If Your Floors Could Talk - Choosing an Area Rug
It is usually the accessory that most homeowners decide on last, to get or not to get an area rug.
If the answer is to get one then one has to decide about colors and design among other things.
If you adorn your walls with decor, frames and collages...
your floors are screaming & waiting for you to infuse your personality in them.
Here are a few things to know when choosing an area rug: 1.
Have a plan before shopping.
Maybe take pictures of your space or bring swatches of the fabric used in your sofa or throw pillows.
Of course...
Measure!Measure! Measure! 2.
Picking a color.
You have to have some color coordination between the rug and the walls, furniture and accents in your space.
Get color swatches & bring all of the colors of your room in a collage.
Which color seems to match or work well with any of them? Is there a color that stands out in your collage? Maybe a color that you would like to have more of in your space? Most designers will tell you to choose rugs that picks up the colors in your space.
3.
Design Just like furniture or accessories, area rugs can be traditional or modern.
A modern space begs for a pattern with contemporary lines, abstract illustrations or geometric lines.
A bright & cheery space needs a rug that pops.
A cabin or lodge may have a Navajo or Southwestern pattern while a breezy, seaside home will need to have a rug with natural fibers such as jute.
4.
Texture & Materials The most common material used for an area rug is wool, it can also be a wool/cotton blend.
Natural fibers such as jute has of course been so popular in the past few years.
Plush spaces calls for flokati,sheepskin & sometimes even cowhide.
To choose, think about the wear & tear the rug has to endure.
Wool will probably work with most spaces except in coastal homes where jute rugs is probably better to use.
Kids? Always look for the most durable rug.
5.
Size & Placement This can be very tricky.
A rug that's too small for a space will just look awful! If you are placing the area rug in the living room, the furniture should be 8 inches away from it with the floor exposed.
It can also be under the furniture or encompass the whole area with 8 to 10 inches extra.
In the dining room, the rug should be big enough & have an extra 2 feet from the legs of the table.
An area rug can anchor your space remarkably & pull everything together.
It adds to a rich, layered & textured look and of course, it's another piece where you can show your personality.
As always, happy decorating! Be Creatively Chic, Maureen
If the answer is to get one then one has to decide about colors and design among other things.
If you adorn your walls with decor, frames and collages...
your floors are screaming & waiting for you to infuse your personality in them.
Here are a few things to know when choosing an area rug: 1.
Have a plan before shopping.
Maybe take pictures of your space or bring swatches of the fabric used in your sofa or throw pillows.
Of course...
Measure!Measure! Measure! 2.
Picking a color.
You have to have some color coordination between the rug and the walls, furniture and accents in your space.
Get color swatches & bring all of the colors of your room in a collage.
Which color seems to match or work well with any of them? Is there a color that stands out in your collage? Maybe a color that you would like to have more of in your space? Most designers will tell you to choose rugs that picks up the colors in your space.
3.
Design Just like furniture or accessories, area rugs can be traditional or modern.
A modern space begs for a pattern with contemporary lines, abstract illustrations or geometric lines.
A bright & cheery space needs a rug that pops.
A cabin or lodge may have a Navajo or Southwestern pattern while a breezy, seaside home will need to have a rug with natural fibers such as jute.
4.
Texture & Materials The most common material used for an area rug is wool, it can also be a wool/cotton blend.
Natural fibers such as jute has of course been so popular in the past few years.
Plush spaces calls for flokati,sheepskin & sometimes even cowhide.
To choose, think about the wear & tear the rug has to endure.
Wool will probably work with most spaces except in coastal homes where jute rugs is probably better to use.
Kids? Always look for the most durable rug.
5.
Size & Placement This can be very tricky.
A rug that's too small for a space will just look awful! If you are placing the area rug in the living room, the furniture should be 8 inches away from it with the floor exposed.
It can also be under the furniture or encompass the whole area with 8 to 10 inches extra.
In the dining room, the rug should be big enough & have an extra 2 feet from the legs of the table.
An area rug can anchor your space remarkably & pull everything together.
It adds to a rich, layered & textured look and of course, it's another piece where you can show your personality.
As always, happy decorating! Be Creatively Chic, Maureen
