An important aspect of any interior decoration scheme is a strategically chosen area rug. Furniture, flooring and wall coverings are to be taken in consideration in order to complement and enhance the decor. While there are no hard and fast design rules governing the type of rug you should use in a given situation the interior decorator will nonetheless need to take adjoining colours, textures and volumes into consideration before recommending a particular rug for your space.
Area Rugs: The Magic Carpets of the Interior Decorator
To determine the proper size and pattern for your rug your interior decorator will weigh the following considerations for different rooms.
General Pattern Considerations
- If your sofa is a solid colour, your walls are painted a solid colour and there are few if any noticeable patterns in the room you’ll likely want to introduce some sort of pattern via the area rug. A well-chosen pattern can work as a unifying element. Conversely if you have patterned wallpaper and upholstery you may want the rug to act as a counterpoint and be either a solid colour or have minimal pattern.
Size Considerations by Room
- The living room: The rug should accommodate the entire area enclosed by the main seating cluster (sofa and accompanying chairs). No part of the coffee table should extend beyond the edge of the rug. If the rug is to extend under the sofa and adjoining chairs it should ideally be large enough so that all four legs of each chair rest on the rug. If not possible, at least the front legs should sit on the area rug.
- The dining room: An area rug in the dining room should be large enough to accommodate the entire table with the leaves inserted. It should also extend far enough out from the table so that chairs do not spill out onto the bare floor when pulled away for sitting or standing. The overall size of the room is also important. If the table is small compared to the room you can balance the large room with the small table by having a rug that acts as a visual go-between.
- The bedroom: A large area rug in a bedroom with hardwood floors will provide a nice soft, warm landing place for your feet when you get out of bed in the morning. The rug should encompass the entire bed out to the end of the nightstands. A small rug in front of a vanity is also a nice touch as is a seating area with its own throw rug.
The Foyer: The foyer rug may be set down immediately inside the doorway but should leave 18” between the rug and the walls (smaller tolerances are acceptable for tighter spaces. The area rug should not be for catching dirt, there should be an effective exterior rug for that purpose. Round rugs are often used in wide entryways for their pleasing shape.
Area rugs serve many functions. They can act as a unifying element between room and furniture, visually define specific areas on open concept rooms, create a warm impression in a room with hardwood flooring, help absorb noise, present an inviting image to those entering the home and keep your feet toasty warm when you get out of bed in the morning. Keep in mind the above guidelines may or may not apply to your home. That is for you to decide in consultation with your interior decorator.
Call Decor Isabelle today to make an appointment to discuss all of your interior decoration needs. We serve Burlington, Hamilton and the entire GTA. Owner/operator Isabelle Tremblay will help you select the perfect area rug for every part of your home.
