How To Choose The Right Area Rug For Your Space
Shopping for a rug can be a real emotional journey. Once you’re deep in the process, you might find yourself acting like a completely different person. As an interior designer, I’ve spent countless hours searching for the perfect rug for my clients and myself.
That experience became invaluable when I started designing rugs — I was able to take everything I learned about what makes the perfect rug and put that into every rug I design.
But that doesn’t mean that every rug is right for you. Even the most perfect rug might not be the perfect rug for you and your home. I’ve come to realize that there are three questions you should ask yourself when you are looking for a rug. They aren’t the questions you might think about — like the colour and shape of the rug — but these three questions will get you to the core of what you need from a rug.
So let’s dig in.
1. Where is the rug going?
When you are thinking about your rug, you need to think about how it will be used. We always do this first.
Will you be walking on it often or will it be in a low-traffic area of your home? How do you want the rug to function for you? These micro-questions help determine the kind of wear-and-tear that your rug will undergo. If it’s for a highly-frequented hallway, you can expect that the rug will need to withstand a beating. The same goes for a family room in a house of five. Whereas you would be looking at a completely different kind of rug for a living room or bedroom.
The right construction of your rug will give you a crowd-pleasing performance.
2. What size do I need the rug to be?
This often comes down to personal preference. We like to think about the role the rug plays the room, and we generally like to keep about 6 inches around the perimeter of a room for an area rug.
Once you’ve answered these first two questions, the other questions you want to ask will come to the surface.
3. What style do I prefer?
While you may be immediately thinking pattern, we get curious about material. If you want something more sophisticated you can absolutely consider Silk or Viscose, but if you need something more durable New Zealand Wool is a sure bet.
In short, you want to select material and weaves that will stand up to the expected foot traffic of the area. It’s important to choose a rug that will last — by identifying the function of your rug, you’ll be able to invest in a piece that will stand the test of time.
If you need help exploring how to choose the right area rug for your space, the team at Meredith Heron Collection is happy to help you find the best rug for you.
