Area rugs are multifunctional pieces that add comfort and style to your home. They can go in any room, and are a decorating staple everyone should own. However, in an effort to fill their living rooms and bedrooms, homeowners have made some unfortunate mistakes – yup, we’re talking style faux pas here. Thankfully, we can learn from the errors of less-informed decorators and ensure our spaces are at the height of beauty. With that in mind, here are a few area rug no-nos you should avoid, and how to fix them:
Buying too small
Probably the most common mistake decorators make is purchasing area rugs that are too small for their space. It may not seem like much of a problem (the rug fits, doesn’t it?), but the issue lies in visual cues. A small area rug can make your room look smaller. It draws the eyes in rather than out.
You’ll know your rug is too small if your furniture doesn’t fit on it. For instance, in the case of your living room, the sofa and chairs might not all fit on the rug.
The right-sized rug rules
- All the legs of your furniture are on the rug, or
- The front legs are on and the back legs are off, or
- The rug perimeter is only a few inches from the wall
You don’t have to meet all these rules, as your rug may serve different purposes in different spaces. For instance, in an open floor plan, you may try to distinguish your living room area from the dining room by using rugs. In that case, following rules one and three is best.
Not adding a rug to carpet
You may look at a carpeted room and think the floor needs nothing more – it’s soft as is. But even carpeted rooms can benefit from the addition of a stylish accent rug. It can add color, texture and pattern to the space, define areas and tie your decorations together.
Instead of leaving your carpets barren, seek out an area rug that fits with the rest of your furnishings. It can fit into the color scheme and have a unique pattern – get creative!
Making the rug an afterthought
Sure, the area rug is on the floor and you may not stare at it as much as you do other decor, but it’s just as much a part of the space as your sofa or art. Many people think of the rug at the last minute and don’t imagine how it will fit in the space. Even fewer base the rest of their decor on the rug.
Make sure that when you shop for an area rug, you factor it into what you want the final look of your room to be. Consider it the way you would other features, noting color, texture and pattern (and size, of course).
Not using a pad
If your rug is on carpet, this isn’t a big deal, but when it’s on a hard floor, it is. Failing to put a pad under your area rug could make it slippery and unsafe. You might dart from one room to another and slide as you hit the rug. Avoid the debacle altogether by springing for a rug pad. These thin sheets grip the floor and your rug, holding the two together. You can still move the rug around, but you won’t slide just from walking on it.
Pads are important for every rug size, whether it’s a small welcome mat or a giant rug that covers a whole room.
Being too conservative
Rugs come in many colors, shapes and patterns, so why stick to a boring option? If your room is full of neutral tones, try adding an accent by rolling out a colorful and eclectic area rug. You also don’t have to stick to the standard rectangle – giant circles or ovals work well in many spaces.
Photo credit
- Jaipur Rugs