Top 10 Tips for Choosing your Floor Rug

 

Choices, choices

Deciding on a rug can be one of the most difficult design dilemmas you will make for your home. You need to consider how to coordinate it with your existing furniture, wall colours, floor colours and possible future furniture purchases, not to mention durability & stain resistance.
Here ouor top 10 to make that decision just a little easier.

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1. Light rugs get dirty

They can, but if you want to lighten your room but are worried about paw prints and textas, go for a salt and pepper look, something like this Armadillo 'Meadow' rug in Pistachio. It reads as a light toned rug overall, but also has enough visual texture to disguise tracking and small stains. See also below.

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2. Go in for the hug

If it’s for a living room, make sure your sofa and armchairs sit on the rug, or at least touch it. The rug doesn’t have to go all the way under, but that point where the rug touches your sofa is probably the most noticed part of the room. Subconsciously, a positive connection between these two elements creates an enveloping ‘hug’, giving off a sense of safety and protection.

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3. But where to start?

Contrasting tones with your sofa or main piece of furniture with create drama and impact. A dark rug against a light sofa is a confident choice. Or vice versa. 

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Having said that, a monochromatic scheme can look equally assured. Rules are made to be broken! Leon Sofa on a Meadow Tamarillo rug 

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4. Stain resistance

Interestingly, while manmade fabrics such as polyester are more durable and stain resistant in upholstery, it can be the opposite for rugs. While viscose is beautifully soft and silky, it's less stain resistant. Wool's natural oils help repel spills and dirt, making it naturally stain resistant. And we have a great spot cleaner here for little mishaps.

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5. Colour

Be brave. We are seeing more and more clients going for the colour option, and no complaints yet. We’re not talking Wiggles type colour, but dusky terracottas, saffron, mustards and the evergreen olive. If you can see it in nature, you can’t go too far wrong.

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6. How big?

While traditionally a 1.7 x 2.4m rug was considered the default size, we're finding very few clients are buying anything less than a 2x3m these days, with some opting for the 2.5 x 3.5m or 3 x 4m depending on the space. Custom sizes are always an option, but with longer lead times and price point. Standard sizes will give you a lot more options.

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7. Jarrah floors

A very WA problem, the redness of jarrah floors can make rug choices difficult. Keep it light and neutral. Let your sofa or coffee table be the star. A pale light grey can work to take the temperature down, natural jute is a classic, or a soft ivory for warmth. (But not too sandy.) Also, Be careful of the purple undertone in Taupes on Jarrah. Top to Bottom Silvio Ecru Kalahari Cable Aspen

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8. Pattern

While we're all for a bold pattern, if you’re a bit unsure, considered a rug with a slub, or gentle monochromatic stripe. This can help to contrast with large unpatterned pieces, such as sofas.

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9. too many choices

If you're really getting stuck, it's possible you're trying to choose a rug in isolation. The solution is to think ahead to a final detail youd like to use, such as a vase, painting or cushion. Then work back through the layers. E.g. white vase on dark console equals light rug. Or Terracotta artwork behind olive sofa equals neutral rug. then stick to it.

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10. So, the perfect rug is...

The one you love. Corny, but true. The best rug is one that tugs just a little at your heartstrings. If it takes your breath away on first site, go with it. We can help you coordinate the room to make it work. As they say, if it brings joy…