Everything you need to know about rugs

When it comes to interior decorating, furniture is what’s going to make the biggest impact. Paint color for the walls is probably second. But a third thing, and one that’s often overlooked is rugs. A large rug can completely transform the look of a room. Area rugs are especially nice in open concept floor plans where all the rooms can seem to run together. An area rug pulls things together and sets apart one room from the rest.

Not only does a rug make a room look more inviting, it can protect your hardwood floors and muffle the sounds of people walking on hard surfaces in your home. Here are a few other things you should know about rugs.

Where can you put them?

Most everyone knows that rugs are ideal for the living room and bedroom. But rugs can work great in just about any room in the house. An area rug in a formal dining area, for instance, can really pull the table and chairs set together and make the space look more grand. Circular rugs are great for a foyer or entryway and smaller rugs for the kitchen and bathrooms where people will be doing a lot of standing will make things much more comfortable. Rugs don’t need to be limited to rooms with hard floors. Rugs in a carpeted room can also create a great look.

Style and size

A rug is a very important home décor item that pulls the whole room together so you don’t want to rush out and buy something just because the price is right. You’ll want to think carefully about furniture and other pieces that are already in the room and choose a rug that will complement those other features. Contemporary designs, especially those in grays and blues are especially popular now but you should ultimately choose a color and style that works for your home. A mistake many homeowners make is getting a rug that’s the wrong size. Most tend to get a rug that’s too small for the space but a rug may also be too big if there’s less than a foot of flooring surrounding the rug in a room.

Types of rugs

Rugs come in many types and at many price points. The standard material for rugs is wool. Indian wool is shorter and dryer but costs less than New Zealand wool which is longer and softer. If you’re on a budget, a machine-made polyester rug will cost a lot less and it’s easy to clean. Hand knotted rugs are much more expensive because they take a very long time to make and are very labor intensive. Other popular styles are animal hides, leathers, sisal, bamboo, silk, and silk blends.

Protecting your investment

Depending on the size and type of rug you choose, it can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Either way, it’s a major investment that you’ll want to be sure to protect. The first thing you’ll want to do is purchase a rug pad to protect the underside of the rug and your flooring as well. This will also keep the rug from slipping. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your rug because the directions will vary based on the type of rug. Use the hardwood floor setting on your vacuum when vacuuming your rug because the beater bar can wear out your rug if it’s spinning.

Source: Omaha

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