A rug is important for decorating any room because it ties everything together. Picking a rug can be very overwhelming, there are many different sizes, materials, and designs.
Picking a Size
A rule of thumb I always like to go by is picking a rug that is big enough that it will cover the floor where most of the furniture is placed. I like to make sure the rug is tight around this space so that there is a clear indication of where the space ends. No one wants to walk the perimeter of a seating area (for example) with one foot off the rug and one foot on. Choose a rug size that runs under all four feet of the furniture or at least the two front feet. Anything smaller than that will downgrade the look of the room.
This is a great example of what the sizing should look like in a living room. The rug is slightly under the couch that is under the front legs and a little further under. I love having the side tables off of the rug, especially if you chose to go with the rug covering the floor under the front legs
Picking a Material
Just like rugs come in all different shapes and sizes, they also come in all different types of materials. There’s cotton, linen, sisal, jute, allo, wool, silk, and synthetic fibers, and the list doesn’t stop there! Material is important because you don’t want to pick a material that doesn’t hold well in a high-traffic area, or one that isn’t durable for an outdoor space.
Jute is the perfect material for an outdoor space. I love that the material of this rug is natural and it goes so well in an area filled with greenery.
Pattern or Solid?
I have always loved patterned rugs and often choose patterns over solid colors. Adding a patterned rug can be tricky especially if it is one with a lot of colors. Of course, you don’t want it to clash but you also don’t want it to match too well with the rest of the décor that it ends up making the space look bland. When choosing a patterned rug, especially one with lots of colors, I like to pick a color that’s already in the space and find a rug with that color. I then like to make sure that all the other colors on the rug complement those in the rest of the space. It’s a process but worth it in the end.
If you are uncomfortable with patterns a solid color rug is always a good choice! When picking a solid color rug, I know the first thing people think about is a color that matches a color in the space. I personally like to stay away from doing this because it can make the space look bland. Instead, picking a color that complements the rest of the colors in the room will elevate the rest of the furniture and the room along with it.
Basically, whether it is patterned or solid, chose a color that will complement the rest of the room.
Did you know you could layer?
Laying rugs has become very popular this year. This is a perfect option if you cannot decide between two rugs. You can do this by choosing a simpler and slightly larger rug to layer on the bottom and a smaller typically one with a more complex design on the top. I love doing with by using a sisal rug on the bottom. A sisal rug is made from long leaves of agave plants, it is typically stiff and coarse. You could also use a jute rug but sisal is a lot more durable and will be more ideal, especially in a high-traffic area like a living room. If you decide to layer, make sure that both of the rugs you use aren’t too thick, or else you will have everyone tripping over them. They should be leveled with the floor as much as possible.
I love this living room design by Studio McGee. This is a great example of what layering rugs looks like. As you can see there is a patterned rug over a natural rug.
Another great example of layering rugs. The rug in this design gives off a vintage feel, I love the decision to layer it with a natural rug because it tones down that feel a little. Not only that but it is also just plain beautiful!
Picking a rug can be exhausting and frustrating but remember to always have fun.
Until next time!
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