Designing Your Room with Rugs

When it comes to decorating your home, think of the floors as your foundation for your room’s theme. An area rug can visually integrate and harmonize eclectic elements in any décor, or can even revitalize a room. In today’s economy many homeowners want a new look but don’t want to spend a lot to overhaul a room. Rejuvanating your floors is the answer for a new look without the grave expense of new furniture, fixtures etc. In addition to adding to the life of your floors, area rugs can accent a room’s palette or wall design, or even set the entire mood, character, or design of the room at a fraction of the cost.

Sometime all you want is to add flare or add color to a favorite room; or you’ve been looking for a way to incorporate an artistic expression to your home. Ever thought of adding warmth to the cold tile in your bathroom, imagine the soft rug beneath your relaxed feet after stepping out of a soothing bubble bath. Perhaps you would just like to add softness to a hard wood floor; or just add extra sparkle to a busy hallway.

If any of the above describes one of your needs, here are some tips for selecting a rug for your home: 

• Try to visualize the desired finished look of the room. Do you envision a room that is uncluttered and monotone in color, or a room rich in colors or textures?
• If you can, start with the room empty. Choose the rug and then paint or wallpaper the walls to complement the colors found in the rug. This is ideal.
• Choose the furniture so that each piece picks up and enhances the colors found in the rug.
• If you are like most of us and already have furniture, choose the rug to pick up the colors or even the patterns used in your furniture designs. Patterns can be mixed if they are color coordinated. Elements in the room’s design scheme, such as floral pictures, carvings or patterns, and even fabrics or textures used in the furniture or draperies can be incorporated into the overall design of the rug.
• Determine the size of the room and the area you want to cover. The most common area rug sizes are 5x7 and 6x9 feet. These work well under most coffee tables.
• An area rug with a bold overall design can be the focal point of a room that contains a sofa and chair in solid or subdued patterns.
• Light colored rugs make the room look more spacious, deeper colors express coziness to the room.
• Choose a rug that will perform well, with the right combination of density and fiber. The more twist in the tuft and the denser or closer each tuft is stitched, the better your rug will perform and appear over time.
• Don’t be boxed in by the idea that your rug has to be a rectangular rug. An octagonal shaped, or free-formed shaped rug can add flair to the room.
• Remember to take a swatch of the fabric you would like to match with you when you go shopping for a rug. This way you will have a better idea of what will compliment your existing decor’. The better custom rug fabricators can even incorporate some of your fabric into the design of your rug.
• Don’t underestimate the value of a quality underlay. Not only does the pad absorb the impact of feet and noise, it reduces wear and tear on the rug and makes vacuuming easier.

When buying a custom made rug, it pays to select a reputable dealer with a knowledgeable staff, a wide selection, and a guarantee that the store will stand behind its merchandise.