Choosing a Rug

When looking for the right rug, the following questions will help to direct the decision-making process.

  • Room Traffic – Heavy traffic areas need more durable rugs.

    Indoor or outdoor – Some rugs are specially made to endure the elements.

  • To create a focal point – brighter colors and busier designs draw the eye.

    To protect the floor – harder wearing fibers offer greater protection.

    To insulate a room and muffle sound – certain fibers offer better insulation than others.

    To add comfort underfoot – softer fibers are more comfortable to coarser ones.

  • Entry-level to luxury – some rugs (e.g. hand-knotted) are more expensive than others (e.g. flat weave).

  • Current style – does the décor of the room require a specific kind of rug?

    Color palette – what colors already exist in the intended space?

  • Have you ever wondered that why you pay for an expensive handmade rug, when you can buy a machine-made rug for a fraction of the price? Hand-made rugs are a unique piece of art, and its value increases with time. There is a possibility of variations in color due to natural fibers and dyes, and social transformation is dovetailed in each rug. Machine made rugs are manufactured in mass, so are inherently not unique with their consistent colors, and they lack the care and emotion that would be put into making each product perfect in its essence.

  • Some fibers are naturally more reflective than others, rugs can appear lighter or darker in a photograph than they do in really life. Similarly, the lighting of the space where the rug will be placed can affect the appearance of its color.

  • Colors vary from screen to printed page to dyed fiber. Though a website or catalogue are great for getting a feel for a rug’s appearance, colors do vary from screen to printed page to dyed fiber. We recommend that actual rug samples be used before making a decision.

  • Choosing a rug that’s too small

    Area rug that is too small for the space will make the room look smaller. A rug should be big enough to ground the furniture.

    Leaving the wall-to-wall carpeting bare

    Layering an area rug over wall-to-wall carpeting is perfectly alright. An area rug pulls the room together and draws attention.

    Choosing a rug last

    A rug is an art that you can walk on. Choosing a rug first helps in establishing the theme of the room and furnishing can easily fall in place.

    Skipping the rug pad

    A rug pad not only adds comfort underfoot, it ensures safety by providing a non-slip surface.