The humble area rug is often underestimated. Yet, if you flick through the pages of any glossy design magazine, you’ll spot plenty of rooms decked out with these versatile accessories. This is because interior designers know how to use rugs to great effect, while many homeowners still see them as an alternative to carpet.
This doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, once you realise how beautiful area rugs can look when paired with carpeted floors, you’ll start to understand their potential. They add personality to rooms by introducing new colours, patterns, and textures. Plus, Ipswich is home to some fantastic retailers, so there’s no better time to go shopping for gorgeous rugs.
Keep reading for some tips on the best ways to introduce an area rug into your living space.
Add a Little Definition
One thing which area rugs are really great at is demarcating and defining spaces within spaces. For instance, if you have a studio apartment or an open plan layout, you can create the illusion of separate areas by placing rugs in the right way.
This is really easy to do. In an open plan dining space, make the table area feel more distinct and purposeful by setting your furniture on top of a large rug. Similarly, if you want to distance an entertaining space from the kitchen, arrange the sofas and coffee table around a cool rug.
Tie the Room Together
If the opposite is true, and you want to make a sprawling area feel cosy, use area rugs in a completely different way. Instead of using a rug to separate, add two (maybe even three) within the same room.
If they overlap slightly (at the corners, perhaps), you can create a visual flow throughout the space. This ties big, draughty rooms together and adds a sense of softness. Imagine, for example, a spacious loft apartment, with area rugs overlapping on top of bare wood.
Regulate the Décor
When checking out the rugs on sale in Ipswich, think about what will complement the existing décor. Usually, in homes with fairly loud, bright walls, a more muted design is better. On the other hand, if your walls are very simple, you can get away with a louder rug.
In this way, you can temper or turn up the volume on the décor that you already have. It is a really helpful trick for anybody who rents their home and doesn’t have the freedom to paint walls or change the paper. Just add a rug for instant style and sophistication.
Pick the Right Size
There are all kinds of supposed rules when it comes to rug size. The truth is that most can be broken, but you’re probably best sticking to the guidelines if you’re not sure how and where to place a new area rug.
For example, even if you’re trying to cover as much of the floor as possible, it’s a good idea to leave a bare perimeter. This stops the space from looking boxed in and cramped. When choosing a rug for a dining table, make sure that all furniture legs it nicely within its dimensions.
Don’t Forget the Liner
If you’re laying an area rug straight over the top of wood flooring, it needs anti slip liners or runners. These are very cheap to buy and they prevent the material from slip sliding around when you walk across it.
Depending on how concerned you are about damage to the rug, it could be useful to add some rubber feet to your furniture (dining table, chairs, sofas, etc.). Again, they’re very cheap to buy and they support heavy items, so that they don’t leave permanent imprints in the fabric.
For more advice on shopping for high quality area rugs, visit Harts Flooring’s Ipswich showroom. Or, call 01473 241300 to speak to a member of our team today.