Rugs are an excellent way to accentuate portions of a room, add to the ambience and warmth of your interiors by harmonising colours and shapes and help to reduce noise levels. Ideally, a rug should tie together your room's wall, furniture, and furnishing colours.
Rugs are an excellent way to accentuate portions of a room, add to the ambience and warmth of your interiors by harmonising colours and shapes and help to reduce noise levels. Ideally, a rug should tie together your room's wall, furniture, and furnishing colours.
Adding a soft rug to a large room or hallway with hard surfaces such as cold tiles can transform an area from uncomfortable and echoey to snug and cosy. They can also be used to focus attention on another aspect of the interiors or become a talking point in themselves.
Available in various materials, textures, and shapes, area rugs are fabulous for connecting separate spaces. An excellent combination of form and utility, beautifully crafted hand rugs are veritable works of art. Most handmade area rugs are made from fine quality wool that can withstand the rigours of heavy traffic and regular cleanings.
How much should a rug cost?
The cost of a rug can vary drastically. The price depends on quality, manufacturing process, materials, and size. Machine-manufactured rugs that are durable and can stand wear and tear are generally readily available and relatively inexpensive. Rugs made from natural fibres such as wool, cotton and silk have a more significant price tag - as do quality handmade rugs.
Think about the room where the rug is going and how it is used – is it going to be used for a practical purpose (under the kitchen table) or to enhance the room’s aesthetic? Determining this will help you decide whether it is an investment piece or something that might be replaced every couple of years.
How to take care of your rug
Always consult the care labels of your rug, but in general, to keep your area rugs looking the best, look after them as you would your normal carpet. Regular vacuuming (on both sides if possible) and turning once or twice a year to even out wear and tear and sun damage. If a spill occurs (and the material allows), dilute with water and brush gently from the outside to the centre. If the rug is not too bulky, it can be taken to the cleaners who have expertise in handling rugs made from different materials. But make sure that the carpet is completely dry before placing furniture – otherwise, your rugs might carry permanent marks. And yes, I am talking from experience!
How to position a rug
When we are styling a home for our clients, we usually layer from the ground up. The most important thing is to ensure that your rug is big enough for the space. We find that oversized rugs make a room feel more luxurious, spacious, and uncluttered.
Placing Living Room Rugs
If you are placing a rug in your living room, make sure that your coffee table and at least the front legs of your sofas and armchairs are positioned on the rug. We like to leave an area around the rug’s edges so we still see the floor underneath.
Placing Dining Room Rugs
Rule of thumb – make sure your dining chairs sit comfortably on the rug when pulled out from the table. There is nothing worse than pulling out a chair that is half on, half off. We also suggest a flat-style rug that is easy to clean!
Placing Bedroom Rugs
A rug is a great way to create an illusion of more space in your bedroom but working out where to place it can be pretty tricky. Most commonly, it is placed under the bed, either all the way to your bedhead or stopping short of the bedside tables – adding another layer to your bedroom. Another option is two runners on either side of the bed. This adds a touch of luxury to your room … who doesn’t like to step out of bed onto toe sinking carpet? Or maybe you just want it at the foot of your bed – this is a great way to add impact on entering your bedroom.
We hope this helps with your next rug purchase. If you have any questions, pop them in the comments section below.