The Ultimate Rug Guide: Tips and Ideas
How to Fit in the Rug?
Shopping for a rug is more than just choosing your favourite colours, material and pattern. To make sure that the rug you want fits the room you have, start by measuring the space. A rug that is too small will look out of place, while a too large rug will draw the attention away from other décor elements.
Once you know what area you want to cover, shopping will get much easier. The general idea is that the rug should anchor the room’s décor, create a cosy enclosure and provide aesthetic impressions. Remember when taking sizes, consider the length of the open door, so that the entryway is not blocked.
To learn more, see Get the Size Right: Guide to Rug Sizes and How to Fit them in your Rooms.
What is the Perfect Rug Made Of?
The material the rug is made of has a huge impact on whether it is soft to the touch or has a rough feel, can be vacuumed or has to be spot-clean, will outlast pets and kids or has to be locked away. We’ve prepared a list of the most common materials to clear things up and make the choice easier.
Natural Rugs
Tailored in wool, cotton, silk, jute or sisal, natural rugs provide quality and durability, lending a room a luxurious vibe. Choose a wool rug if you don’t plan on vacuuming too often, as they make a great job of hiding any dirt. The other side of the coin is that the natural fibre rugs tend to be high-end and some of them, like silk rugs, require professional cleaning.
Synthetic Rugs
Made from polyester, acrylic or polypropylene, these rugs are reasonably priced, easy to clean and resistant to wear. Take into consideration that they may need replacement sooner than the natural rugs.
Trending Materials
Discover two types of rugs that are in fashion right now - viscose, which is made out of artificial silk, and natural leather. The first is very affordable and available in a variety of colours and patterns. It also perfectly imitates the softness and shiny look of real silk. Leather rugs on the other hand are a bit more on the expensive side, but they are exceptionally durable - they easily can last for many, many years. They also offer great comfort, are very pleasant underfoot and add a sophisticated look to any area.
Decorate with Colours
Even the most beautiful rug will look bad if it doesn’t fit well with the rest of the room. That’s why choosing the right colour and pattern is so crucial. Generally, light colours can brighten up a dark room and make it look bigger, while patterns and darker shades create a nice contrast and accentuate the covered area. Remember that a rug can totally change the mood of the interior, and use it to your advantage.
Effects of the Hues
The colour wheel classifies red, yellow and orange as warm colours and blue, green and violet as cool. Believe it or not, it actually works that way with interior décor. A rug in warm colours will introduce new energy to the room and sparkle your interest, while the cool colours will make the interior feel calm.
Pattern or Solid Colour?
A patterned rug can be an eye-catching décor piece, but might as well ruin the whole room’s look. Rugs with bold patterns go well with solid-colour furniture and large spaces. They can bring in an elegant vibe like for example Persian rugs, but in a small room, they will add to the feeling of a narrow space. On the other hand, solid colour rugs allow for more freedom in choosing furniture and accessories and give the room a cohesive look.
Vibrant and Subdued Shades
With the amount of choice, it’s quite difficult to decide on a specific shade. The thing you should consider first is practicality. If the rug lies in a heavy-traffic area like a hallway or living room, go for darker shades that will make dirt less visible. Pastel colours and all shades of white make a perfect choice for a bedroom, adding a homely touch.
Pick Rug for Every Interior
Living Room Rugs
A great space for entertaining your guests or whiling away and switching channels, the living room is the place where we spend most of our time. That’s why it is crucial to create a space that gives a sense of peace and a homey ambience, and at the same time looks chic and elegant. A right area rug is that extra layer on your floor that can totally transform the character of the room.
Just remember that not all rugs fit everywhere, colour and shape should correspond with the interior style. Make sure to measure your room and the sofa beforehand. The ideal rug would be about 20-30 cm bigger on all sides than the sofa.
If you have a smaller living room, you can also adorn it with a rug. Go for textured pieces, like shaggy rugs or sheepskins, that bring an extra layer to the space and create a feeling of added dimension. Patterned fabrics will only add to the impression of a cramped space. On the other hand, solid rugs from the same colour palette as the walls will give off a cohesive and clean look.
Dining Room Rugs
Rugs and food don’t seem to belong together, letting the crumbs in the high pile and then cleaning it sounds like a nightmare. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid disaster and style a rug in a dining area.
One of the reasons we want this extra layer of fabric there is that it perfectly creates a sense of cosiness and warmth. Just think about Christmas or family dinner, high piles of delicious food on the table and a comfy and warm feeling under your feet. Secondly, with the rug, you can easily outline your dining space and give it shape. The rug can also protect your floor from scratches when pushing away chairs, and dampen the noise that moved furniture makes.
