MY MEDALLION
Area rugs are a relatively affordable decor item that can address a variety of design concerns. Depending on the colour, size, and how you use your rug, it can make a small room appear larger or break up a large space into smaller areas with specific uses. In general, area rugs are a great way to tie a room together by pulling in colours from your furniture or drapes. Learn how to add flair to your home by following our tips on how to use area rugs!
Make Small Spaces Appear Larger
Large area rugs in lighter colours trick the eye into believing a room is bigger than it is. Covering nearly all of your floor space emphasizes the room you do have, instead of breaking it up with a smaller rug. Pale colours reflect more light and seem more expansive, making a room seem light and airy. Try this trick and use area rugs to make your small space appear larger and more luxurious!
Pay Attention to Placement
While a well-placed rug can make a room appear harmonized, one that has been carelessly set down can ruin the flow of your decor. Avoid this by following a few simple rules. Your rug should extend to lay under all key furniture (think coffee tables and sofas), yet stop about eight to twenty four inches from your walls. Any closer and the rug will look cramped. Make sure to heed these rules when you use area rugs in your home!
Keep It Clean
Taking proper care of your rug is essential to keeping it looking its best. Make sure you read the care instructions before buying and file away the tag for later reference once you’ve brought your rug home. Certain rugs, like Persian rugs, aren’t machine washable, so you may want to avoid these if you have small children or pets in your home. Other rugs, especially larger ones that are cumbersome to handle, may be dry cleaned but, in between washings, blot small spills immediately and never rub! Wick away moisture with clean, dry towels. This method will avoid making the dyes bleed. Follow these simple rules and you’ll be able to use area rugs in your home decor in no time!
Layer Rugs
For the more adventurous, layering rugs can give your space a bohemian, eclectic feel. The key is to play with sizes, shapes, and colours, but not all at once. Try one smaller rectangular shaped rug over a larger one in a different colour. This style can draw attention to key pieces of furniture. Or place irregular cowhide rugs over a larger, square one in a similar shade. As long as there is some harmony in either shape or colour you’re good to go when you use area rugs to layer!
Group Furniture Around Rugs According to Usage
It’s not unusual to have a common space divided into multiple uses, like a dining room and living room, or even a bedroom and living room in a studio apartment. You may find your furniture looks lost in a bigger space and it’s not immediately clear where one “room” ends and another begins. Area rugs are a great way to divide up a space according to usage, and create moods or themes for different parts of the room. When you use area rugs in this way, you’ll find your room is cozier and flows better!
We hope you learned something about decorating with area rugs, and that the process of selecting and caring for them is de-mystified! By following our simple rules you’ll soon find it’s a snap to add some new life to your space with a rug. Be sure to follow along on the Medallion Blog for more great decor tips!
