Rugs: choosing the right one for your home

Rugs come in a wide variety of sizes, colours and materials.

The first thing to decide on is do you want to fill the room or define different areas within it? If you choose to define different zones in your rooms by using multiple rugs, ensure they complement one another so they don’t battle for attention. If you’re looking for one large statement rug, there are some basic floorplan rules you should follow.

Area rug floorplans

The key to adding style to your interior through the use of a rug is by choosing the right size. A rug that is too small can have the opposite effect and make the room feel disjointed.

Living room

A rug should fit the size of your seating area and be as large as possible within it. Ideally, all the furniture will sit on the rug, but front-legs-only is a good and common compromise.  This option is perfect for uniting a room.

Dining room

As with the living room, you want to ensure that all your dining furniture sits on the rug. With enough space to be able to pull the chairs back and still have them sitting on the rug. The size of rug you pick will be determined by whether you have a rectangular or circular dining table.

Bedroom

When it comes to bedroom rugs, there are 2 classic options.  The first, is to choose a rug large enough to accommodate all your bedroom furniture, therefore leaving only a border of bare floor showing around the edges of the room. The second is to select a smaller rug that will peek out from the foot of the bed. The rug won’t extend all the way to the head of the bed and the bedside tables will not sit on the rug at all.

As a general rule, if in doubt always choose the larger option. It’s more stylish to have a large rug than one that is too small for the room.

And the last word:

Whether you’re designing a room around your chosen rug, or adding the rug to an existing scheme, remember that a bold pattern or print will become a focal point, whereas a more neutral rug will blend in with your existing decor. If your walls or textiles are busy, a neutral or single-colour rug with a simple border will sit better among them.