Friends and clients ask me all the time if they should get a rug for their room. Bedrooms, Living rooms, sun porches, entries, corridors, dining spaces, rec rooms, offices, libraries, outdoor porches, decks and patios.
YES. The answer to start with is almost always YES!... unless it is physically not possible, if the end design aesthetic just won't support one, or if there are blatant red flags such as a situation where potential tripping hazards need to be avoided. My experience has been that consumers are mostly confused about how to execute an area rug properly in terms of style, color, texture, placement, rug pad choice, the list goes on.
It's a vast topic, but getting straight to the point, area rugs can be critical and can be absolutely necessary for the following reasons:
*Sound control/ absorption
(materials such as window treatments, area rugs and upholstered furniture help with this)
*Balancing a space with color, pattern or texture
(a great opportunity to add complementary elements that set of the surroundings)
*Defining a space within a space
(This is a helpful tool to create focal points)
*Grounding or anchoring a furniture grouping
(Make it clear that the furnishings are part of a given space. Use the rug to marry the piece together even if they are positioned "angled" etc. This is often when people will talk about a rug "connecting" the pieces when the "legs of the furniture" all touch the rug, which is a pretty good guideline USUALLY)
*Creating depth in a room or conversely...
(If your room looks a bit "flat"... it may be because the elements in the room are all blending in with each other. Consider using an area rug as a way to create depth)
*Dividing oversized or elongated spaces to make them more cozy
(Pretty self explanatory. An extremely long corridor is a good example... or a room with multiple groupings UNDEFINED... can look like a furniture warehouse supercenter. Even on a small scale)
*Providing physical comfort
(bare feet, floor lounging folks, people with pets, children at play, etc)
*Portable, cleanable options as a must
(for damp areas such as some basements or porches, high traffic, outdoor areas... NOT necessarily machine washable, but rather soapy bleach water hosed off in the driveway options. They are out there and they are amazing)
*Solidifying the theme, style or feel of a room
(Area rugs come in THOUSANDS of genres/ styles. If you need to get a rug, get your money's worth, select the right thing... the perfect thing!)
*Providing safety
(Area rugs are often used for safety on slippery surface areas especially in entries, etc. )
*Cleanliness
(Area rugs are typically used quite often as a means to intercept dirt, etc in points of entry)
RUG TYPES / PRICING / QUALITY:
Area rugs are literally ALL over the board when it comes to what is available, price point, and how they are made. General rule of thumb: You get what you pay for. More expensive rugs are usually crafted better and are made of higher quality materials ergo they last longer. From most expensive to least expensive this is basic break down of how it usually breaks down:
$$$$$ Hand knotted area rugs made from natural materials such as wool, silks or blends, and often hand dyed and sheered by hand.
$$$$ Machine made area rugs made from natural materials but woven by a machine.
$$$ Machine made area rugs made from man made materials and fibers such as polypropylene, etc
$$ Machine PRINTED area rugs that have been machine tufted from man made materials and the colors and designs are printed on top of the fibers.
$ Machine PRINTED area rugs that have been machine woven from man made materials
MY CAUTIONARY TALES / RAPID FIRE Q & A:
*AS ALWAYS!... Buying online is a huge gamble. From having to guess color, the actual density of the product, to unknown quality, to actual question of the integrity or origin of the product... it's just not something that i recommend unless you are purchasing through a dealer or design professional who can help you navigate the details and who are akin to working with reputable sources that serve the industry which demands higher quality, reliable standards. Be careful!
*Be careful of trendy products that surface, they are not always as user friendly as they seem. Know when to say when! Ha ha ha!
Q: Most overlooked aspect of selecting a rug?
A: Proper size and type of backing on the rug!
Q: Is it weird to have an area rug on top of wall to wall carpeting?
A: It is NOT weird. It is normal and often NECCESSARY. It's "weird" because you have not historically done it.
Q: Biggest mistake when buying a rug?
A: Failing to buy and use a RUG PAD!
Fun Fact: ALL rugs no matter where they go... need to have a pad to secure the rug, protect the floor AND prevent the rug backing from breaking down... or to keep the rug from rippling.
Q: How do I know what size rug to use and where to place it?
A: Even the most well seasoned designers will almost always do a room layout to make sure that it is correct.
Q: Can't I just order a standard size rug for my room?
A: No such thing! While a lot of rug manufacturers carry "common" sizes... those sizes are usually NOMINAL from maker to maker, mill to mill, manufacturer to manufacturer. and not ALL rugs come in the same size categories. Even when a size is listed (online, in a catalog, or on an actual sample)... typically the nominal "common" size is listed... ALWAYS check actual dimensions. Wild, right?
Q: Custom rugs cost more than "normal sizes" right?
A: NOT REALLY! A lot of manufacturers that allow for custom sizes have made the move to charging per square foot for custom rug sizes for that particular style. While it doesn't always mean charging extra... it DOES usually mean a longer lead time. Good things come to those who wait though, so I've heard!
*HAPPY DESIGNING! ~ A.O.
Comments