When shopping for a rug there are key things to keep in mind. How big is the space? Where is the space? By answering these questions you can avoid buying the wrong size or the wrong type of rug for your space.
How big is the space?
Measure your space and be sure to pay attention to key details like walkways and furniture placement. The walkways and flow of the room help you figure out where a rug should or shouldn’t be placed in the space to avoid any trip hazards and awkward transitions. When taking furniture placement into account, you want to think about what pieces will be on or touching the rug. Be sure key pieces like a sofa or dining table are on the rug properly. While measuring out your space you want to allow no less than 6” between the edge of the rug and the wall. If you are looking for your rug to touch the wall, that is when carpeting is used.
Where is the space?
Where you are placing your new rug is very important to know when selecting a rug. Different areas of the home have different functions and get different traffic through them. By knowing this, you can save yourself from having to replace the rug as frequently.
High Traffic Areas
A high traffic area in the home is anywhere that you frequently walk or that gets a lot of use. Examples of high traffic areas include: Entry, Mud Room, Hall, Family Room, Kitchen, Playroom, Kids Rooms, and Eating Spaces.
The best rugs for these spaces are anything containing large amounts of wool or synthetic fibers. These rugs can withstand more use and are usually easier to clean and maintain.
Low Traffic Areas
A low traffic area in a home is anywhere that you use occasionally or that is not around any food or liquids. Examples of low traffic areas include: Living Room, Primary Bedroom, Formal Dining Room, and Guest Bedroom.
The best rugs for these spaces can be anything containing silk or viscose (along with any of the high traffic materials like wool and synthetic fibers). Silk and viscose make for soft and lush-to-the-touch rugs but are much more delicate and hard to clean.
Reminder!
Always check the content percentages of what the rug is made of to make sure it contains the proper amount of fibers that you are looking for. A very small amount of the delicate fibers like viscose and silk are safe to do in rugs, especially if they have a design on them that can hide any spills or stains.