If you’re in the market for an area rug, take a look at this article we found from The Spruce.
Area Rug Rules of Thumb
While there are tons of options in the field of area rugs, there are certain things to consider when using them. Here are some rules of thumb to consider before buying an area rug.
When it Comes to Area Rugs, Size Matters
When putting an area rug in a living room or family room keep the following tips in mind.
- The most frequent mistake people make with area rugs is to get one that is too small. An area rug should fit under all of the key furniture pieces in a room. It this isn’t possible you should be able to fit at least the front legs of major upholstered pieces on the rug (the back legs can be off). But all the legs of smaller pieces should be on the rug whenever possible. Think about your furniture arrangements before committing to a rug.
- If you have a particularly large room divide up the conversation areas and use a different rug for each one (they don’t have to match but should be tied together by color or pattern).
- For most average-sized rooms, there should be approximately 10″ – 20″ of bare floor between the edges of the area rug and the walls of the room (depending on the size of the room you can go as low as 8” and as high as 24”). Make sure the rug is centered in the room and the distance between the rug and the wall is the same on all four sides.
- No matter what the size, make sure that in heavily trafficked areas there is enough room for people to walk on the rug (they shouldn’t have one foot on and one foot off).
Color and Pattern
- Area rugs are like the artwork for the floor and they’re a great way to infuse some playfulness into a room. Don’t be afraid to choose something with color and pattern.
- Area rugs with bold patterns can be a lot of fun, but make sure that when you place furniture on them the designs aren’t totally covered up. Take furniture placement into account before you buy.
- If your room is an unusual size or you want to customize a pattern, consider carpet tiles. Carpet tiles (like those from FLOR) come in a large variety of colors and patterns so you can choose what works for you. It’s also possible to switch out tiles if there’s a spill.
- For inspiration on color and pattern check out rug sources like Madeline Weinrib and Dash and Albert.
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