Tips & Tricks: Rugs
Rugs - they’re a big deal
The centerpiece in a space. Often, the star of the show. The look, the feel, the function. When coupled with complementary pillows and art, they bring a room together. Yet, they can be tricky to buy - and even trickier to get right. Here are some of my favorite tips for finding the perfect rug your space…
Location, location, location!
I’m a big fan of rugs in family rooms, bedrooms, entryways, and covered porches or patios. Not so much in bathrooms or dining rooms, where they tend to be a catch-all for splashes and spills. Consider the space when deciding on a rug. Not all bare floors need rugs, but this is definitely personal preference.
Material Matters
Wool – the OG in the rug game. A thick, durable, natural fiber rug that is likely to last a looooong time. Wool rugs last “forever”. But wool is not always my favorite choice for feel and function – it tends to be “scratchy”, as my kids say, and sheds like crazy. If you’re patient enough to wait-out the shedding cycle, this is a great choice for high-traffic rooms.
Viscose - a super silky, semi-synthetic fiber that’s durable, cost effective, and available in a huge variety of colors and styles, making it an O&A fave. These rugs are a great choice for busy, kid-conscious homes and are perfect for areas like nurseries, family rooms, and bedrooms.
Jute or Seagrass – the hippie of the group, these natural-fiber rugs are a staple in beach house décor and always give off a relaxing, chill vibe. They marry well with slipcovered sofas for the ultimate serene space. We love to use them as the bottom layer of a two-layer rug.
These thick fibers create a spiderweb effect and tend to collect everything that drops into them, so be prepared to shake these rugs out regularly (vacuuming won’t cut it.) And since you’ll be shaking them-out, don’t go too big or heavy, unless you have an extra set of hands available.
And so does size!
A rug’s size should always be proportionate to the space – big room, big rug, and vice versa. Since the rug is literally a centerpiece, it should be just that – centered – within the space. If that’s the family room, it is centered on the largest focal point in the room (fireplace, sofa, wall). If that’s a bedroom, centered on the bed, and so on.
Rugs should NOT go wall to wall. Only carpet should run the entire length and width of a room. A rug should be centered in the space and there should be some flooring visible – a minimum of 6-8”. 2x3 and 4x6 rugs are perfect for mudrooms, small entryways, bathrooms, and at the kitchen sink. 5x8 rugs are ridiculously versatile and work great in home offices, guest bedrooms, and spacious kitchens. 8x10 and 9x12 rugs are best in large bedrooms, like the master, and a must-have for any family room.
Always buy a “sample”
Buying rugs online is HARD. The site disclaimer that the true color may differ in digital format is so painfully TRUE. And it’s impossible to tell the quality and feel of a rug via pictures. So always consider ordering a “sample” – a smaller version of the rug(s) you like best.
Typically sold in smaller sizes like 2x3 or 3x5, these “sample sizes” are necessary to see actual colors and feel the quality and texture. Small samples are also helpful to have on-hand when shopping or planning for your space. And if it doesn’t work? It’s only a couple bucks to ship it back to the store, rather than the heavy-lifting – literally and figuratively – of the big rug returns.
Rug Sources
For great finds, we always start with Wayfair and their sister stores (Joss & Main, Birch Lane, Perigold, and All Modern) for a huge selection of rugs and rug pads. I love to use their Filter feature to narrow down what I’m looking for and then go from there. Start with color, size, availability, customer ratings, and any other preferences you may have. You’ll get a custom-tailored rug selection that should get you going in the right direction.
For unique, swoon-worthy rugs, consider an O&A fave like one-of-a-kind, vintage Turkish rugs from Etsy.com. Handwoven, vegetable-dyed, natural fiber rugs, available in an array of colors and patterns, are a favorite in spaces that command a little something extra.