Have you ever thought about why people put so much effort, thought, and energy into decorating their homes? It isn’t just for the pretty aesthetics but also to create a space that you enjoy and that which reflects your personality. Be it calm and cool tones for a serene space or a cozy, inviting home with warm tones, or perhaps a home with a live entertaining area with lots of bold prints here and there- the opportunities are endless simply because no two people are the same, and hence, no two home decor settings can be the same.
Deborah Needleman in her book The Perfectly Imperfect Home says about the importance of decor: “The point of decorating, as far as I can tell, is to create the background for the best life you can have. Decoration with handmade rugs can be life-enhancing. It can make dinner parties more fun, kids happier, relaxing easier, talks more intimate, guests at ease. And to think, decorating is often considered frivolous. Making a charmed and happy home is a noble endeavor with rugs. The simple secret is making sure that every decorating decision contributes to the creation of beauty and comfort. Beauty to uplift our senses (to transcend the mundane) and comfort to make us feel taken care of (to embrace us in the mundane.)”. At its very core, that is truly what decor means. And we are always finding ways to update it as per changes in our personality, mood, behavior, preferences, etc. A little change in color or a quick update of the linen or perhaps changing the rugs in your home, you can always elevate your decor as per changes in your demands of what your surroundings should be like. And one of the easiest ways to do that is through rugs.
A rug can be something to complement the theme of your decor, or it can be something that decides the theme itself. Their versatility is indicated by the wide number of ways they can be used, and the way you use them can either make or break the style and look of a space. A rug must compliment the other decor items through its color palette, textures, and overall aesthetic. They infuse spaces with warmth, comfort, and personality, and are often used to add a point of visual focus to the space. If you are looking for a rug or carpet for your space and are feeling overwhelmed or confused because of the sheer number of available choices, then we have compiled some tips and ideas that you can keep in mind to help you make the right decision. Here are some general rules of thumb and pointers to help you find the right one and style it the right way:
Finding the right sized rug:
Make sure that the rug you purchase is the right size for your room. This does not mean that the rug should exactly cover your space from wall to wall, rather it should be the correct size to fulfil the purpose that you intend it for. The ideal rug should not be too large or too small. One too small, and it will not command enough attention in the space, while one size too big will make the rug itself disappear in the room and not garner enough attention. As a rule, a small rug will make your space appear large, while a large rug will make the space appear small.
to frame your sofa sets, chairs, or dining table and chairs, then it should cover the furniture just enough. It should not be so small that the furniture appears cramped, nor so large that the chairs or tables appear to be lost and floating on the rug. If you’re not covering the room from wall to wall, then there should be a space of at least 8 inches from the nearest wall.
Picking a color that complements the personality of your home:
If you want your rug to complement the colors of your existing decor, then it should feature at least two of the shades that are already in your space. Fortunately, there is no dearth of rugs that have complimenting shades in them. Combinations like red and gold, blue and gold, or green and silver have remained classic for a long time, and you are sure to find both traditional and modern rugs that feature these. Choose rich tones if you are aiming for a traditional and classic look, and neutral palettes in primary colors if you are going for a more minimalist look.
Making comfort the first priority:
The make and material of a rug are absolutely important. The quintessential quality of a rug or carpet is that it is a symbol of comfort, and that purpose would be entirely defeated if the rug you end up buying is difficult to walk on. If comfort is a consideration for you, be sure to choose a rug that is made of high-quality natural fibers like wool, cotton, or silk. We highly recommend using silk rugs because their fibers are the softest to touch. The weaving technique used to make the rug is, however, more important than the type of fiber. While shaggy hand-tufted rugs may feel soft to touch, they are not as durable and usually become less comfortable with time. In this case, thick hand-knotted rugs are your best bet as they retain their structure and shape for decades. Earlier, hand-knotted rugs would feature just traditional designs and patterns, but these days you can find modern carpets with sophisticated designs for contemporary styles as well.
Once you have the basics covered, you can go on to style your rug according to your space. This involves choosing items that complement the theme that your rug has set and positioning them to accentuate the visual aesthetics of the space. If you are starting from scratch and the rug is the first item you have selected for your space, then you do have a lot of freedom for choosing the rest of the decor. But if you are redecorating with just the rug, then your rug choice is dependent on the rest of the decor. Even so, here are some do’s and don’ts that you can keep in mind while styling your rugs:
How to place/style rugs:
Symmetrically placed rugs are a delight to the eyes and bring harmony to a room, whereas unsymmetrically placed ones can make the whole vibe of the space look a little off. When positioning a rug in your space, make sure you leave equal spaces on as many sides as possible. Rugs should be equidistant from as many walls as possible. When placed under furniture, make sure that the furniture doesn’t lie at the very edge.
Cover high-traffic areas fully:
In places where people stand or walk frequently, make sure that the rug has covered them fully. It is quite awkward to have one foot on a hard floor and another on a soft rug. Such placement can also lead to uneven wearing out of the rug in the long run.
Put what you want to show under the spotlight:
A rug is a great way to bring focus to something. If you have a circular room, why not use a round rug to emphasize that. Have a cute coffee table? Put a rug under it.
All in all, we can say that there are innumerable ways to style a rug, and we highly advocate the fact that what looks good to you, works for you. Feel free to experiment with traditional and modern styles as long as you feel comfortable doing it.