How to Pick
The Perfect Rug for Your Home

‘A rug always provides a striking backdrop for any sitting room, dining room or bedroom.’

 

Nothing connects the look, and more importantly the feel, of a room together better than a perfectly placed rug. While it may not be the first thing you notice when you enter a space, a rug always provides a striking backdrop for any sitting room, dining room or bedroom. Yet picking a rug you love is no easy task, and one of the most important design decisions you can make, so let us help with our top tips. This is how to pick the perfect rug for your home.

 

Size and Shape

Always look to buy the largest rug you can afford, as it will frame the room, bring everything together and create a unified space.

In a sitting room, a rug should never be smaller than the length and width of the sofa.

Row rug medium, size: 170 x 240 cm
Row rug large, size: 300 x 200 cm

In a dining room you need to allow plenty of room for pulling-out chairs, and in a bedroom use the bed as your guide, leaving enough free space on each side so you don’t have to step out onto a cold floor every morning.

Row rug medium, size: 170 x 240 cm
Row rug large, size: 300 x 200 cm

The rug you choose should also mirror the shape of the furniture standing on it too. A circular dining table works best on a round or square rug, while a rectangular or oval table on an oblong.

Row rug circular, size: ø200cm

Materials and Types

With natural and synthetic options available, what a rug is made from and how it feels to the touch, are important considerations when making a home feel cosy, as well as lived in.

Hand loomed, wool rugs are always a favourite choice as they have a flat soft weave, are extremely durable and can be placed just about anywhere.

They are also naturally fire-retardant and easy to clean, as the rug fibres contain lanolin, which acts as a stain repellent. This makes them great for high traffic areas and the perfect choice for homes with pets and young children too.

‘Using colour and contrast is one of the best ways to add character to a room.’

 

Colour and Contrast

Using colour and contrast is one of the best ways to add character to a room, bringing warmth to a newly built home, or a modern edge to a period property.

Making the right colour choice however can be difficult. It’s a good idea to start by taking a look in your wardrobe as in there you will find the collection of colours you are most comfortable with.

Alternatively, follow Mother Nature’s advice, with darker shades such as green or brown at floor level and lighter shades on the walls and ceiling above.

Combining rugs in contrasting colours is also a good way to create different zones in an open-plan space, visually separating the sitting room from the dining room, while still getting the overall balance right.

‘Hand loomed, wool rugs are always a favourite choice as they have a flat soft weave, are extremely durable and can be placed just about anywhere.’

 

Care and Cleaning

Once you have chosen the rug for you, regular vacuuming will keep it looking perfect, but remember only use the flat nozzle attachment to avoid pulling and damaging the yarn.

When it comes to stains, always absorb as much of it as possible with a paper towel first. Gently clean it with a white cloth and colourless detergent which has been mixed with lukewarm water before rising off and again patting dry with a paper towel.

Finally, take care with over-exposure to sunlight as this too can affect how your rug looks, so remember to turn your rug regularly to avoid fading.

 

Our four best tips

Picking a rug, you love is no easy task, but by using our four tips, we hope it makes it a bit easier.

  1. Size and Shape
  2. Materials and Types
  3. Colour and Contrast
  4. Care and Cleaning