Room rugs are a lovely final touch and often complete the entire look of a room. They give warmth, coziness and a true feeling of home. If you're looking to buy one, there are many things to consider, besides the style and print. They come in various shapes and sizes but are also made of various materials, so choosing the right one should be done carefully. Rugs look great in any room, even outdoors, so before buying, here are a few things to have in mind.
Size and Shape
When choosing a rug for a specific room, the size is essential. It should fit the room and the area where you plan to put it. It shouldn't be too big (you don't want to cover the entire floor), nor too small so it looks awkward under your coffee table. This is the general rule of thumb for every room in your house:
- Living room - if you have your sofa against a wall, make sure that at least its front legs and the front legs of the bordering armchairs are on the rug. If you have a large living room with a floating seating area, the rug should welcome all furniture, front and back legs, with space around.
- Dining room - to find the right rug for your dining room, use the table’s size as your guide. Whether square or round, the rug should extend at least 60cm on all sides so even a pushed-back chair can fit within its range.
- Bedroom - if you have a large bedroom, go for a large rug that fits under the entire bed and night tables. It should have extra width on either side. If your bedroom is on the smaller side, the rug should cover roughly ⅓ of the bed’s base; you can also get small area rugs on either side of the bed.
- Kitchen, entryway - Narror or smaller pieces are excellent for these areas (consider 60 x 90cm or 120 x 180cm).
- Outdoors - if you're getting a rug for your outdoor space, always go for bigger options.
How to Measure Your Room
Consider the general measurements of a room and reduce the dimensions by 30-60cm to get to an appropriate-sized rug for the space. Another method to use is by using painter’s tape to outline the rug dimensions in the location where you want it to be and then measure the perimeter, and use that as a guide.
Materials
Floor rugs come in a wide range of materials, so it may feel overwhelming to find the right option. You can choose natural fibres such as wool, cotton, silk, sisal or jute. These are durable, long-lasting and feel comfortable under the feet. However, natural fabrics are always more expensive (silk for instance can easily run if it's exposed to water splash).
You can also find artificial silk (viscose, banana or bamboo silk) which is quite affordable. It has great patterns which make it perfect for "hiding" dirt. Keep in mind that viscose is a highly absorbent fabric so it can easily attract moisture. If these are too pricy for you, you can always choose synthetic fabrics such as polyester, acrylic or polypropylene. They are affordable, usually stain-resistant and easy to clean. The downside is that they can easily get contaminated with bacteria and mildew, and you might need to replace them sooner than natural wool for example.
Style
The style of your rug depends a lot on the style of your home and your preferences. You can buy rugs in various styles such as the most popular traditional Persian, Oriental, Berber or Morrocan. But, if you're more into contemporary styles, choose a rug in farmhouse style, mid-century, coastal, country or geometric. For those of you who are into natural look choose jute, silk, sheepskin, leather or cowhide. Bohemian style is also popular with its shag, kilim, Dhurrie, Ikat, or Southwest.
What's Pile?
The “pile” of a rug refers to its density or thickness. Coarser rugs have more pile to them than fine-designed pieces. Rug pile falls into two categories:
low-pile rugs (come with shorter fibres and loops (flatweaves), making them great for high-traffic areas such as kitchens) and high-pile rugs (these have taller and looser fibres (shag or Moroccan rugs); they feel plush and are perfect for bedrooms or living rooms)
Maintenance
The more you take care of your rug, the longer it will last. At some point, you'll have to consider washing it. And the great thing is that you don't have to do it yourself, but hire a professional to help you. However, in between washing, you should take care of the rug - keep it safe from splashes and dirty shoes, the thick claws of pets, etc.
It's important to know that every material has a different method of maintenance. For instance, synthetics are good for vacuuming but may appear dirtier because this fabric easily absorbs dirt and oil (however, most synthetic rugs are stain-resistant). Wool has natural oils that prevent spills from penetrating the fibres. If you have a hand-knotted rug, you can blotch the stain to soak up any excess, and use a toothbrush with dish soap and water to tease it out. Avoid scrubbing, it can damage the fibres. Cotton and silk are best maintained with professional help; avoid cleaning these types of materials by yourself (they can easily get damaged).
