Choosing an area rug

Whether you want to define an area in a room or add comfort to it, an area rug is a wise investment. Today, I would like to share some of the advice I’ve gotten in the past to help you whittle down your choice to an area rug that’s right for your home.​

Design and quality matter most when it comes to area rugs. With plenty of choices out there, choosing the one that’s right for you can be, well, quite daunting.

The first question you should ask yourself is where will your area rug go and what will its purpose be?

An open-weave area rug does not belong under a dining table, where it will get damaged every time you move your chairs. Whereas, a solid rug will show stains more than one with a colourful pattern. Rugs are also ideal for camouflaging almost anything or creating an optical illusion. For example, one with horizontal stripes can make a narrow room seem wider. Placing an area rug in the centre of a large, open room can define certain areas any way you like or direct how people move around the space.

Another important consideration when you buy an area rug is its size.

Again, where you put it is a big factor. For your dining room, be sure to have at least four feet around your table to allow people to pull out their chairs comfortably. If you want to anchor your living room with a large area rug, subtract three feet from its width and length. This will provide you with enough visible floor space, enveloping the room in just the right way without a wall-to-wall carpet look and feel.

Whatever you end up choosing, keep in mind that every area rug has a certain functional beauty and gives a room a more polished, coordinated look. It also often serves as the basis of your room’s colour palette, giving you the time you need to make the right choices.