Hey everyone! Thanks so much for checking out this weeks blog where we dive deep into the world of area rugs…...

Seems like this topic should be a no brainer – right? But it is sooo easy to get all wrong and throw away your money by making a choice that never looks or feels quite like you expected it to.

Before we jump right into figuring out what size you need or how to place your rug, I want to spend just a minute talking about rug quality. Uh oh -  I know you are thinking “Here it comes – this is where she tells us we are going to get what we pay for….”

Well, yes, you usually do get what you pay for, but that’s not everything you need to know.

Quality and materials can really impact price

You will find area rugs that are priced all over the map – some very inexpensive and some worth more than my first home cost. So why the giant variations?

One area rug might be mass machine produced in a factory and composed of synthetic materials that are inexpensive. Another might be hand woven with organic materials on the other side of the world in a village dedicated to creating one of a kind rugs. And some might be some mix of the two. Only you can decide what type of investment you want to make in your rugs.

But, regardless of what you value from an investment stand point, selecting a rug that fits your lifestyle and functions for the intended space is of utmost importance when selecting your rug.

For most rooms like living rooms and dining rooms, wool is my top choice. It’s natural fibres are easy to clean and tend to wear very well over time. You do tend to pay a bit more for a wool carpet, but you won’t need to replace  them nearly as often.

For a space where you are less likely to have spills or messes, a nylon or polyester rug should work just fine. And sometimes these feel a little nice under foot and have a more budget friendly price point.

Viscose is another common material you will see in entry to mid level rugs. Viscose gives a rug that bit of sheen that be super pretty, but viscose doesn’t love water, so I tend to avoid viscose where spills or snowy boots might be common. Silk on the other hand, also gives beautiful shine, but is more durable – for a price.

So, now you find the perfect rug, you have checked the fibre content and are ready to buy it, but wait! What size do I need for my room?

There is one VERY common mistake I see home-owners make when it comes to area rugs and it is this.

Buying rugs that are too small! Have you done that too?

I get it – believe me I do. We might be thinking the bigger one would work better…but it’s $300 more…so..I think the small one will be ok.. sound familiar?

Getting the size of the Area Rug right

So, as a general rule, in a living room, you want all your sofas and possibly chairs depending on the room size and furniture placement, to have their front legs on the rug. Ideally your rug slides under your furniture about 6-10 inches.

If you have a room that is an odd shape and a standard size rug doesn’t allow for this, consider ordering one a bit too big and having it cut down to fit your space. It sounds expensive, but it isn’t. Your room size or shape does not have stop you from having the perfect rug.

In a bedroom, if you have a queen or king bed, an 8 x 10 or 9 x 12 is usually a nice size. The 9 x 12 just gives you a little more carpet around the bed. I like to have the carpet placed so that when I climb out of bed in the morning, my feet land on carpet. The carpet may stop just short of my end table.

Don’t forget about thickness or depth

One commonly overlooked measurement on a rug choice, is the thickness or depth of the carpet pile. If you are placing a rug anywhere near a functioning door, this is super important. A lot of rugs are too thick to allow a door to properly open over them. You might be able to shave your door down, but if that doesn’t sound like something you are willing to do, make sure you check this detail before ordering your dream rug that you can’t return.

And one last tip before I let you go… Always use an underpad under your rug. An underpad will keep your rug in place – so no slipping and sliding under foot, provide just a touch of cushioning, and more importantly it will protect your floors underneath from the abrasive backside of the rug.

Ok – that’s it! Your ready to go conquer the world of area rugs. This really is one of my favourite things to source, so I know you will love it.

Keep your design questions coming via Instagram or just hit reply on one of our weekly newsletters and we will do our best to get your questions answered on an upcoming video. Thanks everyone and see you in the next video.