11 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Area Rugs
Interior design has long appealed to homeowners, and many would go out of their way to ensure their home suits their preferences, aesthetics, and overall atmosphere. Besides visual appeal, interior design is all about enhancing a room’s purpose. For example, it can make a bedroom more comfortable and an office space to be efficient, improving the user’s focus.
The furniture and décor pieces you put into the space are equally essential. Area rugs are one of the few versatile décor pieces you can find in any room. Their wide range of functionality, designs, and sizes can seamlessly tie a room together. They also make your place unique and personalized to suit your taste.
What Are Area Rugs and What Are They Used For?
An area rug is a large rug intended to fill a space in a room. It’s similar to a carpet but much smaller than the room’s dimensions. Most turn to area rugs to provide some necessary colors or personality to your flooring and a much-needed softness to a room.
With so many varieties, area rugs can easily and effectively style a room. There are no limits to its design, which means there’s always an area rug for any occasion. Most of these rugs are geometric, like rectangular or circular, but irregular shaped rugs, exist in the market too.
Compared to other floor accents, an area rug is only meant to cover just that: an area in a room. It’s the most significant difference when compared to the likes of carpets. Area rugs are bigger and more functional than accent and runner rugs. Some of the most popular sizes for area rugs are 160 cm x 230 cm and 240 cm x 340 cm.
What Are the Main Benefits of Area Rugs?
Apart from giving a room more personality, area rugs fulfill the same purpose as any floor covering. While the list is far from exhaustive, below are some benefits an area rug can give homes and homeowners alike!
• Provides comfort to a space
Among the reasons why you buy rugs is because they represent your character or the personality you want evident in your space. This familiarity with where you live, sleep, or work provides comfort.
• Reduces noise
Area rugs, or any rug and carpet, have a sound-dampening effect, significantly minimizing or even eliminating noise in general. This functionality of removing noise from your home can make it easier for you to relax and recharge after a long day of work or school.
• Brightens up a room
Most people buy area rugs for aesthetic purposes because they act as anchor points and tie a room together. Area rugs are accessible decorative elements and have the potential to turn a dull room into one that’s both eye-catching and personalized.
• Lasts a long time
While it’s reasonable to change rugs now and then, depending on your changing style or the rug’s capacity to do its job, having a good rug can last a long time. Not only that, but a good rug can also save you money since, on their own, they already bring so much to a room without the space needing to undergo a renovation or makeover.
• Keeps floors safe and clean
One of the earliest benefits of area rugs is keeping your floors clean and safe from damage. Purchasing an area rug for your home can keep your floors clean from dirt, pet scratches or claw marks, and sharp objects.
• Provides insulation to a room
If you aren’t in a position to have heated flooring, having an area rug is your best alternative! Because most are made with more excellent insulating value, they can trap warmth better than most floors and surfaces. It, in the end, gives your room a cozier atmosphere.
Learn more about the benefits and advantages of area rugs by checking out Area Rugs: 11 Reasons You Should Invest in One.
What Are the Popular Area Rug Designs and Styles?
Area rugs come in all shapes and sizes, meaning there’s always a rug for every person and style preference. Because so many are readily available, it can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first-time shopping for rugs.
Along with the rug’s size and budget, you must consider the design and style you want in your home. Luckily for you, you can find a rundown of the popular area rug themes below:
• Classic
You can find classic rugs present in both modern and contemporary style homes. Classic area rugs are elegant and subtle, with creams and whites as the main color base. Regarding its design, classic rugs aren’t as eye-catching as other styles, but they still pull a room together.
• Traditional
Traditional rugs draw inspiration from Persian, European, and Victorian styles and patterns, which can have a place in casual and modern homes. Popular colors traditionally associated with this style include blues, reds, maroons, greens, and blacks. Design always follows the same formula featuring a border, medallions, and intricate patterns.
• Modern/Contemporary
Modern area rugs are considered fashionable and eye-catching, which turns a dull room into a bold fashion statement with color, texture, and vivid patterns. This style brought colorful and light décor to your home and was said to be the counterpart to dark textures and hues.
While difficult to define, notable characteristics of a modern area rug include lines, graphic patterns, and bright colors.
• Minimalist
Like the classic area rug style, minimalist variants tend to stay within a specific color palette. You’ll find this style utilizes a lot of whites, grays, creams, blacks, and even light neutrals. Patterns are reminiscent of its name since this style rarely uses intricate or floral designs.
• Geometrical
Noted for their sharp patterns, shapes, and vibrant colors, geometrical area rugs catch people’s attention and can serve as an excellent centerpiece to any contemporary or modern home. While these types of rugs are more commonly thought of as bold décor pieces, modern geometric rugs can also share characteristics with minimalist ones.
• Floral
Floral area rugs are reminiscent of classic Americana. Compared to other types, floral area rugs bring warmth and a welcoming feeling to any room with their quaint motifs. With influences from nature and flowers, this area rug style is versatile and can find a lasting place in any home.
• Transitional
These rugs have Persian, Indo-Persian, and Oriental inspirations and design patterns. Characterized by their muted, subtle, and earthy color palettes, these rugs possess intricate patterns and often take inspiration from nature. Some transitional area rugs can also have brighter colors and patterns, which are suitable for modern or contemporary rooms.
To learn more about the different types of rugs, check out 5 Modern Rug Design Ideas for Your Home.
