How To Determine Which Style of Rug Is Best for Your Home

Published by AshleyK on January 13, 2022

Traditional

Often, when people visualize an area rug in their head, they think of the ornate designs of traditional pieces. Traditional Persian, Oriental, or Moroccan rugs are thought of as more than just accent pieces for a space in your home; they are considered works of art and hung in museums worldwide. Known for their intricate patterns and vibrant colors, the original traditional rugs were all made of natural fibers and handwoven by artisans over the span of hours or days. However, most currently-produced traditional rugs rely on modern means of production while still retaining their luxurious look.

Contemporary

Contemporary rugs are the anesthetics to the intricate patterns of traditional rugs. Contemporary rugs typically rely on one or two base colors that have either no design or a simple modern one. With a less busy image, you can let the rug fade into the ground of a minimalist interior space. Contemporary rugs are the ones that take chances with design, fusing multiple styles while also creating new ones. Also, unlike the typically short pile of a traditional rug, contemporary rugs are more willing to play with longer fibers, closer to a shaggy bohemian style.

Bohemian

Bohemian rugs cover a variety of styles, from the more traditional designs like kilim, dhurrie, and southwest to the fun and adventurous look of shaggy rugs that use extra-long fibers to create a cozy, soft atmosphere in the room. The terms bohemian and traditional can often be used to describe the same carpet, but this style differs because of its modern influences.

Natural

Natural rugs use the organic beauty of material as the design rather than relying on dyes and patterns to create a rug’s style. They are rugs made of jute, sisal, sheepskin, leather, or other animal hides. It’s important to note that you should avoid using natural fibers in an outdoor setting because they will wear and decay due to the conditions of the outdoors.

Where Is It Going?

Once you have an idea of which style of rug you want, you’ll need to consider where in the home your carpet is going to ensure its size, material, and pile are well-suited for the space and its daily uses.

Living Room

When picking out the size of your rug, you should already have an idea of the furniture placement in the room because, ideally, the front legs of your pieces should rest on the pile. However, it’s also essential you don’t crowd the space with the rug; it’s not a carpet, after all. So you’ll want to leave at least a foot on the room’s perimeter exposed to let the hardwoods underneath show through. In larger, open-concept living rooms, you can even go for a layered, two rug, checkered look that will add some dimension with a modern flair to the space.

Dining Room

In a dining room, the rug’s shape should mirror that of the table and chairs. The table should sit on the rug, and all legs of the chairs should also fit within the borders. Ideally, the rug will create a balanced feel to the room, grounding the table within the canvas of the carpet. Also, for dining rooms, it helps to opt for darker-colored rugs with ornate designs that can mask any spills or crumbs that have fallen on the floor.

Bedroom

Area rugs are most often used around the bed to give you a soft cushion to greet you when you get out of the bed in the morning. It would be best to use the bed as the starting point, centering the rug proportionally around it. This will help create a sense of balance in the room. You can also use two smaller runners on each side of the bed if you don’t want to waste all of the material that would be under the bed when using an area rug.

Hallway

With hallways, entryways, and other odd spaces in your home, choose a size that is centered within the space to create a balanced look. A runner can help guide visitors through your home for longer hallways while protecting the floor beneath from the wear caused by high traffic. Otherwise, the rug will be like a perpetually crooked painting on the wall, never quite looking in place. Also, in high-traffic areas like hallways, you want to use a low pile for easy walkability and cleanup.

Outside

With rugs in outdoor areas around your home, along with the sizing principles of indoor ones, the material of the fibers needs to be of the utmost importance. Only synthetic rugs like nylon and polypropylene have the natural characteristics to withstand the harsh year-round conditions caused by the sun, rain, or snow.

Color

The last primary consideration when choosing a rug’s style is the colors used. When designing a room, you want to work within a color store to ensure that the different shades of the furniture, accent pieces, and walls complement each other. A color story is three to five colors that interior designs use as the basis for the room’s overall look. You can have colors outside of these main ones, but by looking for furniture made using complementary hues, you don’t have to worry about your new pieces visually clashing with one another.

Now that you’ve learned how to determine which style of rug is best for your home, you can find the perfect one for your space with the confidence that its size and design will look amazing in your house. When you’re looking for a cut to size outdoor rug for your home, check out the selection of expertly crafted Koeckritz Rugs!