Choosing the right size for an area rug comes naturally to professional interior designers and decorators, However, for the novice do it yourself home decorator, this process can be a little more intimidating, especially if you’re decorating a large space. Choosing a size that will fit well is important but how can you tell what will work and what won’t without actually seeing the rug in the room? This is where the challenge comes in since you can’t place the rug until after you’ve purchased it. Here are some things to consider that will help narrow down the selection.
You should first decide how the area rug will be used. That is will it be a focal point in the room, an accessory to the current décor, or will it serve some practical use? For focal point the rug is, obviously, the main attraction of the room and all the room’s decor compliments it. This is great for when you’re redecorating a room around a beautiful rug. An accessory rug will compliment the room as it already is, usually by matching the room’s theme or colors in some way. This is the way most homeowners use area rugs. Most people have a practical rug of some kind or another. Door mats for wiping feet are a perfect example of this type of rug. Other practical rugs can be small bathroom rugs to prevent slips or falls or any rug that hides a damaged or blemished wood floor.
If you decide to use a rug as a focal point, the bigger the rug the better. The large size will help to accentuate the focal point much better and let people notice it. Large area rugs can be custom made but come in several standard large sizes. 9 x 12 is usually the largest of these standard sizes and works very well for most large spaces in today’s modern homes. It’s a good idea to place any focal point rugs under some kind of furniture. The best piece of furniture for this is a coffee table. The sitting furniture can then be placed on the edges of the rug around the coffee table and the rug will tie together the entire arrangement. This is just one, simple example and ultimately it’s up to you, the decorator, to decide what looks best and what works well. Basically, anything that helps draw the eye to the focal point will work so have some fun and do a little experimenting.
Kitchens can use either large or small area rugs, depending on your kitchen’s size and layout. If you have an open floor kitchen, you could place a rug directly in the center. It will provide a cozy cushion for bare feet and add some warmth on colder days. If your kitchen has an island, you can use smaller, mat-size rugs in front of the sink, range cooker, or refrigerator. Make sure any rugs used in the kitchen or stain resistant and easy to clean. They should also have a good non-slip backing.
If you’re unsure what size will work best in the space you want to decorate, try taking a few easy measurements. Jot them down on a piece of paper and have them handy when you do your rug shopping. Just remember, rugs aren’t carpet and shouldn’t run wall to wall. Be sure to leave some exposed floor around the edges of the rug once it’s placed.
