I love area rugs and I love using them. In fact, in my home you’ll find them at the front entry, in the dining room, in the living room, in the master bedroom, down the gallery hallway, in the media room and in the guest room. I’ve placed them on hardwood floors as well as over wall-to-wall carpeting. I even have some rugs in storage because they do not work in this house but I don’t want to part with them.
Using Area Rugs
Area rugs pull their weight in when it comes to protecting flooring and enhancing your decorating. Use an area rug to help:
- Protect hardwood, tile or stone floors
- Define a seating area
Photo floorguide.com
- Create separate functional areas in a large space.
Photo remodelingcenter.com
- Add color and/or pattern to a room as well as texture.
Photo homedecorcenter.com
Photo homedecorcenter.com
- Tie the elements of a room together.
- Link rooms together. As you see below, the two spaces are bridged with matching area rugs over hardwood floors.
Photo remodelingcenter.com
- Softena room’s hardscape
- Reduce noise
Selecting an Area Rug
Area rugs come in all shapes, sizes, colors and a wide variety of materials. Select one that fits your space, enhances the decor and can withstand the type of traffic and use to which it it will be subjected.
- Room size rugs should leave a border of 18” to 24” on all sides. You can see the dark hardwood floor so you know it’s a purposeful area rug – not wall-to-wall carpeting that doesn’t fit!
Photo via TraditionalHome.com
- Seating area rugs look best if all of the chairs, sofas and/or loveseats sit on the rug or at least have their front legs on the rug.
Photo coastalliving.com
- Dining room rug rule of thumb is to have the rug at least 3’ longer and wider than the dining room table. I’ve broken this rule because I’m using a rug I had in another room before we moved – but if you’re buying a dining room rug make certain the rug extends enough away from the table that chairs remain on the rug when pushed back from the table.
Photo TheFurniture.com
The area rug above looks lovely with the dining set but it barely contains the chairs – make sure the area rug is large enough so the dining chairs do not fall off the edge of the rug when pulled back for seating. The rug below is generous enough that chairs have plenty of room to push back from the table and stay on the rug.
Photo potterybarn.com
- Hallway rugs should be at least 2” to 4” narrower and 18” to 24” shorter than the hallway.
Photo rugsmart.com
- Other area rugs vary in size according to the specific need of your furniture and decor. The small room below has very little space between the built in bed and a desk but the themed hooked rug adds a great visual to tie the room together.
Photo coastalliving.com
What’s Underfoot in Your Home?
Anniversary Input
A pair of WUSLU accent lamps priced at $50.
One of the prizes you might win is a $50 credit on www.wuslu.com, a decor site specializing in offering one unique decor item per day at a deeply discounted price. The winner of the $50 credit can apply it to any of WUSLU’s great deals, including items such as this recently offered a pair of lamps (above). The site’s goal is to help people create a beautiful home through one great deal and/or idea at a time.
WUSLU founder, Yasmin, says, “I’m a firm believer that a “homey” home is a right not a luxury…I’ve done all the haggling and negotiating with these manufacturers on your behalf so I can pass the savings on to you at below retails cost.”
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I have an arts and crafts bench with dark wood that needs a cushion. The wall is light sage and the rug is dark chocolate brown with swags of sage green so it’s a busy rug. The other accent color is pink in the room. How bold can I go on the cushion? Thanks
There’s room for more pattern if that’s what you’d like. It sounds like the pattern on the rug is organic (curvy) so a good contrast (and appropriate to an arts & craft look) would be something geometric.
The main key to mixing patterns is vary the scale and have at least one color in common. For example if your rug pattern is fairly large and swooping, choose a smaller, tight geometric that has some sage in it. If the rug is a smaller pattern (you said it was busy), choose something large for the bench like wide stripes or a big buffalo plaid.
Hope this helps -
Hi – I’m decorating the den in my house by adding a rug and a cozy chair for reading, What should I choose first or does it even matter? I think I have found a rug I love, but I’m afraid if I buy the rug I won’t be able to find a chair that works with it.
Thanks for your help,
Rebecca
There’s really no right order for picking a chair and a rug – I’ve done it both ways! If the rug is a print or a pattern, pull one of the colors in the print/pattern and look for a chair in a similar color. Don’t try to match the rug and the upholstery exactly – it will be more interesting if they blend instead of being exact.
posted this on the wrong entry!!!!
Correct post! Thought i posted it on the 4th of july entry. Kind of a busy day!! It’s Friday after all! Enjoy the weekend and have a great holiday!
As an architect I have to confess I didn’t undesrtand the importance of accesories especially rugs, until my first semester in interior design school. How did my life change! and in a better way.
Rugs bring personality into a room, can be a statement, can invite you or be deisplayed as a wall accesory.
Thanks for this entry. Rugs are mostly inviting and a I won’t overlook a rug again.