Decorating with rugs

Tips for Decorating with Rugs

Abe Abbas

Abe Abbas is a furniture expert who has worked as a design consultant for Sears Home Life, Levitz, and La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries. He has over 30 years of experience in the furniture industry—working with all facets from retail sales, design, buying, marketing, and importing. He has also owned and managed high-volume furniture stores in California.

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Updated on 03/16/21

Add a rug to a room that lacks excitement, and problem solved. While that alone is a good enough reason to decorate with a rug, there are many others just as compelling. You might even say it completes a room by tying all the different pieces together visually. A rug can anchor a room, define it, add warmth, and help layer a room's decor.

There are several different ways to decorate with a rug, but we will start with ten of them:

Use Rugs to Define Areas

Use a rug to define or separate areas, such as seating or dining areas, and foyers. This is especially useful in studio apartments or larger rooms that need definition.

Create Variety

You can use rugs to create variety in a space. When you use two rugs in a room, be aware that same sized rugs can visually cut the room in two. Use different sized rugs to create a sense of variety.

Create Harmony

When using more than one rug, it's better when the rugs complement each other in style. If not, you could end up with a jarring or unpleasant effect. Too many "warring" patterns in a room will do away with any sense of harmony.

Get Ideas for a Color Scheme

Use a favorite rug as the basis of the color scheme in a room. On the other hand, if you add it after you have your furniture in place, you can use the rug to accent or tie in your existing colors.

Control the Volume

Use a rug to visually quieten a room or turn up the volume as needed. If your upholstery or wallpaper has an ornate pattern, choose a rug that is more subtle. When walls and upholstery are fairly subdued, you can try a busier pattern or bolder colors to add more interest to the room.

Create a Focal Point

Use a rug as the focal point of your room, as rugs can make a huge impact. To do that you can create contrast by painting your walls a hue that echoes one of your rug's accent colors.

Dress Up a Wall

Use a rug as a wall hanging for another way to display a rug, or to create a focal point.

Play Around With Shapes

Don't assume that a rug has to be a rectangle. Let the way you group your furniture dictate the shape of your rug. Try figuring out which shape would look best, and then go with a square, round or oval shape if that seems to complement your furniture arrangement better than a rectangular one.

Make Sure to Get the Right Size

When you buy a room size rug, subtract 3 feet from the length and width of the room. Leaving the floor bare at the edges makes the room look a little larger. When laying a rug under your dining table, leave at least 24" of the rug from the edge of the table out on all sides. This enables the back legs of the chairs to stay on the rug, even when pulled out to let someone sit. Runners should be 4 inches narrower than your hallway and 18 to 24 inches shorter. Make sure they are wide enough to accommodate both feet on the rug when you walk.

Update a Room

Change out rugs and pillows to update a room for changing seasons, or as a way to introduce new color trends.

Bonus Tip:

Always use a liner to keep your rug from slipping or creeping. The rug liner should be appropriate for your floor type, and also be the right size to fully keep the rug from sliding.

The 9 Best Area Rugs of 2022

8 Area Rug Dos and Don'ts

Area rugs are a terrific alternative to wall-to-wall carpets, namely because they're easier to remove and clean. They're also less of a commitment, and it's easy to switch one out if you get bored or want to redecorate.

What Is an Area Rug?

An area rug is an accent rug that does not extend to the walls. It is mostly used to anchor furniture in a space.

When it comes to using area rugs in your home, there are some important rules to remember. Before buying, check out these dos and don'ts for decorating with area rugs.

Do Extend Rugs Under Furniture

Leaf and Lo

When selecting an area rug, make sure that it extends under all the key pieces of furniture in the room. In a living room, for instance, all of the furniture should be on top of the rug. If this isn't possible, it's okay to have the front legs of major upholstered pieces on the rug and the back legs off. However, all the legs of smaller pieces should be on the rug.

