Rugs can have a transformative effect on any room in your home and not just your living space. Placing that perfect rug of just the right style can bring warmth, add texture, or introduce colour. It can either be used to tie your space together and cultivate a sense of consistency throughout, or to steal the show and make a striking statement. So rugs are undeniably versatile features, but this means that it can be quite difficult to decide how to choose the right rug for each room in your home.

Which rugs work best in messier rooms like the kitchen? What about rooms with higher footfall? Are there different practical and aesthetic considerations that you should be aware of when choosing a rug for each of your rooms? In what follows, we hope to answer these questions (and more) by outlining the considerations of each individual room when it comes to choosing the perfect rug for your specific requirements.

 

Living room

As a space built for comfort that boasts plenty of floorspace, the living room is perfect for rugs. In the living room, you can experiment with exciting colours and luxury materials, as well as larger proportions and different shapes with your rug. You will have all the space to explore your taste in home design with dazzling area rugs, unique accent rugs, or a combination of the two. Since the living room is a space for lounging, you need to make sure that your rug promotes comfort and warmth through its colours and materials. Your rugs should be physically comforting as well as visually comforting so for the best results you might want to consider using colours that are easy on the eyes and softer materials that feel good underfoot.

You may use area rugs to define your living space by connecting your furniture under one common design. Make sure that the floor underneath forms a nice border around the rug, leaving a good amount of space between the edge of the rug and the walls around your room. It’s also important to have at least two of the legs of every piece of furniture on top of the rug. For more information about the placement of area rugs, read our previous blog on the topic. Accent rugs bring little touches of comfort to the living room as well as help to define your palette of colours and textures. The style is ultimately down to your personal preferences, although deep pile, loop pile, and shag carpets are known to be the cosiest underfoot.

 

Dining room

Placing rugs in your dining room can determine whether or not the space is casual or formal, and there are plenty of variations to play around with. Intricate patterns and regal colours will bring an element of traditional charm to your space whereas more geometric or asymmetrical designs are great for livening up dinner parties. When considering how to choose the right rug, think about the purpose of your space as well as your prefered aesthetic.

The most obvious placement for a rug in your dining room is underneath the dining table. Proportions and dimensions are crucial when choosing the perfect rug. Take measurements of your tables and chairs before shopping around to ensure that your rug will sit nicely underneath. Ideally the rug will protect your floor from chair legs when they are both tucked in and pulled out. Likewise, if your dining table is round then its corresponding rug will look better if it’s also round. Rugs of the wrong shape or size will look disproportionate and confused. Practically speaking, rugs that can withstand spills and crumbs are best suited to the everyday mess of dinner time, so consider looking into low pile area rugs made from low maintenance materials such as wool.

 

Kitchen

Rugs aren’t usually found in the kitchen due to the moisture and odour that comes with cooking, but we think that the right choice of rug can make a big difference to a space usually reserved for solid and undressed flooring. They can introduce a fresh pop of colour to your kitchen and contrast the usual array of hardwearing materials with softer textures. Rugs can be durable too, and there’s no reason why you should shy away from introducing them into the kitchen simply because it gets busy and messy from time to time. If you feel like upgrading your kitchen floor, the aesthetic benefits of adding a rug will far outweigh the practical downsides!

Ideally your kitchen rug will be resistant to stains and spills, easy to clean, and highly durable. Materials such as bamboo and seagrass are known to be both durable and low maintenance, and despite their hardwearing texture they make for an exciting addition to kitchen flooring. Nylon and polyester rugs are on the softer side and both will prove tough and moisture resistant, but they are a little harder to clean should spills and stains occur. Whatever materials you go for, your rug should be non slip and appropriately placed to avoid being hazardous or awkward – being able to safely walk across your rug (as opposed to around it) without slipping or tripping is very important when deciding on placement. If you’re concerned about damaging your rug, perhaps it’s best to place it away from high traffic or messier areas.

 

Bedroom

The bedroom is your space and yours alone, so feel free to experiment with an exciting range of materials, colours, patterns, designs, shapes, and arrangements that interest you most. Whatever makes you feel most at home and helps you to feel calm and relaxed before bedtime is the right choice for your personal retreat. Rugs that are light in colour and simple in design are far more conducive to a relaxing atmosphere than rugs defined by complexity and boldness.

Large area rugs that extend far beyond the outline of your bed will help make your space feel more defined and insulated. Smaller accent rugs provide the perfect opportunity to express yourself through quirky designs and fun textures, as well as feeling great underfoot when you step out of bed in the morning. Ultimately, whichever style of rug you bring into the bedroom, you should never compromise on your own taste in design.

 

Entryway

Although perhaps a more unusual choice for many, placing a rug in your entryway can make for a welcoming and homely first impression – as soon as they step foot in your home guests will know to expect comfort and warmth throughout (that is if you know how to choose the right rug!). Entrance rugs have the capacity to set the tone and establish an overarching aesthetic for the rest of your home. They should be continuous with other rooms and not separate and distinct, so you’re better off leaving it to the other rooms in your home to make a bold statement.

Since this space is likely to experience high levels of footfall and potentially lots of dirty shoes, you may prefer to choose a low to medium pile rug in a darker colour for the least hassle. Entryways can become busy and cramped, so your rug should be understated and well sized. Larger rugs are best saved for larger spaces and the contours of your entrance should be reflected in your rug. For example, long and narrow hallways are great spaces for stair runners: as well as looking impressive, high quality stair runners can tie your space together and set a continuous theme throughout your interior. Just don’t forget the high levels of traffic that come with such spaces when choosing your materials and colours – perhaps a vintage rug with years of previous wear would be perfect for those who don’t have time for regular rug maintenance.

 

Here at Hudson Flooring, we offer beautiful bespoke rugs in a wide range of shapes, sizes, patterns, and materials, ensuring a truly personalised addition to any room within your home. For more expert advice, feel free to get in touch with a member of our team.

Posted in Rugs