HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT RUG FOR YOUR INTERIORS

Rugs add layer and style to any space - choosing the right rug for your interiors is made easier with our guide.

Year-round, a beautiful handmade rug adds interest, texture and luxe to any interiors. It can ground the most important elements within your living area, the bedroom, or the hallway. And with so much choice, it's hard to know where to begin. So, when choosing the right rug for your interiors, there are four key considerations for you to keep in mind – size, material, shape and colour.

To help you find the right rug for your interiors, the design experts at Rug Porter have put together an easy to follow guide that will put you on the right track from the get-go.

Size Matters

Size is often the best place to start as you need to get the proportions right because when it comes to rugs, size matters (a lot). Too small, short or narrow, and it can look out of place. Perfectly proportioned and large-scale rugs can make a room look stunning.

• In the living room, your rug should fit the size of your seating area, framing the furniture. Place all the furniture on the rug or just the front legs of the sofa. If you choose to have a rug that only sits under the sofa's front legs, ensure the end tables are completely on or off the rug.

• If you don't have the floor space to have all the furniture or the front legs of your sofa on the rug, then place all your furniture off the rug – using it as an accent piece.

• In the dining area, you ideally want to move your chairs back and still have the legs on the rug. You don't want to have the legs of your chair half on and off the rug.

• When placing a rug in the bedroom, you should position it from the bottom and extend it out to the sides and ends, ensuring that when you get out of bed, your feet touch the rug.

Shapely Selection

Rugs come in various shapes, with the three most common being rectangular, square and circle. You can use rugs as a way to define the different zones within your homes, especially when there are no walls, such as the living and dining area.

• In a rectangular room, a rectangle rug positioned in the same direction works best.

• Square and circle rugs are best suited for square-shaped areas.

• If you choose to place a rug beneath the dining table, the general rule is the shape of the rug should mirror that of the table. For example, a round table sits atop a circular rug.
  
  
  

Materials

Whether you want a rug that is soft to the touch, like wool, or a more textural rug like a jute rug, how a rug feels underfoot matters. When selecting the material, things to consider are where it will be placed in the home, whether you have pets and children, or if it will be a high traffic area.

• Purchase a rug you love the look and feel of, but make sure it ticks all the right boxes when it comes to practicality – will it create warmth, be easy to clean, is it a trip hazard?

• Hallways and high traffic areas are best suited for more durable materials, while bedrooms and living areas have more flexibility in material choice.

• Wool is perfect for areas where spills or stains are common, such as the dining room. Wool has lanolin in it, meaning it's a stain-resistant fibre, making it easy to clean.

Pattern and colours

Colour and pattern play a big role in tying the space together. If you love colour and want your rug to be the feature, go bold. On the other hand, having a neutral rug can act as a canvas, allowing your furniture and art to really shine. Either way, colour and pattern is a personal choice.

• When selecting patterns and colours, always consider the colour of your existing flooring and how it will all look together. Warmer rug shades work best for warmer toned timbers, whereas grey, navy, and white rugs work best with light timbers. Ensure there is visible flooring around the rug so that the rug is a feature.

• If you have a neutral lounge and furnishing, a bold pattern or colour will look great. But if your room is already full of colour, introducing a rug with a neutral tone or block colour would work best.

• Patterns are a great way to add interest. To do this, pick the second most dominant colour in the rug and match it to the main piece of furniture, such as the sofa.