In a dining room, the rug should be large enough for the chairs as well as the table. A good rule to follow is that the chairs should be on the rug, even when they're pulled out from the table.

The 9 Best Area Rugs of 2022

Don't Skimp on Size

The number one mistake people make when decorating with area rugs is getting ones that are too small in size. This is understandable, especially when you see the price tags for some of the larger rugs. However, going big now will save you from replacing one that doesn't work later. Besides, the cost of a rug is still lower than an entire room of carpet.

Do Cover High-Traffic Areas

Brophy Interiors

Make sure that any heavily trafficked areas are fully covered by the rug you choose. When people are walking through, they shouldn't have one foot on the rug and one foot off. It's awkward, uncomfortable, and can lead to unusual wear patterns on both the rug and your flooring.

Don't Go Too Small in the Bedroom

What good is an area rug if it doesn't extend beyond the bed? You'll end up stepping out onto a cold, hard floor in the morning, rather than a soft rug. Be sure to get your measurements right before you go shopping.

Ideally, the rug should be large enough to extend beyond the sides of the bed at least 12 inches for a twin or double bed, and at least 18 inches for a queen or king. You can go bigger, but these numbers should be the minimums you want to look for.

Do Leave Equal Space

Home By Polly

Ideally, you should leave the same amount of floor space on all sides of your rug. Give yourself anywhere from about eight to 24 inches on all sides. Eighteen inches is the most common space, but in a smaller space, you can get away with as little as eight inches. The main goal is to have the rug centered in the room.

Don't Be Afraid of Color and Pattern

Area rugs are a great way to inject playfulness and fun into the room, so embrace color and pattern while shopping. There are many inexpensive options available, so if you decide you don't like it after a couple of years, it's easy to change.

Do Know How to Clean It

Mid City Interiors

Be sure to check the cleaning instructions on any rug before you buy it. Sisal, jute, and other natural fiber rugs are inexpensive, but they can't be cleaned so you might have to replace them if there's a big spill. Weigh your budget and your options before buying.

Don't Place Your Best Rugs in Danger

While it's tempting to place your best rug in a focal point of the house, such as your dining room, you might want to think twice about it. It's best to avoid placing expensive area rugs in areas where there are likely to be spills and accidents.

Even though they're easier to clean than broadloom carpet, it can still be difficult to remove stains from rugs. Keep this in mind, especially if you have children and pets. You can't always control what your family does over the rug, so it may be best to go with inexpensive, easy-to-clean options in the more hazardous areas of your home.

The Best Affordable Rugs That Don't Sacrifice on Style or Durability

Berber carpet decoration | Decorate

Carpets are an important part of decorating any home, especially now that the cold winter months are coming. It should be noted that Berber rugs are currently a trend in decor.

If you know how to match them with the rest of your home, will give you a wonderful and chic touch in the style of your chosen room. When in doubt, don't think twice and choose a Berber rug for your home. nine0003

Index

1 What is the origin of the Berber rugs
2 Where to place the Berber rug

What is the origin of the Berber rugs

This type of rug is so popular today, They come from Morocco, specifically the Berbers. This city has a great tradition of carpet making. Thus, Berber rugs were used as bedding to protect against the cold, or as a simple decorative element inside houses. nine0003

There are several patterns or types of Berber carpets, the most popular in Western society being the Beni Ouarain carpets. This name refers to a city in Morocco.

