Today’s post is about something we get asked a lot: How to choose a rug for your living room so let’s dive in and unroll our top tips for choosing the perfect rug!
#1 Measure your space
This goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway…before you do anything else, pull out the old tape measure and measure the room.
This is also a good opportunity to consider your room layout. Your furniture will play a big part in determining the shape and size of your rug, so have a think about your seating arrangement and rug placement.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying an area rug is choosing a rug that is too small for the space. The last thing you want is for your rug to look as though it is awkwardly floating around your living room. We recommend choosing a rug that extends at least 20cm beyond your furniture (i.e. sofa, coffee table, etc) acting as an anchor that ties all of the pieces together.
Expert tip: Use masking tape to create a border on your floor to help you to visualise what size rug will work best in the space.
Mandurah Wool Rug styled by @vande.home
#2 What’s your style?
Now for the fun part! When it comes to interiors, a rug is the ultimate styling tool - so have a think about what you want your new rug to say about your room.
Do you want a neutral design that will tie in seamlessly with your decor creating a cohesive look, or do you want to set the scene with a coastal style rug that will transform your space? Perhaps your more of after something a little different.
Either way, a rug can make a big impact on the way a room looks and feels, so before jumping the gun and adding your favourite item to your cart, really put some thought into what story you want it to tell in your space. Here are a few unique rug styles to help you get started: diamonds, floral or geometric.
Expert tip: Consider your flooring. Warm timbers work well with warm rug shades, whereas modern, light timbers look great with grey, navy and white rugs.
Carina Braided Wool Rug styled by @shiftpropertystyling
#3 Style vs practicality
This is one that you really need to play close attention to. While the rug of your dreams might be a super plush white wool rug, it may not be a practical choice for this high traffic area.
Think carefully about your lifestyle. Busy homes with messy kids and muddy paws will benefit from an easy care rug that is low maintenance, durable and easy to clean. Our customers rave about our pet friendly rug designs – they have been tried and tested time and time again and always come up winners in busy family homes.
Patterned and two-toned rugs are more forgiving when it comes to marks, stains and pet hair. While wool-blend rugs offer the perfect balance of softness and durability.
Expert tip: An anti-slip rug pad will help to hold your rug in place, preventing slipping and bunching, making cleaning your rug easier while also protecting your floors.
Bafra Transitional Rug styled by @smithies_home
#4 Open plan living
It can be difficult to make a large, open plan space feel homely. The first tip any interior stylist will give you when it comes to styling your open plan home is to use rugs!
A extra large rug will help you to define your living space in and open plan home. It will create a visual boundary separating your living area from the rest of your home while making the overall space feel and reducing noise.
Expert tip: Don’t be afraid to layer your oversized rug with a smaller, or irregular shaped design. Rug layering is a great way to play with colour and pattern in your interior.
Skandi Felted Wool Rug styled by @megcaris.interiors
#5 Small spaces
Not big on space? The right rug can make a small room feel bigger. How, you ask? Placing a large rug in a small room can create the illusion of space, but there are a few things to keep in mind…
Using a rug that is larger than your furniture. Place at least the front legs of your sofa on your rug with at least 20cm of rug visible at the sides.
Stick to light neutral tones to keep the space feeling light and airy. Pastels, neutral tones and white/ivory rugs are a great choice for smaller spaces.
If you opt for a pattern, make sure it is scaled appropriately to the size of the room. The last thing you want to do in a small room is to make it feel crowded.
A non-textured, flatweave rug will typically work best in smaller spaces so steer clear of heavy textures, shaggy or tufted styles.
Balmoral Braided Wool Rug styled by @hatchinteriors
Still can't decide on the perfect rug for your living room? Visit our living room rug collection for more ideas!
