Hello my lovelies! There are plenty of reasons why it’s ideal to have an area rug in a living room, bedroom, or other living space. Area rugs provide comfort, warmth, and decorative interest (color, pattern, texture, etc.). And they create a frame in which to place furniture and define spaces.

Like furniture & art, area rugs are a big statement in your space! If you are in need for some area rug knowledge, keep on reading to learn “The In’s & Out’s of Area Rugs”.

Fibers

To begin, it’s important to understand the different fibers commonly used in area rugs. These include wool, nylon, silk, jute, poly, poly blend. A rug fiber fun fact: sometimes fibers are blended to re3duce cost or to enhance performance or luster and each has their own pros and cons.  For example: Wool rugs are excellent for comfort, softness and resistance but a higher cost than nylon. Silk rugs have a luxurious look, but they require more maintenance than options like wool or synthetic materials which may not be the best option for a busy household.

Design Function

Just as area rugs come in different fibers, they also come in different shapes, textures, patterns, sizes, and colors. They can also be custom-made to meet the specifications of the interior design in the home. Remember: area rugs greatly impact that 5^th wall (your floor)! And they affect a lot of square footage, that’s why they are such “precious” tools… that add mood, style, warmth, and personality.

General Size

Regardless of where you go to purchase an area rug, the standard sizes are typically the same. The most common area rug sizes are: 3’x5’, 5’x8’, 8’x10’, 9’x12’ and 12’x15’. A suggestion to determine how an area rug will look in your space, is to use masking tape to form a border on the floor to get a “realistic” feel of how much space will be taken up in your room. Your area rug should be close to the size of your sofa and/or seating area. To avoid an unbalanced looking room with an area rug, try not to incorporate an area rug that is more than 1’ wider than your seating area. Another suggestion is to purchase a custom area rug that follows the shape of your room to make the space appear bigger.

Now of course, my lovelies, if you’re working on your home and  picking out area rugs is a challenge you’re wrestling with, you MUST check out my online course Decorating Genius System…7 Simple Steps to Great Rooms. The results my Design Lovers get using the strategies I reveal inside the course are truly amazing – and their results run the gamut across all design styles and budgets. Click here for more information.