How to Choose the Right Small Rug

Area rugs can be a powerful design tool, whether they act as flooring artwork or simply provide a complementary backdrop for other décor. Imagine swapping a room with a crimson Turkish rug for a regular sisal rug, or swapping a Moroccan tile print for a French Aubusson rug. With this simple switch, the room can go from traditional to modern, from classic to contemporary, or from bland to bland. Deciding which rug is right for you needs to consider a few key factors. Here, we’ve given you some information to keep in mind when buying a new rug for your room, including style, type, pattern, size, and care.

Before Buying a New Rug

Rugs have endured a lot of our trials at home, they are stepped on, played with, wiped down, spilled, but provide padding and comfort to our feet and change the look and feel of the entire room. They have a lot of trouble to deal with in our family, including kids, pets, and visitors. The carpet is starting to look worn, tired, stained, and in some cases starting to emit an odor, indicating that the carpet is outdated and should be replaced. Or, you may also want to give your room a new look.

If your area rug is showing any of these signs, or if you’re looking for a change, then you’re going to want to start looking for a new rug.

Precautions for Buying a Rug

Carpet Style

There are as many styles of carpets as furniture styles, lighting styles, or room styles, which means that the variety of options is almost endless. The rooms are no longer limited to traditional Persian rugs or classic European styles. In addition to these historic options, there are also modern and contemporary options, such as bold florals, strong geometric patterns, and simple jute and sisal.

Before settling on a style, take a look at the styles available and think about what kind of atmosphere you want to create in your room. Keep in mind that an area rug doesn’t need to match everything in the room, but it should match the texture and tone of the existing furniture.

Color

When choosing a rug, color is a natural starting point. Obviously, you need to think about what colors you like and what colors you want to live with day in and day out, but that’s not all. The color of the carpet will set the tone for the entire room, so it’s an important decision.

If you already have furniture, consider how the different colors will work with your existing items. Rooms with a variety of colors and patterns are often best paired with neutral tones or monochromatic rugs. If you don’t already have furniture, consider how different carpet colors match the tones of your floor, walls, and ceiling. Rugs can stand out or blend in, so think about what effect you want to create when thinking about color.

Carpet Pattern

Not everyone is keen on patterns, but if your furniture and walls are solid, a patterned rug can really bring your room to life. Similarly, if you have patterned furniture, then a solid rug can act as a grounded, calming effect. It’s all about balance, and if your room is already furnished, take that into account before choosing a carpet. Still, if a rug is one of the first items you buy, consider which pattern is right for you. Do you want something eye-catching or something more subtle? The impact of a pattern on a room is closely related to its color, so consider how the two work together.

Area Carpet Size

A rug that is too small for a room is one of the most common decorating mistakes. For most medium-sized rooms, there should be about 10 to 20 inches of bare floor between the edge of the carpet and the wall of the room. Depending on the size of the room, it can be as low as 8 inches and as high as 24 inches. In any case, make sure that the carpet is in the center of the room and that the distance between the carpet and the wall is the same on all four sides.

You can also use rugs to define the space. If you have an open space or you want to carpet in layers, the rules may be slightly different. Think about the area you want to highlight and choose the size based on that area, but keep in mind that too big is better than too small.

Type

Plush vs. Short Plush

When choosing a rug, it’s important to consider what kind of pile you want: low, medium, or high. Short-plush rugs are generally stronger than plush rugs and are easier to vacuum and keep clean. They are also less expensive than long-wool carpets. A rug with longer pile is softer and more luxurious underfoot, making the room look more comfortable and inviting. In general, high-traffic rooms are suitable for short-haired rugs, such as dhurrie rugs or kilim rugs, while rooms with low foot traffic use thicker rugs that can last longer.

Material

Whether it’s a natural fiber rug or a synthetic rug, the material of the rug will come into play.

Natural fibers include materials such as wool, silk, cotton, jute, or bamboo. Wool rugs tend to be higher quality and more expensive, but they perform well in high-traffic areas, but have a tendency to fall off, at least in the first few months. Cotton rugs are inexpensive and a good choice for casual places, but they fade quickly and are not stain-resistant.

Synthetic rugs are popular options in the market, including polypropylene, nylon, polyester, and microfiber. These rugs are generally fade-resistant, easy to clean, and very affordable. They are less expensive, so it’s easier to replace them with new ones, making them a great option for families and pet owners.

Cost

The cost of a rug depends on many factors: from the size you need, the materials used, how the rug is constructed, and the overall quality. If the carpet is hand-woven, imported, patterned or dyed, woven or hand-knotted, made with man-made or natural fibers, these will affect the price of the carpet.

That being said, to give you an idea of the price, the price of a good quality 8×10 size rug can range from $300 to a whopping $10,000. A 5×7 rug can cost as little as $35 and go as high as $1,000 or more.

The quality and amount of work involved in manufacturing carpets leads to rising costs. Keep an eye out for sales during holiday seasons, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, or the end of the year, which are all great times to check out. Before you start shopping, figure out how much you can afford to spend on a new rug.

How to Choose a New Rug

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle should be an important deciding factor in your final rug choice. If you have children or pets, a white carpet with high pile may not be the best choice. If you expect your rug to experience a lot of wear and tear, then a plain weave rug with a pattern that covers stains is worth considering because it’s easier to maintain and keep clean. On the other hand, if you want to create a feeling of comfort and luxury, a plain weave rug may not serve the purpose. Instead, you’ll want something softer and with a higher fluff. Note that it won’t stand up to damage like something with a lower heap.

Maintenance

When choosing a rug, be honest with yourself about how much effort you are willing to put into maintaining it. Most carpets need to be vacuumed and rotated regularly. Flat-weave rugs are easy to vacuum with a vacuum cleaner, but you can also take them outside and knock them off the old-fashioned way. Plush carpets are more difficult to clean, and some have to be sent out or professionally cleaned at home.

Whichever type you choose, be sure to use a carpet mat that is compatible with the carpet material and the floor underneath. If you can avoid it, don’t expose your rug to direct sunlight and never allow stains to set. If you do any of these things, you can actually ruin your rug no matter what type you choose.

Where to Shop

Regional rugs can be found in many places, from supercenters, carpet shops, home improvement centers, department stores, and online. When buying a rug, how you buy it is a personal preference, but it’s nice to have the opportunity to stroke the rug with your fingers and see how it feels and how it is constructed.

Touching different types of rugs can help you understand how they’re made and the difference in how materials feel to the touch, which can help you choose the best rug for you and your family. You can always look at the area rug in the store and then check online to see if there is the same rug and compare the prices.

Look slowly, carefully considering all the options available to you, as regional rugs will be the focal point of your room for a few years.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How often should you clean your carpet?

Your rug should be vacuumed once or twice a week and deep cleaned at least twice a year. If you have children and pets, you should consider cleaning four times a year.

• How long does an area rug last?

The average lifespan of a carpet is about 3 to 10 years. Of course, it also depends on the quality, care and use of the carpet.

• Do you need to put anything under the rug?

You should always put a cushion underneath the rug. This helps protect the floor, prevent the carpet from slipping, provide more padding, and extend the life of the carpet.

• What time of year is the best time of year to buy a rug?

Almost at any time of the year, there seems to be a carpet sale. Autumn and winter are the times when stores introduce new styles. January and early spring, late spring, and holidays are also popular times for carpet sales.