When considering an update to your existing home décor, often a small element can completely change the look of a room. You don’t need to renovate each space in your home every time a new season or trend arrives, using your current décor as a base, an accessory or two can be the perfect way to keep your home on trend and looking luxurious year-round.
Rugs are an excellent accessory to add to any room; they can anchor the space, make it feel more snug – especially desirable in winter – and they can bring definition to the room’s décor.
In order to get the best out of your rug you need to understand what the goal is and ensure the room doesn’t end up looking cluttered with an added feature. Rugs can be of great use to separate areas so make sure the definition is added to the right place.
To help you decide how to take your living space to a stylish new level, interior design Vanessa Arbuthnott has shared her top seven tips for decorating with rugs.
Get the size right
The main purpose of any rug is to add something extra to a room without overpowering the space or eliminating the sophisticated style your room already holds, so the size of your rug is really important. Before you purchase a rug measure the floor space and consider if any corners of the wall are uneven. If you are looking for a smaller rug, then remember not to go too small even if you are unsure on the exact dimensions of your space. You don’t want your rug to look odd if it is too small and placed in the middle. Rugs that exceed the edges of the furniture can make a room appear larger.
Change up your shape
Most rooms have irregular floor layouts since they aren’t closed in by four walls. This means that a perfectly shaped square rug might not the best option for your room as it gives it the illusion of a smaller space. If your room is round or has a curved wall, then a round rug is great way to mirror the space and, in narrower area, opt for a rectangle rug to make the room appear bigger.
Warm up your space
An area rug is one of the details that makes your room look finished. It can help to warm up and soften hard surfaces like wood and tile flooring which have a typical cold feel to them. Ensure that your area rug has a texture which can be linked to home warmth and comfort especially in long and narrow hallways that can appear cold and eerie.
Don’t overthink the colour
Don’t spend too much time trying to match the exact colours of the rug as this can lead to it looking artificial. If you’re redesigning the room or designing one from scratch, then a great tip is to start with a rug and pull the colour choices from there. A tribal rug is a great place to start as they match with everything and they can also add some personality to neutral decor. Rugs that have a lot of potential design and colour elements are great as they are not locked into any one aspect and you can change the colour of the wall frequently whilst the rug is still in perfect condition.
Furniture placement
People often make the mistake of trying to fit all four legs of each furniture item on the rug itself, but this leads the rug becoming worse for wear especially if the furniture in question is being used on a regular basis such as a chair. By placing just the front legs on the rug this will help to maintain an elegant look and keep the rug intact.
Protect your rug
Always take good care of your rug as you would with your carpet, if your rug was an investment, then you want to make sure it lasts a long time and looks brand new. Using a rug pad is essential in keeping your rug in top condition and in shape for much longer as well as preventing slipping and working to keep the area lying flat in one place. Regardless of the type of floor you have underneath, it needs be protected as area rug backings can sometimes be rough, which could be a risk to the floor with issues such as colour transfer being a possibility.
Rag rugs
In the kitchen you may opt for a long runner, but rag rugs can work just as well. Rag rugs are a great fit for the kitchen as they have a casual vibe but also makes the kitchen seem more inviting and cosy. They are washable too which means any accidental spillages can be wiped away easily so there is no need to fear any stains will be left on your deluxe flooring. Rag rugs come in a variety of patterns and textures, so you’ll have no problem in finding one which suits the style of your kitchen.
Image credit at top of article: Kasia Bialasiewicz/Bigstock.com
