If you don’t want carpet from wall to wall, or just can’t, then area rugs might prove to be a useful alternative. Their primary advantage is that you can easily clean them and remove them. In fact, they’re not even as big a commitment as carpet, since you can just switch one out if you would like to redecorate or just get tired of your old one. Still, in terms of using any area rugs where you live, you should keep a few core guidelines in mind. Before you buy any area rug, read these rules for good pointers.
What Exactly Are Area Rugs?
Area rugs are accent rugs that don’t all the way to the walls of a room. They’re typically used for anchoring furniture within a particular room. Take a look at these Serena and Lily reviews.
Make Sure You Extend Your Rugs Underneath Your Furniture
Anytime you choose an area rug, be sure that it goes underneath every crucial piece of furniture in a particular room. For a living room or den, then every piece of furniture needs to be above the rug. If you can’t pull this off, then just focus on your major upholstered pieces, whose front legs should be on the rug with the backs off. Having said that, any smaller pieces should have all their legs on a rug.
In dining rooms, a rug needs to be big enough for not just the table but also the chairs. A great rule of thumb is having chairs that are on your area rug at all times, even when pulled out away from your dining room table.
Never Skimp On The Size
The biggest mistake shoppers make when they decorate with an area rug is buying one that’s not big enough. That’s actually pretty understandable, especially if you get sticker shock from bigger rugs. Then again, going large now is going to save you the money and trouble of replacing something which doesn’t work out for you. Keep in mind that any area rug still costs less than a whole room of carpet.
Let Equal Space Remain
In ideal layouts, you let the same amount of total floor space remain on every side of an area rug. This is typically a range of 8 to 24 inches on every side. 18 inches is reportedly a common space, but in smaller rooms, you might have to settle for just 8 inches on each side. The big thing is having your rug at the center of the room.
Don’t Undersize A Bedroom Rug
No area rug does your bedroom any good if it doesn’t go past the bed. No one wants to step down onto a hard, cold floor each morning. Triple-check your measurements before shopping so your feet can wake up to a soft, cozy rug.
If you can, get a rug big enough that it extends a minimum of a foot for twin and double beds and 18 inches or more for kings and queens. Go bigger if you want; these numbers are just recommended minimums.
Be Sure To Cover Up Any High-Traffic Areas
Be sure that any rug that you get is totally covered by an area with high foot traffic. Anyone walking through shouldn’t have one of their feet on a rug with the other off. At best, it’s awkward or uncomfortable. At worst, it results in atypical wear patterns for both flooring and rug while also creating a trip or fall hazard.
Be Brave With Colors And Patterns
Area rugs can be useful in bringing some whimsy into a space, so be open to new patterns and colors while you shop around. You have access to plenty of affordable choices, which means you can easily change things up if you tire of something after several years.
Learn How You Can Clean It
Make sure you check out the specific cleaning instructions for any area rug before heading to checkout. Jute, sisal, and various other rugs of natural fibers are relatively economical, but they’re not something you can clean, meaning you might just have no choice but replace them in the event of a big spill. Balance your options and budget before making a final buying decision.
