What To Consider Before Buying An Area Rug

Area rugs are essential components of well designed rooms. They must be the right size to anchor the room’s furnishings and the right style to complement a room’s décor. Additionally, a quality area rug must be durable enough to withstand a great amount of abuse, while remaining elegant at the same time.

Here are a few things to consider when buying area rugs:

 

Don’t Buy Area Rugs on Impulse

Area rugs are like artwork. They bring a tremendous amount of color, texture, style and personality to any space.

Tip: Don’t ever purchase an area rug just because it has the right colors for your room or is the right size. Area rugs can be very expensive at times, so chances are, you’ll be living with your choice for many years. Hold out for an area rug which captivates you and complements the room.

 

Natural Fiber is the New Black

Area rugs come in all shapes and sizes, including different materials, colors, styles, patterns, and designs. In recent years, natural fiber rugs have made an incredible impact in the rug industry.

Tip: For your next rug purchase, consider buying a natural fiber rug. They look amazing in any space, from traditional, to mid century, and even modern design styles.

Their subtle texture and subdued color work with any color scheme. They wear like iron so they are family friendly and they are extremely affordable so you don’t feel like you’re making a lifetime commitment when you purchase one.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a natural fiber rug for your home, here’s a quick look at three popular types:

Sisal:: is made from the same cactus plant used to make tequila. The pulp is spun into ropes, which are then woven into mats. With its clean, bright appearance, sisal is a spectacular choice for those who want a transitional or contemporary feel to their space.

Seagrass Rugs: are made from a reed that grows in marshy areas. As a result, the grass has a natural coating that allows it to easily repel moisture.

Dragon Grass Area Rugs: are simply seagrass rugs that are grown in more arid soil, giving it a slightly darker color. Often, dragon grass rugs are available in a wider variety of patterns, some of which have a more refined appearance, making them a better pick for formal rooms.

Coir Area Rugs: are made from coconut husks and are the roughest of the vegetable fiber area rugs. It’s best to use them for walk-off mats by your door or on a screened porch. While these are some of the most common vegetable fiber area rugs, you can also find area rugs made of hemp, jute, and bamboo.

You’ll also need to pick how the edges of your new area rug will be finished: serged or bound in cotton tape.

Light colored tapes look marvelous and are so versatile you can move them from room to room. However, they will show dirt more readily. Dark colored tape hides dirt, but when you pick a very distinct color, like navy or red, you limit your design options.

 

Get the Correct Area Rug Size

One of the biggest mistakes people make is to buy an area rug that is too small for the space. This cost-saving measure usually doesn’t pay off in the long run because an incorrectly sized area rug can throw off the look of the entire room, even if the furnishings are astounding.

Tip: To figure out what size area rug you’ll need, decide where your furnishings will be placed. If the furniture will rim the room, your area rug should measure a foot or two smaller than the room’s perimeter. If your furniture grouping will float in the center of the room, perhaps in front of a fireplace, your area rug should be large enough so that the front legs of your furniture can rest upon it.

Similarly, in your dining room, don’t make the common mistake of getting a rug that’s the same size as your table top. Add 18 inches to each side to accommodate your chairs.

 

Give Your Area Rugs Lots of LOVE

Tip: Once you invest in a beautiful area rug, treat it right so it will look lovely for years to come. Start by putting a high-quality pad under the area rug because the right pad can double the lifespan of a rug, especially if the area rug is in a high traffic area.

Tip: Sunlight can slowly strain the color out of a rug, so if your rug is in a sunny room, our area rug experts recommend that you close the window shades when the sun is beating down directly on the area rug. Furthermore, be sure to rotate your area rug on a regular basis to even out factors like sun exposure and wear.

Tip: When cleaning a wool area rug, sweep or vacuum on low suction and never vacuum against the nap of the area rug. Check with the manufacturer for recommendations on how to treat stains. But when accidents do happen, make sure you clean the stain immediately, before it has a chance to set in, working from the outside of the stain in to avoid the stain from spreading.

Tip: Keep the area rugs away from moisture and treat them with stain protector to prevent spills and dirt from absorbing into the fibers. For day-to-day maintenance, use a high-suction vacuum cleaner, but don’t ever engage the beater bars as they can tear up the fibers.