At Flohr, we typically speak about anything and everything flooring –it’s who we are, it’s what we do. But we also want to make sure our clients (and their floors) are taken care of – so we wanted to discuss area rugs and how to incorporate them into a room’s design (with those wonderful floors underneath).
When designing a room, you’ve got to think about things like furniture placement and lighting. But another key factor is what kind of rug is best for your room. Despite being on the floor, thinking about rugs isn’t beneath anyone. In fact, they can really tie a room together. So how do you choose the right area rug? It can come down to two important things: size and style.
Should you have an area rug?
Not every room needs an area rug. But a rug isn’t just there. They should serve a functional purpose for the type of space you want. For example, if you want to make a room feel cozy or to protect your floors from wear and tear in high trafficked parts of your home, then an area rug may be beneficial to you.
How big should the area rug be?
The rug should fit the needs of the room and the furniture arrangement. To determine the right rug size, consider the size of your room. The general rule of thumb is that your area rug should be 1-2 feet shorter than the shortest wall in the room. This helps match the rug to the size of the room and it will also help make the space feel cohesive and unified.
For a living room, you’ll either want a rug that’s large enough for all the furniture to sit on top of the rug or for all the furniture’s front legs to sit on the top. For the bedroom, a good area rug should frame the bed itself.
What style should the area rug be?
Size matters but it isn’t everything. There’s considerations of shape and design to think about as well. Rectangular rugs work very well for most settings, while circular rugs tend to be seen in entryways.
But what about patterns? Depends on what the setting is. For example, a patterned rug might help give neutral furniture more of a pop of personality. Or if you have upholstered furniture, a solid rug can help ground the space, tying everything together.
The right area rug material
Not all rugs are made the same–there’s a variety of materials to choose from.
Wool
This is one of the more common materials used for rugs. Wool is strong and durable and can be a great insulator, making it a strong choice for living rooms, bedrooms and entryways.
Silk
Silk rugs are very soft with finer details than wool rugs. But they may require professional cleaning, so they’re better suited for bedrooms or places where there’s less foot traffic.
Cotton
These rugs are soft and are typically found in woven or braided rugs. They may not last as long as other rug types, but they’re easy to clean.
Polyester
Synthetic rugs made of polyester require less maintenance and they can withstand spills and other stain creators.
If this is all too much to decide on but you want to have soft carpeting in your home, we have you covered.
And if you really are looking for that hard floor + area rug look, then trust the experts at Flohr. We offer free consultations and can help you with the best methods for keeping your floor looking great for years to come.