The humble rug has the ability to completely transform a space in so many ways. No only is the rug a highly decorative interior staple, but they are also functional pieces that can truly turn a house into a home.
Harnessing the power of the rug
There are many ways in which a rug can transform a room. Whether you are styling a larger area or one that lacks that extra square footage, we’ve put together a list of 5 ways in which rugs can be used to achieve your interior decoration goals.
1.Define Space
One clever way in which a rug can benefit a space is by creating clearly defined spaces in a room. This works especially well in a large room which may lack definition. By using a rug to define different areas such as the dining or seating areas, you can easily make any space feel more organised and well planned out. Using rugs to define spaces can also be highly beneficial in smaller areas and make them seem larger.
- Update a room
Rugs are often used by property styling experts to quickly update a room without having to change major items such as furniture or paintwork. This is especially useful when you want to update your interior decor to keep up with the changing seasons. As rugs are easy to incorporate into a room and are often more affordable than large pieces of furniture or artwork, you can afford to take a gamble with your choice and pick a design that is more trend driven or that introduces new colours into your current scheme.
- Decorate a wall
If you fall in love with a rug, do not feel it’s essential to hide it underneath your furniture. Instead, use it as a wall hanging to create an interesting focal point.
- Control the Volume
Rugs and other textiles are an excellent way of absorbing noise in high traffic areas. When adding a rug to a space for this purpose, opt for a heavy, tactile material.
- Create Harmony
If your room has an eclectic feel and requires a key piece that ties the interior scheme together, then maybe it’s time to add a well chosen rug to the space. By adding a rug that contains complementary colours or hues, it can make the space feel more stylish and well thought out.
How to choose a rug
Once you have decided how you will transform your space using a rug, it’s important to choose the perfect rug for your space. When choosing a rug for any space, there are three major factors to consider.
Colour
Colour is one of the key factors to consider. If your interior scheme is quite colourful or highly patterned, then you may want to consider something in a subtle, neutral tone that compliments your existing interior palette. If you would prefer a highly decorative rug that will dictate the colour scheme of the room, then it may be best to purchase this first and then buy complementary furniture and other accessories later.
Texture
The texture of a rug is a factor that can often be overlooked. Texture adds depth to a space and a mix of different textures can make a room feel rich and luxurious. When considering texture, let the existing textiles in the room guide you. If your upholstery is made up of soft plush materials, then a contrasting short pile may be the perfect addition. If your room is made up of sleek leather pieces and hard wood, then you can consider something altogether more textured.
Size
Ideally, a rug should fit its intended area well and should usually be large enough to place the furniture within the space on the edges of it. For example, if you are looking for a rug to define your seating area, the idea would be that when seated on the furniture, your feet have contact with the rug and not the flooring. When choosing a rug that will cover the majority of the floor space, it’s also important to consider the shape and orientation of the rug. If the area is square, then a square or round rug placed in the centre of the area tends to work best whereas rectangular rugs are often well suited to rectangular rooms or hallways.
Hopefully, the guide above will help you harness the transformative power of the rug. Being informed of the various ways a rug can benefit a space as well as the factors to consider when choosing the perfect rug will help you to achieve your interior styling goals. Happy styling!
