If you’re looking for an alternative to wall-to-wall carpeting, but don’t want to face the cold of laminate flooring in the winter, it’s time to think about going rug shopping. Before you start playing with your interior design, make sure you check out this list of dos and don’ts so you avoid a carpet (rug?) burn.
Do: Extend Rugs Under Furniture
When choosing a rug, make sure you select one that will extend underneath all of the key pieces of furniture in the room. In the living room for example, your rug will need to be able to extend underneath the coffee table, but not be so large that it’s lapping at the feet of your sofa.
Pro tip: make sure you measure the space you’re going to put your rug, so you know what size to shop for!
Don’t : Go Too Small in the Bedroom
If you’re having a rug in the bedroom, it absolutely needs to extend beyond the bed! After all, it completely defeats the purpose of having one if you step out of bed and onto a cold laminate floor after you’ve spent the money on a rug. We suggest choosing a rug that extends 12 inches beyond the side of a single or double bed, and at least 18 inches from the side of a queen or king size bed.
Do: Be Mindful of Floorspace
You should, in an ideal world, have an equal amount of space on all four sides of the rug. Our recommendation is to have between 8 and 24 inches on each side of the rug, with 18 being the most common space. No matter how small or large the space you’re working with is, the main goal is to have the rug centred in the space.
Don’t: Be Scared of Colours
While an area rug’s main purpose is to fill space and provide warmth to a room, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it. Don’t be frightened to choose a rug that is colourful or has a wild pattern. If you’re feeling hesitant, why not go for an option that isn’t too expensive, so you can change it in a few years if you decide you don’t like it?
Do: Know How to Clean It
If you don’t check the cleaning instructions before buying a rug, it could result in a costly mistake. Certain inexpensive rugs can’t be cleaned after a big spill, due to the fibres and materials they’re made from. Depending on your family situation, this could result in you spending more money replacing cheap rugs than you have buying a more expensive rug that can simply be washed.
Don’t: Put Your Rugs in Danger
While it may seem obvious, we feel compelled to say that you should be mindful of keeping your rug away from rooms where it could be subject to spills and stains. Keep your brand new white rug away from the dining room or from your pet, or your child who is liable to spill!
We hope you feel excited to buy your first rug! Once you start, you won’t stop, and now you know exactly what you need to do before you make a purchase.