As the largest design element in a room, rugs make a statement. A properly curated rug pulls the room together, while a carelessly curated rug makes the room feel crowded and disjointed.
We’ve compiled a list of mistakes to avoid when choosing the perfect rug for a space.
Improper Sizing
It can be tempting to buy a rug on the smaller end of what the space needs to save money. Unfortunately, under-sizing makes the entire room feel smaller and the atmosphere will be off as well. When a rug is too small, furniture is often awkwardly arranged to try and minimize the effect.
A rug placed in a living room needs to extend enough to sit underneath at least the front legs of chairs and couches, for example. A rug in the dining room should allow guests to slide their chairs out from the table to sit down, all while staying on the rug. Bedroom rugs should have space for you to set your feet on something soft when you get out of bed. Machine-made rugs are an alternative for those who need a large rug but want to stay under-budget.
Never estimate the size of rug you need, measure the space so that you purchase a rug that is the right size on your first try. Don’t ignore scale either. Scale means that the size of objects compared together makes sense. Taking scale into account ensures balanced design elements. Not only should the rug be large enough for the space, but it should also look right with the furniture. Some retailers, such as Behnam Rugs, allow you to take the rug home with you for a trial run. This ensures the size, pattern, and colors work in the intended space.
Shopping Late in the Design Process
It’s easier to design a room around a rug than it is to design a room and then try to find a rug that matches. This is because as the largest design element, it dominates the space. Shopping for a rug at the beginning of the design process will yield the most cohesive results.
Mixing Patterns without a Common Thread
Mixing patterns often goes one of two ways. Either a bright, lively aesthetic is achieved, or the patterns clash and the room feels loud and overwhelming. To pattern mix effectively, choose a common theme such as color, style, or shape and keep that theme together for all design elements. Pattern mixing works best when the design elements have continuity. Don’t forget to have fun with it!
Forced Matching
On the other hand, a lack of variety in a room’s design makes it feel bland. Design elements should complement each other without being “matchy-matchy.” Avoid using the exact same color for multiple items, like matching the curtains to the couch to the chair cushions. Keep things in the same color family if you’d like, but vary the shades to avoid the room feeling one-note.
Poor Placement
Take foot traffic into account, as well as whether food and drink will be consumed in the vicinity. Choose something made of a tough and lasting material like wool for high traffic areas. Consider a low pile to make cleaning easier in areas likely to experience spills. Delicate, expensive pieces belong in spaces they will be respected. Decide if you want furniture to sit completely on the rug, half-on half-off, or set as a border around the rug. Don’t forget to arrange the room so that it’s easy to walk through and sit down in, nobody likes to weave around furniture that’s in the way.
Overdecorating
In interior design, less is more. Unless you are going for a maximalist approach, utilize the white space in your home to your advantage. If you’re asking yourself if a design element is “too much” for the room, it probably is. Rooms that are overdecorated look cluttered with objects competing with each other for attention. Try not to overdo it with throw pillows, art, knickknacks, etc. Balanced scale in design prevents overdecorating. The Golden Ratio says that furniture should take up 60% of the room’s total space or less.
Final Thoughts
Follow these tips to select a rug that will enhance the design of the room it is placed in. Start with a unifying theme and go from there. Above all, take your time to enjoy the design process. It’s all about what you think looks good and makes you feel at ease. Bring your dream room to life with your dream rug. The right rug will make the room represent you.
If you’re at the design stage where it’s time to buy a rug, stop by our showroom at 18000 Preston Road in Dallas. Our rug experts will walk you through the process, taking all your design preferences into account. Not sure what information you should prepare beforehand? Find out what rug shoppers need to know before buying a rug.
We recommend brushing up on the Rug 101 articles below to become familiar with all the aspects of rug ownership.
Rug Shopping: Five Tips to Find the Perfect Rug
Rug Appraisal: What Is It and Why Do I Need It?
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