So what kind of rug will be the best for the dining room? For sure, one that is easy to clean. Go for cotton or polyester rugs that can be vacuumed often and preferably cleaned in a washing machine. As it is a high-traffic area, avoid shaggy rugs that will get flat over time.
Bedroom Rugs
Wake up to a bedroom that just exudes cosiness and comfort! The right rug will do wonders in your bedroom, creating a space perfect for relaxing and recharging your batteries. Just imagine getting out of bed and stepping right into a heavenly, soft and warm layer.
Just like other décor pieces, cushions, duvets, curtains and blankets, a rug adds a cosy vibe to the interior. Also, it can help to give your bedroom a quick makeover. The question is how to style it in your bedroom. Here are some tips that will help you get a bedroom out of your dreams.
Get a rug that's slightly larger than your bed, and place it under each foot. Alternatively, get two smaller rugs - especially if you don't have much free floor in your bedroom - and place them on both sides of your bed. For that fancy look, you can get a fluffy sheepskin.
Hallway Rugs
Enter your home and instantly step into an area that is welcoming, cosy and stylish. A rug allows you to make any hallway look homely. It also provides a soft layer for your feet when you take off your shoes. In small and narrow corridors, a runner rug can brighten up the décor look and create a feeling of extra space.
As the hallway is the busiest area at home, an additional fabric layer will help you protect parquet or floor panels from scratches. Taking all rug’s uses into account, we should pick a piece made from jute, polyester or synthetic fibres. These materials are easy to clean and withstand daily use.
Garden Rugs
Outdoor rugs have been gaining immense popularity as part of a larger trend, where individuals are now giving equal attention to their outdoor spaces as they do to their interiors. These accessories serve as an extension of our living areas, allowing us to embrace comfort and unleash their creativity. Not only do outdoor rugs add a touch of practicality by minimizing the amount of dirt brought inside and concealing any imperfections in the grass, but they also offer a delightful visual appeal.
One of the most popular material for garden rugs is polypropylene — a versatile synthetic fiber. It is affordable and boasts remarkable durability and effortless maintenance.
Kids’ Room Rugs
Lastly, there are rugs meant for children's rooms. These should be durable, easy to clean, but also long-lasting. It's great if one rug can accompany your kid for many years, so you should think of that before buying a rug.
But that’s not all. As children, especially smaller ones, spend a lot of time on the ground, playing with toys, learning how to walk or just resting, these rugs should be comfortable and pleasant to touch. That doesn’t mean you should get a shaggy rug or a larger sheepskin - these aren’t the best choices, as they can be cumbersome - toy parts can get stuck in them, for example. Short pile rugs are easier to play on, and they can be quickly vacuumed, which makes them better for nurseries. A proper rug will stimulate their creativity and allow them to have fun. Think about getting a colourful patterned rug that your kids will love, like a sweet panda face or a city's roads where your kids can play with their toy cars.
Care and Cleaning
We know that getting your rug dirty isn’t hard. Spilling food or drinks on it, especially if it’s placed in a living room or dining room, will happen, probably sooner than later. That’s why before getting a rug, it’s helpful to learn about how to clean it.
Below, we present some tips on how to take care of various materials your new carpet might be made out of.
- Synthetics: These are definitely the easiest to clean since all you need is a vacuum cleaner and some soap. Firstly, spot-clean it using mild detergent and some warm water - most of the time this will be enough, as these rugs (especially acrylic) are stain-resistant. After that, be sure to vacuum it. Doing that will make your rug feel brand-new!
- Wool: Here things get trickier, but wool rugs are quite durable and don’t absorb as much as other materials, thanks to natural oils that are in their fibres. To get rid of most of the stains, use traditional dish soap - get some of it on a toothbrush or cloth and mix with water; clean thoroughly, but try not to scrub the rug too hard, as it can damage it.
- Cotton and Silk: Definitely the hardest materials to clean - if you get your silk carpet dirty, enlist the help of a professional. Using special equipment, and strong detergents, they will get rid of all stains, without trapping the spills deeper within the fibres.
Getting a Rug Pad
Above: Non-Slip Rug Mat BALAD
We mentioned that earlier, but the best way to make your rug safer, but also more durable and long-lasting, is getting a rug pad. These decrease the chance of slipping on it. That especially matters in areas such as bathrooms or kitchens, which are high-traffic, but also often come with tiles on the floor instead of hardwood. A proper rug mat can also add some comfort to the rug, and make it less likely to dent if heavy furniture is placed on it.
The Last Step
Now you know everything about rug types, their materials and ways you can use them in your home. Now you'll be able to easily select a perfect carpet for your interior.
