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Rug Buyer's Guide
A rug is a wonderful addition to bedrooms, living rooms, walkways and more. They add warmth, can cool down a hot patio, add style, color, and can also be just plain fun. With so many options on the market rug shopping can be overwhelming, but with a bit of planning you will be able to easily find the rug to suit your needs.
The first thing to do is determine which room you will be purchasing a rug for and measure out the perfect size. Check below for the room you are looking to put a rug in for information on finding the ideal size.
Dining Room: Measure the perimeter of your dining room table and add 54” to the dimension. Ideally your rug is at least 2 feet away from walls and your rug is big enough for dining room chairs to fit on.
Living Room: The rug in your living room will sit neatly in the center of your main furniture such as couch, chairs and coffee table.
The rug shouldn’t show out the back of your couch or chairs but will central in the living area. Measure the perimeter of your main furniture (not the entertainment center, which won’t sit under the rug) and subtract 24 inches from the length. If you don’t have a coffee table, take 24 inches of your width as well and you will have the ideal dimensions for a living room rug.
Bedroom Rugs: The best place for a rug in the bedroom is right under the bed. This way when you hop out of bed in the morning your feet don’t immediately hit cold floor. Measure the perimeter of the bed and add 24 inches to each side that isn’t up against a wall.
Runners: Runners are long and narrow rugs that are ideal for front entry ways and hallways. For an entry way runner, measure the width of your door and the length of the entry way. Subtract 12 inches from the length of your entry way and you will have dimension for you runner. For a hallway, measure the length and width of the hallway. Subtract 12 inches from the width and 24 inches from the length for the dimension of the rug.
Kid’s Room Rugs: There are a couple different approaches to rugs in kid’s rooms. The first is putting a rug under the bed; refer to bedroom for rug how to find the best rug dimensions in this case. Another option is to put a rug in a corner which will set it off as the “play zone”. Measure the area that you want to be the “play area,” subtract 6 inches from the width and length so the rug isn’t pushed right up against the wall and you have the perfect play area.
Draw Up a Budget
Next determine a budget for your area rug. Rugs are priced from low to high and every point in between. The cost difference is usually in part to the quality of materials used, the way the rug was made (by hand or machine) and the size. Rugs are usually put in high traffic areas making it important to invest in quality materials to be sure that your rug lasts and does not begin to show wear and tear soon after your purchase.
Determine Your Style
Now for the fun stuff, pick your shape, color and style. From modern to traditional and bright colored to black, a rug should enhance the interior décor of your home. If the rug is going into a particularly low key room, jazz it up with a splash of color; alternatively if the rug is going into an already busy room, opt for something more low profile. Either way have some fun shopping for the perfect rug to keep your toes happy.
What's it Made Of?
These are just a handful of the materials that rugs are made from, but a good starting point to see the differences and similarities between different rugs. It is important to understand the differences between manmade and natural materials, since both are readily available. Consider the traffic volume of the area your rug will be in as well the "feel" you are going for with your rug purchase and you will naturally lean towards one material over another and this will make your purchase decision easier.
Wool: Wool is an amazing natural fiber for rugs to be made from. Wool is water repellent, fire repellent and extremely durable. Wool also does not promote static making wool rugs perfect for using around electronics, children and more. Wool rugs take color dye nicely which allows for a wide variety of colors and beautiful designs. A great benefit of wool rugs, which it has over its manmade rug material cousins, is that it is a natural fiber, and therefore a green, Earth friendly choice for your home.
Polypropylene Rugs: Polypropylene, sometimes called polypropene, is a material created by the chemical industry and has many applications from thermal underwear to loudspeakers and also area rugs. Polypropylene rugs have some great benefits. This material can create beautiful, durable rugs that don't break the bank. Many rugs made with polypropylene are so durable that they can even be used outdoors. The tough synthetic fiber is also ideal for years of vacuuming and therefore is a great option for someone with pets or children.
Nylon: Nylon is also a common material used to make rugs, most notably the silky shaggy rugs that are so inviting to bare toes. Nylon was designed as a cheaper, man made alternative to silk and has since been used for a variety of purposes including musical strings, bridal veils and more. Nylon is an inexpensive material which makes it appealing to those who are not looking exclusively for a natural fiber rug.
Silk: Silk is another natural fiber used to make rugs, but is lacking the great advantages of wool's durability and toughness, so often rugs are made with both materials. Silk, as many know, is amazing to the touch and touts an appearance and feel of total luxury. With a price tag to match, silk rugs are made to impress, but will not hold up well in a regular busy household. Silk rugs require professional cleaning and are best kept in low traffic areas.
Before you set out shopping, whether in store or online, take accurate measurement of the space you want a rug taking into account for all furniture you currently own or are planning on purchasing for the room in the near future. Shopping online adds the convenience of being able to take note of the dimensions of a rug you are particularly interested in and measure out exactly how it will look before purchasing since you will be shopping at home. Rugs are a beautiful addition to any home and have many practical uses, just don’t forget that although style the most noticed element, size is important too!
