetic or real)
• T-shirt yarn rugs – these are ideal for summer and can be stored folded

Final recommendations for choosing the right rug

Lastly, it’s also important to consider the following points:

• Rugs are not only for decoration, but they also provide warmth and comfort. Consider the style of decoration that you are already using in your home and choose the rug that best matches this style.
• Be mindful of colors and patterns. Choosing incorrectly could mean that your rug clashes with all your other belongings.
• Don’t over-decorate your rooms. Carefully choose your rug’s texture, color, and patterns.
• Square rugs are ideal for square bedrooms, whereas rectangular rugs go perfectly in narrower spaces such as hallways or alongside beds. Circular rugs have a fun and modern look, so they go well in any space.