In the last post, I talked about making your lounge room cosy for winter. Adding a rug was but one of the ways to achieve a snuggly space.
So how do you actually select a rug? The choices are overwhelming, aren’t they? Colours, shapes, sizes, materials… and that’s before you’ve even considered your budget.
Take heart, my friend! I can help!
Your first step is to measure both the space, and the furnished area for your rug. This is particularly important with the open-plan housing designs we have – what is the “zone” you want the rug for?
Is it for under the dining table? Make sure you include the distance needed for the chairs to stay on the rug, even when pushed away from the table. As any parent knows, you’ll be back to the kitchen at least a dozen times during each meal, so don’t make it harder on yourself by snagging your chair leg on the edge of the rug.
Armadillo & Co’s Zinnia round rug creates the zone for this delightful little corner (styling by Natalie Walton for house and garden, photography by Chris Warnes)
Armadillo & Co’s Atlas Rug (Styling by Lucy Glade Wright, Photography by Martina Gemmola)
The bedroom? Measure from the front of the bedside table out past the foot of your bed, and give your feet some space to land when you get out of bed. Think at least 50cm on each side, and at the foot. If you can be even more generous with the size, it will actually make the room feel bigger.
The lounge room? Measure enough to tuck the rug under the front of the seating (whether they are individual occasional chairs, or the whole lounge). Having the right sized rug will create the dimensions of the space, which is vital in an open plan room.
What about the shape? Most of the available rugs are rectangular, and most spaces suit a rug of this shape, however, what if you have a round dining table? Of course you’d pick a round rug! Round options should also be considered for smaller spaces, for example, creating a zone in the corner of a larger living space. A round rug can really soften a room, particularly if everything is very linear and boxy. There are also some beautiful hide rugs, which come in the shape and size of the animal, and create a point of interest and styling all their own.
When considering colour, think about the room. If it’s small and dark, adding a dark rug will make it smaller and darker, whereas a larger, lighter space can carry a dark rug, because it makes it a little snugger and more intimate. Look at the colours you already have in the room. Is there a clear palette that you’re working with? Do you want to unify the space with some consistency of colour? Do you have heaps of pattern already in the space and need something to ground the aesthetic, or is the space a little bit too neutral, and needs some pizzazz?
If you’re thinking a patterned rug, a larger space can be brought to life with a bold, over-scaled look, but this could dwarf a smaller room.
Don’t forget to touch the rug – walk on it, sit on it. If you don’t like the feel of the rug’s texture underfoot, then you won’t be happy with it, even if it looks fantastic.
There’s a temptation to go with the latest trend, but does it work for your space? Is your room formal, casual, boho, Hamptons, mid-century? Does the fibre suit the location? Is it for a high traffic area, or for a kid’s play room (both of which will need to be easy to clean)? Please don’t put a jute rug in a formal Victorian-style lounge room, or an antique Persian rug under your dining table with messy eaters! But a jute or Persian rug in the right room will look amazing. Also, buying the latest trend might be great for a year or two, but then you’ll be looking for a change. Look for a timeless option.
Now we come that dirty word – budget. It’s easy to make a generalisation that you should spend more and buy better quality, but you need to be wise about it. It’s true that a better quality rug will last longer, wear better, and be thicker (great for managing noise!). If you know you’re planning on changing the rug in a couple of years, draining your bank account is probably not the best idea. If this rug will be with you for the long haul, then consider it an investment, and budget accordingly.
Do you still have some questions? Would you rather hand it over to + Positive Space Design? I’ll find the perfect rug for you!
[Thanks to Armadillo & Co for allowing me to use their beautiful images.]