When we think about defining a space, we often think about using furniture, however a rug is often the first thing people will notice in a room. Offering more than just comfort and visual appeal, decorate with them wisely and rugs can help delineate one space from the other. From separating a living area from the dining room in an open plan interior, or visually distinguishing a study area in a bedroom or a foyer space in a large hallway without the need for a traditional room divider.
According to Shaye Ford, Interior Designer and Stylist at Miss Amara, when it comes to setting up your home, the rug is often the missing piece, and people often say they didn’t realise something was missing in their room, until they add a rug – it finishes off the space, like artwork for your floors. Here Shaye shares the do’s and don’ts for styling rugs around the home:
Lounge/Living Room
When styling a rug in the living room, you need to consider lifestyle factors and size. If you’re looking for something soft and cosy, opt for something with a high pile that is super plush underfoot. If you want a living room rug that is more practical and suitable for kids and pets, opt for a washable, flat-weave, or easy-care rug. As for finding the perfect size, you need to consider the space you’re working with. For a generous area – aim to buy one large enough to fit all your furniture on it. The last thing you want is for your furniture to feel squashed and constricted, so make sure there is sufficient space between your furniture. In a smaller space – you want your feet to be placed on the rug when you’re sitting on the lounge, so ensure it is big enough for at least the front 2 legs of the furniture to sit on it. What to avoid: arranging your furniture around a rug that is ‘too small’.
Dining room
Firstly, choose a rug shape that works with your table, and ensure the chairs and table sit comfortably on it and the chairs rest on the rug when pulled out! As a rule of thumb, allow a border of approximately 60cm around the table. As many meals will be shared here, this space is prone to spills and accidents. A soft synthetic rug made from polypropylene and eco-friendly PET with easy to clean fibres is ideal for this area. For a non-shed rug that will make vacuuming and maintenance super easy, opt for a flat weave or low pile rugs. Avoid choosing one that is too small and doesn’t fit all the furniture, as this can also be a serious trip hazard and your chairs are at risk of getting caught on the edges and causing damage.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are a great place to feature a thicker, braided, or textured rug, that you might feel isn’t as practical in a high traffic family living space. I would recommend a Shag Rug that is more lush and luxurious, with this you can create a soft landing for sleepy feet. If texture isn’t your style, a Flat Weave Rug or a low pile rug is a great alternative. Choosing a Neutral Rug creates a more peaceful and relaxed feeling. For easy care and low maintenance, choose an incredibly soft synthetic fibre one.
If you have the room, ideally, you want the rug to be large enough to extend under the bed and bedside tables, with ample room all around. This gives you that gorgeous luxe feel! For a smaller space, place the rug under the lower two thirds of the bed, centred but not under the bedside tables. Avoid one that is ‘too small’ to accommodate the furniture, opt for a runner either side of the bed.
Kids Room/Nursery
Designing your dream nursery is such an exciting and memorable experience! It gives the whole family and the baby a special and dedicated space. Having a baby room rug can be the perfect foundation for your space that pulls your whole decor theme together.
Choosing a trending style like an Animal Pattern or Floral Rug can act as the feature piece to help style up the room instantly. Use the tones in the rug to find the complementary decor pieces such as bedding, toys, artwork, and furniture. Using colours to set the mood is very important. Soothing and calming tones like Beige and Cream are a popular pick for a neutral palette and can evolve as you update other furniture pieces. Peach and Pink add a lovely pop of colour and are often styled in bohemian and earthy toned themes. Blue and Grey complement white and wooden furniture, which also suit coastal, minimal and scandi decor.
When choosing a baby floor rug, think of the texture and softness. Shag Rugs are beautifully tactile and can stimulate your baby’s hand and foot development. A baby rug is also perfect for tummy time, crawling and play. Just remember to add a non-slip Rug Underlay to keep it safely in place while adding extra padding underfoot.
Kitchen
We spend so much time in our kitchens every day, so why not make it as beautiful and comfortable as the rest of your home? For the kitchen I recommend choosing a flat-weave rug, as they are super durable and hard-wearing, so perfect for lots of foot traffic! Something with lots of colour and pattern helps to add personality to your space, whilst also being a practical choice for hiding any small spillages that may occur.
If you are looking for something super easy to clean, opt for one that’s machine washable, like the hugely popular Miss Amara Tumblelux Collection that are also perfect for spot-cleaning whilst being super-soft underfoot and stylish. Runners are also a great choice for the kitchen. They easily fit in narrow spaces between benches and islands. Last but not least, Underlays are a must to avoid any slips. An underlay will keep your kitchen floor rug secure and safe and prevent any lumps or bumps appearing.
Entry/Hallway
An entrance rug is a practical and stylish addition as you transition from outside to inside. Setting the tone of your space, it acts as a great introduction to the rest of your home decor. When choosing one, consider the surrounding elements you have already. If your walls are more minimal choose a rug with a geometric pattern or multi-colour tones to create a focal point. If you have an established themed colour palette, choose one of those tones as the base for your entryway rug.
When choosing a fibre for a main walkway, a flatweave rug is a popular choice for this space, if you like more softness and texture, a low pile rug is recommended. Size wise it should fill the space without overcrowding. If your room is more square, find an area rug. Match the shape of the rug to the shape of the room. For narrow hallways, a long length runner is best to elongate the space. For shorter spaces a round rug or a small rug is best to fill the centre of the area. Centre the rug as much as possible as it acts as the foundation of the whole space. Make sure you leave enough space for doors to open smoothly and unobstructed.
