Rugs are a great way to finish a room. They bring pattern, texture, warmth and colour. The right rug draws together all the elements of your room and helps it feel cohesive. Rugs can also define different zones to stop your furniture feel like it’s lost or floating.
But it can be hard to know which rug to choose! There are so many out there, and lots of sizes. To put more pressure on your decision – rugs can be pricey! So here are the things you should know before buying a rug. Hopefully it takes some of the stress out of it for you.
Map out your room
Measure out your area and think about the best arrangement for your furniture. A floor plan can really help you test out your options. But be aware, a floor plan is only helpful if it’s to scale. I’ve seen people with the best intentions draw their space on paper, only to find it has thrown them completely off track because it’s not to scale. Get the planning right before you dig into your piggy bank.
Think about size
Bust out your measuring tape because size is the first thing you should think about. One of the most common mistakes is buying a rug that’s too small. I once heard it described as: a bathmat that’s lost its way. It can be tempting to go down a size when you look at the price tag, but if you can’t afford the bigger one, save your pennies until you can. It’s better to have no rug than a bathmat.
So how big should it be?
For a living room, try and get ALL the legs of your furniture on the rug. This is even more important in big, open-plan spaces. If your sofa is against a wall, then you can get away with just having the front legs on the rug. But don’t just balance them on the edge, make sure a big chunk of your rug is under the sofa; aim for half way. At the absolute minimum, a rug should never be shorter than the width of your sofa (but beware the bathmat!).
For a dining room, make sure there is enough room to fully pull the chairs out without them falling off the edge of the rug. A good guide is 75cm from the edge of the table.
Bedrooms are a bit more flexible. You can have the rug right under the bed, as wide as the bedside tables. This is the most luxurious option. Or bring it in a touch and have it mostly under the end of the bed. Think about getting out of bed and putting your feet down. Have enough rug space, about 65cms, to do this.
Rug shape
A rectangle is the most popular shape. Makes sense when a lot of spaces in homes are rectangular also. This shape works the best in most living rooms, especially under a chaise lounge. A rectangle is the right choice under a bed and under a rectangular dining table. A round rug goes under a round dining table. An oval rug suits an oval dining table. I think you get the idea. But there are some other less obvious solutions: a round rug is really good for creating a reading nook in a corner. And rugs made of hide – these have an irregular, organic shape. They are a great way to soften hard lines in a space, and they can often fill a gap when you feel a rectangle or round rug won’t work.
Orientation
Look at the shape of your room and choose a rug to match. A rectangular room needs a rectangular rug, then lay it down to match your room’s orientation. For a long room, lay your rug lengthways. If you have different zones in your space, a rug will help define them. Under a bed, place your rug across the width of your bed.
Function
No design advice is complete without mentioning function. It’s important to think about how you will use the space, to determine the type of rug. For an obvious example, imagine the food spill nightmare if you put a shaggy rug under your dining table! Instead, a flat weave is much better. Not only is it easier to vacuum up crumbs, but your chair legs won’t get caught.
If you have kids and pets, synthetic fibres are best for durability and affordability. In the living room, you’ll want something softer and more textural like wool. If you sit on the floor a lot, make sure the rug is nice and comfy to touch.
One last tip
When you go to rug showrooms, they often have the rugs hanging up, like it’s a giant wardrobe, but this can make it difficult to visualise in your space. My tip is to think carefully BEFORE you go shopping. Look online to get an idea of standard sizes, then measure your space and visualise the rug in the room. Use masking tape and map out the whole rug perimeter on your floor. Don’t just do the corners, because your brain will play tricks and you won’t get a good idea of it. Once you know your size, you’ll narrow down your options and shopping will be more fun.