Pick rugs that floor you
The day we moved into our 130-year-old money pit, my husband Dan and I went crazy stripping away the old, worn trappings that covered the marvelous bones of our house. We struck gold by unearthing wonderful hardwood flooring. But now we had a new challenge: finding a fleet of area rugs to warm up and pull together each room.
Unless you run into one heck of a sale, area rugs can be a hefty investment. For that reason, once you select a rug, you’re likely to keep it forever. Here are a few tips you can use to find rugs that will absolutely floor you.
“First, don’t settle for a rug you aren’t head over heels in love with. Rugs are like artwork – they have to speak to you. Take your time to find the rug that’s just right.
“Second, select a rug that works perfectly in your space. Pick area rugs that stay true to the architecture of your home, reflect your personal design style and harmonize with the rest of your home decor. And don’t be afraid to mix up your rug styles, material and colors.
One of the reasons I upholstered my living-room furniture in white fabric was so I could bring in lots of color through accents like flooring. I had a blast scouting for rugs in lots of different hues. Every color in the carpets is repeated in the room’s other accessories to create a harmonious, lively space.
“Third, pick area rugs that match your lifestyle. If you have kids or pets who put lots of wear and tear on your home, make your life easier by selecting rugs that are durable and cleaned easily. I’ve fallen in love with natural fiber rugs because they are attractive, durable and affordable.
“Finally, make sure you size your area rug correctly. I like a border of wood showing in my rooms, so I pick rugs at least 1 to 2 feet smaller than the dimensions of the room. Old design rules dictate that all the furnishings in a seating arrangement have to be on or off the carpet, but I prefer the front legs on the carpet and the back legs off.
To get the rug size right, arrange your furnishings just as they’ll be when you have your rug, then mark off the rug dimensions with masking tape. Be sure to get two measurements before you go rug shopping: the largest and smallest size that would be acceptable to you.
When you’ve found the perfect rug, you’ll be amazed by how it adds character and charm to your room.
Mary Carol Garrity is the proprietor of three successful home furnishings stores in Atchison, Kan., and the author of several best-selling books on home decorating.