When designing a room, spending a lengthy amount of time deciding on furniture is not uncommon. Ironically, we spend the least amount of time deciding on a rug - it comes mostly as an afterthought simply because we deem a rug to be a mere decorative piece rather than an essential piece of furniture that will add to the mood of the space and bring it altogether.
Our Creative Director believes that a rug is one of the most essential elements of a room and that a reasonable amount of time should be expended to find the right one. A rug should be the show piece that grabs everyone's attention and brings together the mood and design of a space.
There are many benefits in using area rugs in your home. Some of them are :
An area rug will help to define and divide different spaces in a given area such as dividing an open space concept into separate living room and dining room spaces.
An area rug does not cover the entire floor space (such as with carpeting a floor) allowing the floor to be showcased which is best in smaller spaces (such as the spaces available in Singapore) while keeping some softness and feel underfoot.
It is easily removable for cleaning and maintenance.
An additional benefit is that area rugs can easily be relocated in the event of restyling a space.
However, if you're going to choose an area rug - as with any other piece of furniture - there will be a few things that you will need to keep in mind to make sure you end up with the rug that you were looking for and does not end up with buyer's remorse. Below, we discuss some of those important factors that will ensure you get a good rug that puts together a cohesive space rather than a wrong rug that would end up giving awkward space vibes with disproportionate and mismatched colours and patterns.
Area Rug Size
An area rug that is well proportioned is a must! That means, you must avoid choosing an area rug that is too small for the space you are decorating, or too big for that matter. All rug vendors have standard rug sizes available for every need - of course you can also always order a custom size for your space as needed. Whatever size you choose, the rule of thumb for the placement of an area rug is: there should be approximately 4 to 8 inches of bare floor bordering each side of an area rug.
In addition to this, all of the legs of the major furniture pieces should sit on the area rug. If having all the legs are not possible, it is sufficient to have only the front legs of the major furniture pieces on the rug and the back legs off the rug. When the legs of sofas, chairs, and tables are not placed on an area rug fully or otherwise, the room will give an unbalanced and uncoordinated vibe.
Color and Pattern
So many decisions to make! To pattern or not to pattern? To go solid or have burst of colour? Fret not, these tips will give you something to think about when you are unsure of which way to lean.
A patterned area rug can be the perfect way to add color and interest to an otherwise muted room that has mainly neutral furniture and bare walls.
A patterned area rug in a darker color can hide dirt and spills.
A solid or muted patterned lighter colour area rug could make a small space look larger and airier.
The best way to decide on a colour for the rug you want is to pull one or two colors/ hues from your other decor pieces or from the immediate vicinity - such as if the living room opens up to a garden with beautiful flowers and/ or greenery (select hues from those plants) or to a swimming pool (can select a wide range of blue hues to match this). This will ensure a cohesive space overall.
Material and Texture
Best way to figure out the texture you would like for your area rug is to think about how you want the rug to feel underfoot. But that is not all! We think that knowing how much maintenance a particular type of material requires is far more important for decision making. Silk rugs may seem luxurious, but they are a tough nut to crack when cleaning. Below, we breakdown the most common types of materials and textures that one will come across when shopping for a rug:
Wool: This is the most common type of material you would come across with rugs. Wool is a natural fiber which will be soft to the touch while adding a warm and soft feeling to the room. Wool rugs are on the expensive side which can also be costly to maintain with professional cleaning. However, they are stain-resistant and durable.
Cotton: Cotton rugs add a nice laid back soft feeling to a room, with its texture. Most flat woven area rugs are made from cotton. Many of these rugs are easy to maintain, especially the ones that do fit in a washing machine as most of the cotton rugs are machine washable.
Sisal and jute: Sisal and Jute are natural materials made of durable plant fibers. As the natural fiber rugs are neutral in color, they are often dyed to bring out vibrant coloured rugs. Rugs made of these two materials can be spot cleaned and easily maintained and also smooth on the feet.
Synthetics (nylon and polyester): Nylon and polyester rugs are synthetic rugs that come in many colours and patterns. They are easy on the budget and easy to maintain.
Acrylic: This option is easy on your purse! Acrylic fibers are what makes up a faux fur area rug or a synthetic hide, if that is what you feel like having in your home. Apart from being budget friendly, they are easily washable making it low maintenance.
Hope this quick overview is helpful! If you need help with choosing your new rug, do reach out to us and we will guide you through the process. Happy Shopping!
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