As for the design of these rugs, they are distinguished by the presence of various geometric motifs such as diamonds, dark colors such as black and on a white or beige background. There are other rugs that usually have letters related to the Berber alphabet, although they tend to be less common. Another feature of Moroccan carpets of this type is the fringe. nine0003

Where to place a Berber rug

If you are in doubt where to put this type of rug, Pay special attention to the following tips to help you get the most out of this type of rug. and give a special touch to your home decoration:

Many people who travel to Morocco use a Berber carpet to place in one of the rooms of the house. Today, however, rugs of this type can be easily found in specialty stores for the home and household goods. nine0005 Berber rugs are available in different sizes and colors.
One area of the home where this type of carpet is best suited is the entryway or hallway. The ideal option is to choose a Berber carpet in small sizes. and make it the center of attention during your stay.
If you have small children at home, the Berber rug is ideal for placing in a child's room. They give a feeling of warmth in a rather large size, perfect for the winter months. The little one can be in it and enjoy the warmth it gives. Being light colors like white or beige, it goes great with other colors you might have in a child's room. nine0016

Like the rest of the rugs, Berber is ideal for placing in the main room of the house. You can put one large one that protrudes under the bed, or you can put two small ones at the foot of the bed or on the sides of it. Now in winter, it is ideal for making your stay cozy and warm. As we said above, this carpet goes well with the rest of the colors. There is nothing better than getting up and feeling the warmth of this rug on your feet. nine0006

The living room or dining room is another ideal place to lay a Berber carpet. The feeling of warmth that the carpet gives is perfect and It goes well with other decor elements in the living room, such as a sofa or a table. You can choose a large area rug that covers most of the room and make the room cozy in every way. Various Berber carpet motifs will give your dining room a touch of elegance and modernity.

The Berber carpet is a real trend and today many people decide to install it in their homes. nine0005 As for the price, I must say that in most cases it is about 200 euros. It is important to remember that if you choose to install a Berber rug in any of the rooms in your home, you must clean it thoroughly to avoid getting too much dirt on it. In addition, it must be said that now that low temperatures are around the corner, a rug in the bedroom or living room will allow you to give a more cozy feel to such a room in the house. Without a doubt, this is an excellent choice that you will not regret in any way. nine0003

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An oval carpet is the best decoration for your room

The only warm thing served not only as a blanket, but also served as a carpet. Now not everyone can afford such a luxury as the natural skin of a bear, and it looks more advantageous in a majestic castle with tapestries and mosaics than in an apartment in a multi-storey building. Therefore, in order to give the room warmth and comfort, an oval-shaped handmade carpet was created in Ancient Persia. It fits perfectly into any design and looks presentable. nine0003

Due to their standard quality and noble appearance, Pakistani, Chinese, Persian, Afghan, Indian, Turkmen, Turkish, Azerbaijani carpets are especially popular, which are endowed with a unique pattern and special charm. Each country has its own style, which consists in ornament, drawing and pattern, as well as the color palette and quality of workmanship. Therefore, the buyer will find for himself an option that will fit into the overall concept of the premises and will become a reflection of its character. nine0003

Materials used in the production of carpets

The most popular of them are:

Cozy wool . Carpets made from this material are considered a classic option. True, you will have to pay a round sum for it - the purchase is not cheap. For spacious living rooms, products made of tactilely pleasant, durable sheep wool are suitable. The carpet with elastic pile has a cozy and attractive design, long service life - up to 40 years. nine0003

Noble silk . The basis is a fiber, carefully created by the silkworm. But such a product will cost more than the previous version. But this disadvantage is fully compensated by the noble appearance, the strength of the product. The elastic thread makes it possible to recreate the pattern in detail. But under direct sunlight, a silk carpet quickly fades in the sun.

Practical viscose . It is an artificial fiber derived from natural cellulose. The threads are easily dyed, due to which the carpet acquires an intense, bright shade that lasts for many years. nine0003

Fluffy carpet: a bright accent in the interior

Top designers recommend following these tips:

A large carpet will refresh the room. But it is important to choose a product that will go well with other interior items
Colorful carpet accentuates a certain area
The creative shape is placed in the middle of the room. Interior items, furniture are placed around, and not placed on it.
In the nursery, a carpet is spread near the crib so that the baby feels comfortable playing on the floor

The Carpet-Gold website offers a huge selection of carpets for the most demanding taste: with catchy or modest patterns, stylish ornaments and solid colors.