Picking out a rug can be frustrating. Rugs are the only piece of furniture that you’ll use every single time you step into a room. A great rug can set the vibe for a whole room, while a bad rug may have you avoiding it the room altogether. To help you through the process, we’ve identified a few tips and general rules for buying a rug.
Make a Plan - Before you even start looking at rugs online, and especially before go to pick one out in person, you must design a plan on how your room will be set up with the rug included. Measure the desired space for your rug, and then measure again for accuracy. The biggest choice you’ll need to make in the planning stage is how big you’ll want the rug. A good rule of thumb is that if you aren’t going to have wall to wall carpeting, you need to make sure it reaches under the front legs of all the furniture in the room.
Understand the Material - Although the pattern on your rug may seem important, you need to figure out the type of material you’ll be using for the room. Read up on the different materials they can be made of, like cotton, silk, or wool. Each have their own benefits and flaws that you’ll want to consider before purchasing. And don’t forget to consider the usage of the rug, as bedrooms have less foot traffic than your living room, causing less wear and tear.
Select a Pattern - There are many things to consider before choosing the pattern. You want your rug to blend well with the rest of the room, not be lost in the clutter or sticking out like a sore thumb. If your furniture is already colorful and full of pattern, consider a solid-colored rug to emphasize the other designs of the room. For neutral or solid colored furniture, consider a playful color or pattern. If you want color but don’t want to go overboard, match the secondary color of the rug to your furniture.
Proper Care - Purchasing a rug doesn’t end at the register. Now, you’ll need to understand the steps you’ll need to take in order to make the rug last. Figure out the cleaning materials you’ll need, and how often they recommend cleaning it based off your estimated usage. Finally, invest in a rug pad to protect not only your floor, but keep it from sliding around every time it’s stepped on.
