The Ultimate Area Rugs Buyer’s Guide
When it comes to our homes, there are some things that might seem small or insignificant, but in fact play a major role in the ambiance of the home. Area rugs are a prime example of this. The right rug will not only provide physical warmth and comfort, but will set the tone of the entire room, creating an atmosphere of luxury, elegance, and class. Whether you are looking for a contemporary or classic design, a centerpiece for your living room or a simple kitchen floor mat, taking the time to give proper thought to your purchase will make a huge difference in your satisfaction with your new rug, and the effect it will have on your home.
The first consideration is size. Are you looking to cover just a small part of the floor, or do you need a large area rug instead? Here are some of the most popular rug sizes, and where they are best used:
9×12 - This is a very popular size, with a wide variety of uses. 9×12 area rugs are most commonly used in the living room, providing a soft focal point. Ideally, you will want to have at least 18″ of bare hardwood floors to frame it, so that it does not seem squashed, or give the room a claustrophobic feel.
If you have a truly expansive living room, a 9×12 rug can be perfect for sectioning up the room into smaller areas without adding dividers or using large furniture, which would diminish the openness of the room. In a smaller room, particularly one with bookcases or other furniture lining the walls, these large area rugs are a perfect and much less expensive alternative to wall-to-wall carpeting.
8×10 – An 8×10 area rug can provide the same effect as a 9×12 in a slightly smaller room. It is also the ideal size to go beneath most dining room tables. To see if it will work well in your dining room, measure your table, looking for around two feet more of rug on all sides of the table. This will allow all four legs of the chairs to stay on the rug, even when the person seated has pushed their chair back a bit.
This size rug can also be just right for a master bedroom, allowing plenty of rug space on the three exposed sides of a King or Queen size bed.
6×9 - 6×9 area rugs are perfect bedroom rugs if you have full or twin size bed. With a smaller bed, you only need about a foot of rug to extend on all sides of the bed, as opposed to an ideal foot and a half minimum with a larger bed. They also work well in a medium sized living room, or under a kitchen table.
5×8 - These rugs are smaller, and can work well in many settings around the home. If you have a small living room or a living room/dining room combo, 5×8 area rugs work wonderfully beneath a coffee table in front of a couch, or even just to block off a sitting area composed of just a couch and side chairs, but without a coffee table. They are also great for children’s rooms, creating a nice sized play area in the center of a medium sized room.
Once you know what size rug you will need, the next consideration is shape. While traditional area rugs are rectangular, there are other shapes that can work well in many rooms, and that warrant your attention. Don’t think that you have to stick with the norm; a different shaped rug can really impact the decor and feel of the room. Some shapes to consider are:
Oval Area Rugs - An oval rug can easily replace a rectangular living room rug, offering the same centering effect, but without the hard edges. It can work very well under an oval dining room table, assuming that it extends roughly two feet past the edges of the table, just as with a rectangular rug. While just about any type of rug can be made into an oval, this is a very common shape with braided area rugs and rag rugs. When these are used, it lends a homey country look, rather than formal elegance.
Round Area Rugs - These offer the same gentle effects that oval rugs do, in that the usual hard edges are eliminated for a softer look. They can go quite well underneath a round kitchen table, or as a small bedside rug. But a large round area rug can be a very powerful piece, changing the focus of a room and affecting the way it’s shape is perceived. Used in a large entranceway, a round rug can tie together the rooms of the home, and create an effect similar to that which a spiral staircase would achieve. They can also be used very effectively in sectioning off parts of a room, creating a sitting area in a large living room, or designating a play area in a den or finished basement.
Square Area Rugs - If you have a room that is square or nearly square, using a square rug will take advantage of the shape of the room much more than if you used a rectangular one. You will still want to stick to the guidelines of leaving 18″ to two feet of floor exposed on all sides of the rug, but if it is the right size, this shape can really work well. One thing to keep in mind is that you don’t want to use a square area rug in a smaller room, as it can create a boxed-in feel. But if you have large windows or mirrors in the room, the effect can be marvelous.
