How to Choose Rugs for Every Room
Pick The Right Area Rug For Any Room In Your Home
There can be a vast divide between the time you think about adding a rug to a room, and then finally choosing a rug. It can seem daunting to know what is the right size, color, shape and pattern for each space. Hallways, bedrooms, living rooms – each has its unique elements that need to be taken into account. Worry no more. We have advice for choosing the perfect rug for every room in your home.
Kitchen
The addition of a kitchen area rug or two can immediately add a warm, inviting element. If you have a kitchen island, look to runner-style rugs to follow the lines of your countertops. A small kitchen mat with extra cushioning placed in front of the sink will help relieve the stress from all the time that gets spent there.
Bedroom Rugs
Use bedroom area rugs to help create a cozy, inviting area. Use a rug to define a desk or reading area in a specific section of the room. When you want to add visual length to the bedroom, place a large area rug under the end of the bed.
Bathroom
Size is particularly important here. When you have matching sinks, choose a runner-type rug that covers the entire area. If the sinks are in separate places, use two small rugs that match. If you have the luxury of a large bathroom, consider a large central rug to provide ample coverage and make the space feel even larger. Bathrooms can present the opportunity to try an unusual design, like a vibrant flower.
Living Room Rugs
To help define your conversation areas, choose a living room rug that extends underneath the sofa and chair legs, so it holds everything together in a grouping. If you choose a pattern that features a distinct center to it, such as one with a centered medallion, save it for an area where you won’t have furniture placed on top of it, unless you have a clear glass table. Read more about how to perfectly fit your area rug to your space.
Entryway
A foyer can be a nice place to opt for a round area rug. Center it under the entryway’s overhead light fixture, and consider an indoor/outdoor rug here, since it will be a heavy traffic zone. Keep the area feeling open by not placing any nearby furniture on the rug. See how indoor/outdoor rugs can be used throughout your home.
Dining Room Area Rug
The most obvious choice here is definitely the right one for this space. Center a large rug that matches the shape of your dining table, but extends at least a foot or so beyond the size of your table, to allow for chairs to move around without getting caught on the edge.
Basement/Media Room
The focus of an entertainment space is to provide a gathering place for everyone to enjoy games or something on a big screen. Choose a large area rug that anchors the space and provides a distinctive design without being overwhelming, such as an interesting animal pattern or a rug with an indistinct shape.
Area Rugs and Transitional Spaces
When you have rooms that flow from one into another, such as a living room/dining room combination, link the two rooms together by choosing area rugs that share a core color, but feature different patterns.
More from Country Door Blog
Area Rug Buying Guide: 6 Steps To Finding The Perfect Fit
Comments (3)
June shassere
You haven’t addressed stairway rugs. Or have I missed it?
Country Door
June, thank you for your comment. You are right, never forget the staircase when decorating. Depending on the look you want for your stairs, consider function and proportional width. To give you a comfortable path for walking, the width of your staircase runner should leave about 4” of bare wood on either side of it. When deciding on color and pattern, treat the staircase runner the same as you would an area rug. If your stairs open to your entryway or to an open area that you can see both the staircase runner and an area rug, your staircase runner does not need to match the area rug, but it should coordinate with the area rug.
Sharon
Thank you! Good info.