It’s the simple things in life isn’t it. Take the rug for example. If you were to describe to someone you didn’t know what a rug was you might say something like “it’s a big thick woven type material you put on your floor”……“No really you’ll love it”…..“Yeah you just leave it there, like a decoration”. Yet seeing is believing, it’s truly surprising how much rugs can influence a room. I love how they add comfort, plushness and warmth to a room. They can be used to define and connect your living spaces, add a splash of colour or soften your decor by adding another layer of texture.
Over the years interior fashions have changed, the rug has been there through it all. It may have changed in shape, pile, colour and so on but rugs have been around for thousands of years and it wouldn’t surprise me if they stay around for another few thousand. There is even evidence of rug making dating back as far back as 6500BC, unfortunately due to the natural materials used only a few samples survived. The earliest pile rug was found on a Pazyryk burial mound in Siberia, this dates back to around 4,500BC and the rich colours and pile are still evident. I would love to meet this rug in person one day! Well, that’s enough history for now, let’s get back to it!
Although I would recommend you do what feels right and learn to trust your initial gut instinct, choosing wrong could have the opposite effect you were aiming for so here are some tips I think worth keeping in mind to help you choose the right one for you.
Firstly, lets start with considering your lifestyle, for example, if you’re looking for a rug for your living room. Ask yourself do you or anyone in your home enjoy sitting or playing on the floor, kiddies maybe? Then perhaps a high to medium pile rug might just have the comfort you’re looking for. (Do note though, the higher the pile the harder it is to clean. So it may have more dust and allergens.)
Low-pile or flat weave rugs work best in high traffic areas. They are easier to clean so won’t hang on to dirt and dust, making them great for your hallways.
Next, look at your room. This, of course, will influence your choice. You’re not going to add a loud, psychedelic rug to an elegance living space or a shag pile rug under your dining table, where your chair will forever be getting tangled, not to mention how much of your previous meals it will store for you!
If you have a neutral scheme in your room, perhaps a rug with some colour would add the lift you’ve been looking for or maybe you enjoy the simple comfort a neutral room gives (a less is more scenario) then perhaps a patterned rug in neutral tones will add the extra layer and softness you’ve been looking for.
At this point is might be worth considering what materials you want your rug to be made from. Is there certain materials you prefer or need to avoid due to allergies? Some possibilities are wool, natural fibers (sisal/jute/Sea grass), cotton, synthetic, silk and hair-on-hide. All of which present their own pros and cons, for example if you don’t mind spending the extra money and want to add that “WOW” factor to your bedroom a silk rug would be a stunning addition however as they are more suited to low traffic areas they tend to be less sturdy and would need to be professional cleaned. Cotton is cheaper and easier to clean however these rugs wouldn’t be suitable in humid places. It’s important to check with the seller what your rug is made of and whether it is suitable for the area you wish it to go before you purchase the rug.
After that, next job is space planning. Measure your floor. You need to leave enough space around your floor so it doesn’t overpower your space and not leave too large a space so your rug is struggling to have the impact that you want it too. A general rule is to leave 18″/45cm of a border, however only leaving to 8″/20cm in certain rooms, such as a den/playroom can often suit the room much better.
In your bedroom area, a rug tends to need to come out around 18” from the bed for super king or king and 12” for a single bed. However, depending on the size and shape of your room or what furniture you may have, you may need to bend this rule a little – like I said, trust your gut!
In your dining room, its recommended to bring your rug out 24”/60cm around your dining table allowing easy maneuvering of dining chairs.
To help you, I found an online illustration which will help guide you choose the right layout.
If you are still unsure about size or shape, perhaps, you can use suitable tape or newspaper to measure out the size rug you need to get – you’ll be surprised how big you go!
I hope you found the information in this blog useful. And remember, as I mentioned earlier, I offer this information as a guideline so trust your gut and remember sometimes it’s okay to bend the rules!