Anchoring a room with an area rug

Wood flooring is pretty well the standard in most homes these days.  In order to make the space feel more "lived in" and reduce noise, many of us opt to add an area rug.  Area rugs are a great way to inject some style into a room, as well as visually seperating different areas in an open concept floor plan.

captivatist

When I last visited the Interior Design Show in Toronto, I was so taken in by the gorgeous rugs available.  Traditional rugs were represented there, but the new modern and transitional patterns were what really caught my eye. 
Modern Weave had a fantastic display of unique area rugs.  There were enough choices to suit every taste.  Talking to one of the reps I found out that creating custom rugs is something they will gladly do.  He told me one family had their daughter's finger painting transformed into a stunning piece of art.  That would certainly make a great conversation piece!  Here is an example of another rug that would be talked about for a long time after visitng. 

thisnext.com

Recently I have been asked about guidelines regarding the size and placement when choosing an area rug.  Lets start with the sizing.  No one wants to completely cover up the look of beautiful hardwood floors, but you dont want the rug to look like its far too small for the sitting area.

A popular guideline is that the front legs of a sofa or chair should sit on the area rug, and the back legs off.  

younghouselove

The sitting area is completely unified by the area rug, and creates an inviting oasis to gather with friends and family.  The 18" dark wood perimeter highlights this space even more due to the high contrast between the rug and floor colour.  The general rule regarding area rugs is to have 12-18" of wood surrounding the rug. 

Of course that is not a hard and fast rule.  Some like to place all legs of the furniture on the rug, instead of only the front.  The end result here is also a cohesive space and works very well.

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This principle also works best in dining rooms as illustrated here:

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I have also seen rugs that sit in the center of a grouping of furniture.  Personally I feel that makes it look like it is too small for the space.  Have a look at this example: 

homeworkshop

Area rugs in bedrooms with hardwood flooring are placed a little differently.  To make the area look pulled together, it is best to place the rug in this manner. 

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There are so many unique area rugs on the market now.  I just had to share one of my favourites.  Image this placed in a games room or den - it would instantly give an ambiance of playfulness. 

 An area rug can be the inspiration for the look of an entire room -  for example the one I purchased for Ashten's room.  It became the starting point for the style and colours of her room makeover.  If you require some assistance with renewing a room in your home visit my website at changesinteriordesign.ca


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