Copyright © 2007 Rugs Direct®
Many people shop for an area rug based upon appearance alone. While ultimately the rug must look good in the space for which it is intended, there are numerous other aspects to consider when making this important investment in your home's decor.
Hellenic Rug Imports, Inc. offers these following eight important area-rug selection tips:
Design:
Many designers recommend starting with an empty room and then literally decorating it from the ground up. However, more often than not, you already have many of the room's elements in place. The walls are painted; the woodwork is stained; you already have several pieces of furniture. In this case you can use an area rug - or rugs - to put the final touches on the room.
Color:
Designers will tell you that area rugs can be used as an effective tool to mix patterns that have the same or similar color palettes. Dark area rugs tend to provide warmth and intimacy, while light rugs can open up a room and make it feel more spacious.
Size:
You don't necessarily have to fill all of the available floor space with a rug. Instead, consider several smaller rugs placed strategically to create zones in a large space. If you decide to go with one large rug in a large room, the area rug will provide unified space and also help muffle sound. In smaller rooms - bedrooms, kitchens and dens - you can use a small rug to add a splash of color, accents or warmth.
Material:
There is an amazingly large variety of materials used to make area rugs. Wool is the most popular because of its durability, long-life, ease of care and the way it accepts color so well. But synthetic fibers have benefits too. Check back soon for an article on the pros and cons of area-rug materials.
Construction:
Machine-made area rugs tend to be less expensive than handmade rugs, but to a purist, nothing beats the quality of a handcrafted area rug. Let your decorating budget be your guide. Plus you are going to find that some designs simply aren't available in a machine-made rug. If one of these is perfect for your room, your only option will be to buy handmade.
Shape:
Most area rugs are rectangular in shape. But circular, square and other shaped rugs can present a design alternative that will truly make your space unique. Runners, which are long but narrow area rugs, offer additional options for entryways, halls and high-traffic areas.
The Space:
The type of light and amount of traffic in a room should affect your choice of area-rug material. Some man-made fibers resist fading better than natural fibers, so consider the amount of direct sunlight an area rug will receive. If you are decorating a patio or outdoor area, you have other important considerations to make. Certain types of rugs are strictly for interior use.
Durability:
Pile density and fiber material are the two factors that most directly affect the durability of an area rug. But proper care and maintenance can't be ignored. A high-quality pad underneath the rug will also enhance its life.
As with most all home improvement projects, the more research you do and the more you educate yourself on the pros and cons of the products you buy, the happier you will be with the final result. This is just as true of area rugs as paint, furniture, lighting fixtures or wood finish. The more you know, the better you will be able to make effective decisions that will make your room look great - and keep your purchases within budget.
Rugs Direct has over 60,000 area rugs available for review online, all at the lowest prices on the Internet. Used our trademarked Rugs Directory to narrow your search and find the perfect area rug for your home.
Comments