Choosing the perfect rug for your home can be daunting, but with a few key factors in mind, you can make an informed decision to choose the rug perfect for your style and your needs. Here are some essential considerations:

1. Complement Your Entire Space

When starting to look for rugs, it’s important to consider something that encompasses your entire space, whether you’re starting with the rug or choosing something to match your already existing decor. Your rug should tie all aspects of your room together, even the color of your walls.

You’ll also want to consider the size of your space. Open floor plans are extremely common, and rugs are a great way to designate specific spaces. When using multiple rugs in an open space, it is crucial to ensure that your rugs complement each other. When you find a rug you like for one space, sticking to a rug collection can be incredibly beneficial as collections often use the same Pantone colors in different ways. This allows you to easily choose rugs that are unique to each space while also complementing each other seamlessly.

2. Choose the Right Size

Selecting the right size rug is vital for creating a balanced look. An area rug ideally fits under essential furniture pieces such as sofas, coffee tables, beds, and dining tables—so don’t hesitate to choose a larger size! Here are some general guidelines:

In your living room, ensure that the front feet of each of your furniture pieces rests on the rug. This creates a cohesive look and anchors your furniture in the space. You always want to aim to have at least 18 to 20 inches of exposed floor around the rug. This keeps the floor visible and adds to the room’s charm, especially in an entryway.

In your dining room, allow for 28-32 inches around your table on all sides. This provides enough space for chairs to be pulled out without falling off the rug. For round dining tables, you can choose a round or rectangular rug, following the same 28-32 inch rule. The shorter side of your rug should be at least 28 inches longer than the table.

In bedrooms, depending on the shape and layout of the room, you have a few different options depending on how much area you want your rug to cover. With a Queen bed, you can start with a 6X9 that reaches just below your nightstands. If you have a King bed, a 6X9 wouldn’t be big enough to reach the end of your nightstands. A 9X12 rug is a good choice with a Queen or King bed if you also have a bed bench or ottomans because you still have plenty of room on the rug to include those pieces. Runners along both sides of the bed or a single runner along the foot of the bed are also great options.

3. Consider Cleanability

Washable rugs are the new excitement, but only small sizes can actually fit inside a standard washing machine when most rugs need to be bigger to correctly style your space. The good news is that most rugs, despite not being marketed as washable, are cleanable!

Washable rugs are the new excitement, but only small sizes can actually fit inside a standard washing machine when most rugs need to be bigger to correctly style your space. The good news is that most rugs, despite not being marketed as washable, are cleanable!

Heirloom B Ridgeview A Heirloom C Lakeview A

Polyester rugs do not stain quickly, but they can absorb spills over time if they are not wiped up right away. Polyester rugs also hold color better, so consider the location of your rug when choosing a material. Polypropylene rugs will fade more easily when left in direct sunlight.

Aversa A Benito A Avena B Acerra A

Gerardo A Donella A Rowan A Marianna A

Viscose rugs are extremely water-sensitive, and they lose their luster when wet. These rugs need to be spot cleaned. They are not suitable for washing machines. Sculptured rugs are becoming more popular because they use a variety of materials to bring you the best of all worlds. Sculpted rugs are often made with viscose to add sheen in certain areas of a rug. Sculpted rugs that use several materials are popular, so it's essential to know what your rug is made of.

Accra R Bjorg C Accra M Melody D

Wool rugs are actually the most durable type of rug. They just require specific cleaning methods. They can be spot cleaned when necessary, due to spills, but they need to be professionally dry cleaned when you want a refresh. As long as you put the work into correctly handling wool rugs, they will last a lifetime. Wool is to rugs what linen and silk are to clothes. Treat it delicately and it will last.

Ash B Kinley Blush Ash D Ash E

With cleanability, it’s also important to consider the longevity of the type of rug. Machine made rugs are typically inexpensive and last 3 to 8 years. Hand woven rugs are more durable and can last anywhere from 8 to 15 years. Hand knotted rugs typically have a higher price tag, but they are a lifetime investment.

4. Pay attention to the Nap of the Rug

The nap of a rug refers to the surface texture of the rug and the way in which the fibers are situated. The nap of a rug can affect the color of the rug, so it is important to consider a rug from all angles before choosing it for a space. The direction you place the rug can cause it appear differently. The size of the rug also plays a factor because the fibers can be going in different directions in an area rug and a runner. This can make a rug look like a different color as well.

5. Buying Online vs In-Store

When deciding between buying a rug online or in-store, consider the following:

The rug’s color can look different on your screen versus what it will look like in your home. This is especially tricky when you may be trying to match it to something you already have. Even when shopping in person, rug color can look different under various lighting conditions and based on the nap’s direction.

If any of these issues do happen when you get your rug home, trying to return it after buying it online can be a nightmare. Even when you make it through the return process, you’re likely to need to pay for shipping on the return, not to mention needing to bring a large, heavy rug to the post office to ship.

Since we’ve covered all of the important topics to consider when buying a rug, let’s consider the biggest question: Where to shop? End your search and avoid the online hassle by visiting our store, where our experts can guide you through the process and help you choose the perfect rug for your home. When you aren’t sure about the color or how a rug will look under your lighting, we have samples for you to bring home and test out first! Let us make your rug shopping experience enjoyable and hassle-free!

Remember, a well-chosen rug can dramatically enhance your home’s aesthetic and comfort. Happy rug hunting!