Area rugs are a great option if you want to decorate rooms in a unique way. They can also complement the brand new floors in your home!
But choosing the right area rug for your home can be a little overwhelming. There are thousands of options out there and there’s a lot to consider.
Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about buying area rugs!
Where You’ll Use Area Rugs
One of the most important considerations for finding the best area rug for your room is where the rug will go.
Is it in a high-traffic area like a living room or a less frequented area like a bedroom?
This will help you determine what level of pile you want on your area rug.
But what is a rug’s “pile”?
Simply put, a rug’s pile is the density and thickness of the fiber that makes up the rug. There are different levels of pile depending on the type of rug you have.
For example, a shaggy rug is a high (or long) pile, while a flatter rug is considered low (or short) pile.
While a shaggy rug is known for its comfort level, low pile rugs can be too. These lower pile rugs are also easier to clean, which will come in handy in high-traffic areas.
Length vs. Width of Area Rugs
While in the past, people have bought area rugs of equal length and width, it’s becoming increasingly more popular to turn to rugs of differing sizes.
When you are considering a new area rug, consider the size of the room where the rug will be.
What sorts of furniture is in this room and what sort of flooring will be underneath the area rug?
If you have installed beautiful new tile, wood or another type of flooring, you probably don’t want a rug that largely covers it up.
For rooms that are longer than they are wide, consider a rug that measures the same way.
Striped Area Rugs
A striped area rug is a great way to add a unique element to your living room, bedroom, or another area in your home.
Stripes are also a creative way to help make a smaller room look larger. This is because of the length of those stripes.
If you are going for a more modern feel to your room, stripes can help add that style. This is because stripes use a contrasting color scheme.
This can help draw out different colors in a room and create an impressive look.
Runners and Smaller Area Rugs
When you think of an area rug, you might think only about larger area rugs that take up a bit of space.
But there are rugs of all shapes and sizes.
Runners are narrow area rugs that have a long length and are often used in hallways and along the sides of beds. These are a great way to cover floors that are oddly shaped.
A combination of small-sized rugs can be used in a bigger room to help add different elements of style, too.
Consider the Time (and Cost) of Care
When deciding which area rug is the best for you, consider the amount of time and cost it will take to maintain them.
While you may want a lighter color rug in your living room, keep in mind that light-colored rugs will show dirt or stains a bit more than dark-colored rugs.
If being able to vacuum your rug is important to you, a low pile rug is one you should consider. These also tend to last longer, on average, than their high pile counterparts.
Depending on the type of rug, you may have to pay for a deeper cleaning from time to time, which will help your rug stay clean but also cost you some money in the process.
This is because when you have a high pile area rug like shag, you can’t vacuum these like you can low pile rugs or carpet. You could try vacuuming the dirt out of the shag by the handheld vacuum head.
But in actuality, it’s much better for you to take your shag rug outside and shake it. This way, you can help keep your area rug from being damaged by a vacuum.
Add Area Rugs to Your Rooms
Tile and wood are just some of the flooring options for your home, but any of these can be accented by a nice area rug.
Area rugs come in all shapes, sizes, colors and types, which makes deciding on the best one a challenge unless you do some research.
Consider the size of the room where your area rug will be placed.
How much area do you want your rug to cover?
Do you enjoy your floors but want to keep your feet warm during the winter?
Also, think about whether the room where the area rug will be is one that’s high-traffic. If you put a lighter colored rug in a less traveled room, this will make it much easier to keep up with.
Remember that it’s becoming more popular to buy a rug with unequal length and width. This adds some diversity to your room while helping them fit better in a given room.
If you are going for a more modern look or are decorating a smaller room, stripes are worth a long look. While stripes aren’t your only option in a smaller, modern room, these can be a great addition.
Final Thoughts
Think about how much work and upkeep your area rug will take you and if you are willing to make those sacrifices to maintain it.
Home improvement projects like putting in new floors can be supplemented nicely with a high-quality area rug.
We know that your home flooring needs are an important part of your home and we look forward to finding that perfect option!
