How to Choose the Right Rugs for Your Home

How to Choose the Right Rugs for Your Home
Cathy Hobbs
6/4/2015
Updated:
4/23/2016
The right rug will serve as a central feature, helping to draw the room together.
The right rug will serve as a central feature, helping to draw the room together.

Choosing the right rug is important. Especially if you’re going with an area rug that requires a relatively significant investment. Your rug will serve as a central feature of the room, providing a main focal point, and helping to tie everything together.

The rug should complement the overall design of the room. Here are some tips to help you choose a beautiful rug that will add warmth and color to your home.

View: <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/devlin-tufted-rug/rugs-drapery/rugs/all/305657">Devlin Tufted Rug</a>
View: Devlin Tufted Rug

Choose the Rug First

If you are redecorating from the ground up, one of the first things to choose is the rug. If you have a neutral colored rug then everything will go –but if you choose a vibrant rug, you'll want to ensure that everything coordinates. Since the rug is a central feature, choosing it first will help to lay the groundwork for the style and décor of the rest of the room. It’s easier to decide on a rug first, and then fill in with smaller accessories.

View: <a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/27617085/Maison-100-Wool-Hand-Tufted-Rug-Ivory-2x3-traditional-area-rugs">Maison 100% Wool, Hand-Tufted Rug, Ivory</a>
View: Maison 100% Wool, Hand-Tufted Rug, Ivory

Choose the Right Size

An area rug is designed to help give your room a focal point, if it is the wrong size, the layout of the room will seem off. A rug that’s too big will look like carpeting while a rug that’s too small will make the room look smaller. In the living room, choose a rug that’s big enough for the front legs of the furniture to sit on. In the bedroom, the rug should extend at least two feet on either side of the bed. Your nightstands should also be able to fit on the rug.

View: <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/beaufort-indoor-2foutdoor-rug/rugs-drapery/rugs/all/304850">Beaufort Indoor/Outdoor Rug</a>
View: Beaufort Indoor/Outdoor Rug

Consider Patterns

If you have a neutral-colored room, a rug with bold, strong patterns can help to add some definition and a sense of visual interest to a space. While neutral can be a great choice, you'll want to avoid overdoing it. Neutral rugs, furniture, and walls can result in a bland look.

Rugs are a simple, and effective way to transform the look of your room. As an added bonus, you can change the rugs out depending on seasons.

Remember to LIKE Cathy Hobbs, Interior Designer on FACEBOOK, and Follow Design Recipes on TWITTER for more design tips and inspiration.

Top Image: www.houzz.com

Original Post: Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes 

5-time Emmy award winning television personality Cathy Hobbs (ASID) is the founder and creator of Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes™. Cathy currently hosts her own self-branded design television series, Design Recipes, airing on the top rated “PIX Morning News” on WPIX-TV in New York City. Cathy was a finalist on Season 6 of HGTV's Hit Reality Series "DESIGN STAR and most recently served for a year as the green expert for “The Life Improvement Squad” a national campaign with IKEA and O Magazine.
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