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One element that can really pull your home or space together is a good rug. But figuring out which rug will work perfectly for your space could be a little tricky. Especially if you were standing in the rug aisle trying to choose the rug. So before you head to the store to find your perfect rug, you need to consider a few things.

Layout of Furniture

The first thing to consider when picking out a rug for any space (dining room, living room, bedroom, bathroom, etc.) is what is the shape of the room and the layout of the furniture in that room. Typically you want the rug to extend at least 6 inches on each side of the layout you’re going for. So what layout options are there?

The first layout goes by multiple different names from classic to all front legs. As the second name suggests, this is where your furniture whether it’s sofa, chairs, and end tables only have the front legs touching the rug while the rest is on the regular flooring. This is the most versatile option especially if furniture is going up against a wall in any spot or if there is an awkward layout with corners that a rug just wouldn’t fit to extend to that spot. Also it means you don’t have to spend as much money in the long run on a larger rug.

The next layout is the floating or all legs layout. Typically done when the furniture is in the center of the room and the rug can fit underneath all of the furniture without dealing with walls. Which is typically found in your open-concept homes as this helps create a defined seating area when separating from a dining room or kitchen. This also works in a dining room environment to have visual separation.

Bedroom layout is does not fall into the other categories as the general rule of thumb is to go with a rug that extend from the bottom 2/3 of the bed. With 18-24 inches of space on each size but doesn’t encroach on any main walkways. Another option is to have runners on each side of the bed but they do not extend past the end of the bed itself and is slightly wider than your night table. The second option is best for those with beds where there is a wall directly touching the nightstands on each side.

Materials

Next thing to consider is: how heavy of a foot traffic is that rug going to see? Depending on that answer you might need a different type of material that can handle that traffic. Some examples of materials include:

• Dhurries and kilims. Flat-woven wool and cotton rugs that are usually reversible. Known for their bright colors and graphic patterns, they tend to be durable, easy to clean and work just about anywhere.
• Natural rugs. Woven from fibers extracted from plants, including sisal, jute, seagrass and hemp. Because of their durability, affordable price and neutral color palette, natural rugs are especially good for high-traffic areas.
• Tufted. A technique that involves inserting yarn through a woven base to create a pile, is a common way to achieve precise patterns. The pile can be looped or cut, creating subtle texture in different combinations. Tufted rugs last longer in lower-traffic areas.
• Overdyed and distressed rugs. Use a cycle of dyeing, washing or distressing to achieve a one-of-a-kind finish. During this artisanal process, colors blend and textures soften for a vintage feel that’s good for moderate foot traffic.

Pattern

The last thing to consider is: what pattern do you want? You want something that’s going to pop and stand out, but at the same time you don’t want it so overpowering or out of place that it wouldn’t go with the rest of the elements in your home. A few ideas of patterns:

• Versatile Neutrals: A neutral rug forms a solid foundation when you want to
  layer on rich textures, patterns or colors. Think of it as the canvas for the rest of your room.
• Playful Patterns: If your furniture is a solid color or neutral, try a patterned rug. For foolproof color coordination, match the secondary color in the rug to your sofa or key furniture.
• Solid Colors: A monochromatic rug complements patterned furniture by grounding it in a primary palette. In a living room, try matching the rug to the secondary color in a patterned sofa.

What style rug is your favorite?

Image Credit: 1 | 2 | 3

Love ya,

Mae Polzine

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