Crafty Interior Design Tips For Using Rugs To Carpet Your Rooms
When it comes to choosing a floor covering for your rooms, you could opt for carpets or rugs or a combination of the two. Rugs can look great if well-chosen and properly sited. Here's some interior design advice on how to use rugs to good effect.
Size matters
If you're using rugs as a means of saving your carpets from wear and tear, it's important that you pick the right size. Make sure that the rug is large enough to cover the majority of the carpet, especially where furniture sits and in areas of high foot traffic.
If the rug is too small, it can also make your room look smaller. However, if you find a small rug that you particularly like, you can still use it; just choose a larger one in a neutral shade and layer the small rug on top. In a very long room, you could consider buying two small rugs that you like and fixing them together into one by using carpet tape.
Choosing your rugs
When it comes to interior designing know-how, a good tip is to choose your rug before you begin decorating your room. It's also generally much easier to find additional pieces of décor to tie in with the rug than the other way around.
Put your chosen rug on the floor and then place curtain fabric, cushions and throws on top of it to see what works best. If you particularly like patterned wall coverings or curtains, a plain rug will probably work best. A room with neutral wall coverings, furniture and window dressings can be tastefully enlivened by choosing a rug with contrasting patterns and then using items such as vases, candles or wall hangings to complement the colours in it.
When you choose a rug, don't forget to buy a rug pad to go with it. Rug pads not only help to keep the rug from moving across the carpet, they also add an additional layer of comfort for your feet. It's best to avoid using rug tape, as this tends to come adrift very easily, leaving a sticky residue behind on your carpets.
Where to buy your rugs
In addition to DIY and interior homewares stores, good sources of rugs include:
- eBay
- charity shops
- house clearance sales
- garage and car boot sales
There are some great deals to be had if you do buy your rugs second-hand, but always check for signs of moth damage before you part with your cash, especially if the rug is made of wool or silk.
In conclusion
You can prolong the life of your carpets as well as give your rooms a characterful twist by incorporating rugs into your interior design. Follow the above tips for a unique and practical décor scheme.