Choosing the perfect rug for your living area
Since moving into my (rented) flat, I’ve done little (er, nothing) to the front room, and so it remains bland and in need of an injection of personality. I’ve been thinking a new rug would be a start, but totally at a loss as to what to choose in terms of size, colour, pattern or texture. So when Land of Rugs offered to help, I jumped at the chance.
I spoke to Michelle Bennett from Land of Rugs who gave this expert advice when posed with some of the more common questions in interior design. Over to you Michelle …
When it comes to decorating your living area, there is no exact science as to what will make your room look great. The reason that interior designers can be paid so well is that they have the ability to suggest fixtures, fittings, and furnishings that will suit any given room. All rooms are different, and each space must be approached with a different vision in mind.
When it comes to choosing a rug, you must base your choice on both the size of the room and its pre-existing features — there is no ‘one size fits all’ style. Having said that, there are certainly general rules that you can follow to help choose design elements that are fantastic for your space. Here, we answer a few of the more common interior design questions when choosing a rug for your space.
How do I determine the correct-sized rug and placement for my room?
A common mistake is to choose a rug that is too small for your room. To make a living area feel welcoming and inclusive, you should purchase a rug that is large enough for your room’s primary furniture to sit upon. Even placing a sofa or chair’s front legs on the rug will produce a much more intimate atmosphere, where the furniture is all connected by a large, cosy rug. Unless you are consciously trying to partition your room, always opt for one large rug as opposed to multiple rugs. This guide to rug placement will give you a visual indication of the best practices for laying a rug in your room.
If my sofa and chair are patterned, should this affect my choice of rug?
The design features of your room should always impact your choice of rug, and this includes both the colour and pattern of your sofa and chair. If your furniture is vibrantly coloured or distinctly patterned, you should choose a more neutral-toned rug. Choosing a colour that is a different shade to your primary carpet or flooring colour is a great way to subtly incorporate a rug into the room’s décor without making too much of a statement. This article on colour theory will help you to choose a colour that matches the tones in your room, and will serve you well for future interior design.
Which style of rug should I choose for my room?
The style of rug you choose should reflect the look you are trying to achieve in your living area. If you are looking to establish a warm, cosy vibe in your living room then you should choose a rug that is soft underfoot and even cosy to look at. A soft, shaggy rug will add an element of comfort and luxury to a room, and will be appreciated in the winter months. For a classy, modern-styled room, however, you should look to choose a rug design that is much more in-tune with the aesthetics of your space.
Following these basic interior design tips will allow you to create a fantastic vibe in your living room, and your brand new rug is sure to be talking point when hosting friends and family.
Thanks to Michelle for this great advice. Having considered these tips, it was clear that the rug currently in the room is far too small, as you can see from the images below:
I also consulted some of my friends in the world of interior design and interiors blogging, and this is what they had to say:
Cate St Hill advised: ‘I’d say bigger is better and because your sofa has a strong pattern something that doesn’t clash with it but maybe picks up some of the colours or even the green of the cushions?’
while Karen Knox, from Making Spaces, recommended: ‘Something that connects the fireplace to the chair, size wise. Something with colour and pattern too!! Possibly something with a MCM/geometric vibe to tie in with the armchairs but not in the same colour. Perhaps ochre?’
Is this the perfect rug for my front room?
I was hoping to end this post having chosen a new rug from Land of Rugs, and a ta-dah photo of it in place in my front room, but I’m afraid I am still umming and ahhing over which one! But thanks to all the advice above, I’m a hell of a lot closer to making a decision than before. But if you have any thoughts or suggestions you would like to throw into the mix, do let me know in the comments below.
Really hope you find something Molly. And thanks for the shout out 🙂 xx
Still looking! But thanks for all your help Karen (might have gone for the ochre I think but sadly not currently in stock. Think it might have been a bit flat though (prefer a bit more texture?) x
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on March 17, 2016 at 4:14 pm
Lots of good advice. Some bigger would definitely connect the pieces of furniture together. Good luck on your search.
Thanks Christina!
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on March 18, 2016 at 2:41 pm
Excellent advice. We are looking for new rugs for our lounge and realise we need them to be much bigger than the ones we have. #homeetc
Good luck with your search too Louisa. It starts getting expensive as you go bigger, that’s one of the problems 🙂
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on March 21, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Gosh it’s almost like a minefield isn’t it! I do love a good rug, but I’m never entirely sure if things will work or not too – so it is great to have some advice. This is how we all learn after all. I can’t wait to see which you choose in the end! Steph xxx #HomeEtc
Steph recently posted…Our Dream Kitchen – Inspirations and Dreams
I’ve chosen a rug Steph! Fingers crossed it’s going to work. I expect it will be the subject of another #HomeEtc post soon 😉
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on March 22, 2016 at 11:14 am
I am rug crazy at the moment so I loved this! I have got 3 new ones recently and keep dragging them around the house to see where they work! Good luck on your quest! Thanks for linking up lovely, much appreciated! Jess xxx
#HomeEtc
Thanks Jess. I think this rug purchase will be the start of many, now that I’ve got some advice and places to look! x
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on March 22, 2016 at 10:27 pm
The bigger the better in my opinion! I LOVE those giant rugs in grand old houses — have always hankered after one of those. I love the yellow rug in the pic — I’d be delighted to give that houseroom! Looking forward to seeing what you’ve chosen 🙂 Hope to see you tomorrow from 6am on #HomeEtc
Hey Caro, I’ve ordered a big one (200 x 290cm) but it’s not the yellow one (which was out of stock). I’m keeping my fingers crossed it will be a good un! See you tomorrow x
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on March 29, 2016 at 4:07 pm
Some great tips.We have been looking for a rug for our lounge for about a year but it is such an odd shaped space we have still can’t decide what to go for! Look forward to seeing what you went with. xx
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on March 29, 2016 at 10:10 pm
Ohhh this is quite an interesting post. I have recently bought a rug for my living room and one of our worries was if it was the right size. I am happy with it but I wished it was a tiny bit bigger
#Homeetc