Choosing The Perfect Rug For Your Home

If your room needs a perfect finishing touch you might consider buying an antique rug. Whether it’s to cover up a shabby carpet, protect feet from cold floors, or reduce noise, rugs are versatile enough to do all three. There are a few points to bear in mind when buying a rug however.

Firstly, do you want the rug to serve a practical purpose? If you need a covering for your entrance hall to keep mud from trailing in, go for a cheap and sturdy rug that can be replaced or washed often. Patterned rugs don’t show wear as quickly so are great for busy areas of the home.

If the rug is to be the focal point of a room, think about the ‘wow’ factor. A distinctive pattern can be a conversation piece. Think about the shape of the rug; would a circular one be more effective than a traditional rectangle?

Always measure your room before buying a rug; even if it fits, think about whether you want furniture to stand on it or not. You might want to leave parts of your floor exposed, in which case you’ll need to work out the positioning of the rug. Two might work better than one as there’s a wider range of areas you can cover; overlap the rugs if necessary.

Think about your decor and choose patterns that offset it rather than clash. Even if a rug looks great in the shop it might look terrible in your home; some rug dealers allow you to take a rug home as a trial before buying. The usual colour rules apply; darker rugs will make a room look cosy and snug whereas lighter shades can emphasise feelings of space. Blacks, browns and greys are more masculine colours and would suit a bachelor pad, and summery shades suit a girly room.

If the rug is to be placed in a sunny spot, make sure you remember to turn it once a year. Sunlight fades colours, so you should even out the wear the rug receives. Likewise, if your rug lies across a natural pathway in your home, move it so that it doesn’t just wear along one particular line.

Be sure to decide on the texture and material you want. From soft sheepskins to hard leathers, rugs are available in a range of natural fibres. Some are more hardwearing than others, and each ages differently. Wool rugs for example are natural air regulators, whereas leather rugs can stand more wear and tear.

It’s quite common for rugs to lie on rug pads rather than directly on the flooring. Special underlay protects the floor, prolongs the life of the rug by reducing wear and tear, and makes for a softer walking surface. It also prevents the rug from slipping and is inexpensive to buy.

If you keep these points in mind you’ll be able to choose the perfect rug for your home. Placement, pattern and size are all important; get any one wrong and you’ll be stuck with an expensive decor mistake.