Common Area Rug Size Guide
While area rugs come in all shapes and sizes, you should still be aware of the sizes you’ll most likely come across in stores or online. If you’re looking to purchase an area rug, it’s important to understand the size you need. The area rug size guide, which you can use as a reference, can be found below:
|
Dimensions (in feet) |
Dimensions (in cm) |
Dimensions (in inches) |
|
5’3” x 7’6” |
160 x 230 |
63 x 91 |
|
6’6” x 9’5” |
200 x 290 |
79 x 119 |
|
7’9” x 11’2” |
240 x 340 |
94 x 134 |
|
9’2” x 13’1” |
280 x 400 |
110 x 157 |
|
10’5” x 15’1” |
320 x 450 |
126 x 181 |
|
13’1” x 19’0” |
400 x 580 |
157 x 228 |
Area rugs are suited for small to medium-sized rooms. If you have larger-sized rooms, however, you can consider getting a 400 cm x 580 cm area rug to accommodate and fill these wider spaces. Depending on the measurements of the space you want to put a rug in, you can also have the size of an area rug customized to fit the room’s dimensions.
Finding the right size for your room is indeed a tough challenge. To effectively decide on an area rug and the specific measurements you’ll need, you’re advised to consider the layout of the room you’ll be putting it in. The following are some guidelines you might want to follow:
• Furniture placement
Before purchasing a rug, visualize how and where your furniture will fill the space. The size of the rug you’ll buy should complement this placement and not disrupt it. The area rug should make the room seem inviting rather than cluttered.
• Bigger is better
Having a large enough rug to be eye-catching is a good sign, but don’t let the rug overwhelm the rest of the room. It’s why knowing the size and layout of the room is essential before buying an area rug.
• Floor-to-rug ratio
Although rugs are necessary to any interior décor, they shouldn’t take away from other elements that contrast it, such as the floor. A rule of thumb is to keep 18 inches of floor exposure from the edge of the rug to the wall.
If you want to learn more about how to choose a rug based on your room, as well as the necessary considerations you need to take before purchasing one, check out How to Choose the Right Area Rug Sizes For Living Room.
Tips on How to Choose Area Rugs
When it comes to purchasing, you’ll need to consider the following to get the most out of your payment: style, preference, size, and budget. Below are just some tips on how you can select the best area rugs based on your respective lifestyle:
• Match the area rug with the purpose you’ll give it
To ensure a rug has long-lasting usage, select the materials and texture based on how you plan to use it. For rooms like bedrooms or offices, you can choose rugs that are soft to the touch, like shag rugs primarily made of synthetic materials such as polyester and polypropylene. For areas with heavy traffic, like hallways, you can also choose a rug made of polyester.
• Consider how you’ll care for the rug
Before purchasing, consider the amount of work you’ll need to keep the rug in tip-top shape. Because it looks so busy, rugs with intricate designs or bold colors can usually get away with hiding spills now and then. It becomes especially beneficial in a home with pets or children.
• Look into both online and physical stores
Both online and brick-and-mortar stores have pros and cons, but you’d want to keep every avenue open and looked into.
For online retail stores, the most significant benefit is the convenience of just picking a rug and having it delivered to you. For physical stores, you can personally inspect the rugs currently being offered or visit a rug and carpet showroom.
• Remember the rug pads!
Once you found the perfect rug for your home, the next issue you have to tackle is keeping it in place whenever you walk over it. A rug pad is essential since it prevents unwanted shifts or accidents and provides cushioning to your rug.
• Consider everything about the rug
Whether judging it based on its age or by materials, always weigh the pros and cons of buying a specific area rug based on your principles and philosophy. For instance, if you’re keen on helping save the environment, you can purchase a vintage rug rather than a new one.
To learn more about maximizing your rug pieces, check out 5 Best Types of Area Rugs to Elevate Your Space.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Area Rugs
• Why are area rugs so popular?
Area rugs offer warmth and personality to a living space. Additionally, they provide many benefits, including insulation, sound absorption, and keeping your floors safe from damage.
• Should an area rug cover the whole floor?
No. You should always leave an equal amount of floor space around your rug.
• Do you need anything under an area rug?
Yes, it would be best to consider putting a rug pad under your area rug. Among other things, they enhance the look of your rug while keeping it in place, preventing accidental slips.
• Is it better to have a bigger or smaller rug?
Deciding whether you want a big or small rug should partly depend on the size of your room. Choosing the wrong size can make your space cramped, uninviting, or too large.
• What is the rule for rug size?
The accepted rule is to leave at least 18 inches of visible floor space between the wall and the rug.
• Should you put padding under the area rug?
Yes. Having a rug pad significantly increases a rug’s lifespan and prevents it from sliding whenever you walk over it. The grip of rug pads also reduces the likelihood of falls and slips.
Put a Rug on It!
Along with being a design statement, rugs also have vital benefits that can serve you well at home. They have the potential to enhance a room’s vibe dramatically and showcase your personality through the space.
Area rugs have proven to be a welcome addition to any home. With so many designs and styles, find the rug perfect for you with Eurobel Rugs + Carpets! You can browse through our extensive list of area rugs on sale online.
Additionally, Eurobel also offers professional rug restoration and cleaning services, ensuring the longevity and beauty of your chosen rugs.
For more information about Eurobel Rugs + Carpets and the services offered, you can reach out via our contact page or book a demo today!
Gavin Ong
Gavin Ong is the current Marketing Manager for Eurobel Rugs + Carpets, the largest premium area rug brand in the Philippines. Eurobel’s sister company, Carpetworld, specializes in area rug distribution, which has over 50 consignment branches nationwide. He and the company also have great relations with multiple high-profile European manufacturers. Both brands', Carpetworld and Eurobel Rugs + Carpets, area rugs have also been used in multiple designer homes and commercial areas.
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