How to Pick a Rug
Rugs are far more than just a spot to dump your shoes as you enter a home or a catchall for your kids' crumbs. (Psst, no thank you! Please eat in the kitchen – my living room is not YOUR dining hall!)
The living room rug in our Raleigh Hills project is from Lulu and Georgia.
Some might argue that the rug is the designer's starting point when contemplating a room's design. In certain rooms, the rug serves as the sole source of color that establishes the ambiance. Alternatively, the rug can play a neutral role, allowing other elements in the room to take the spotlight. Regardless, for a designer, every rug choice is an intentional one!
When selecting your rug, the assumed intention is that you have either identified a space to rest your bare little paws or an aesthetic expression. Do you envision it as a cozy, textural addition to your neutral bedroom space, or is it the statement piece in your living room that sets the tone for the entire vibe?
Rugs can be a significant investment, so it's essential to choose one that you genuinely love. After all, we don't replace our rugs annually. You should anticipate living with your rug for at least 5 years, and it's a good practice to maintain it with annual cleaning.
Wool Rugs
“The quality is incredible! They hold their shape, dye, and texture. They are also known for easy stain removal.”
The best rug material to invest in is wool. Wool rugs are known for their durability, maintaining their shape, dye, and texture exceptionally well. They are also renowned for their ease of stain removal. However, it's essential to keep realistic expectations when it comes to pet stains, as they can be quite challenging to remove entirely. We love this rug cleaner for unexpected accidents. Wool rugs tend to be pricier because their production involves more labor, while mass-produced rugs benefit from economies of scale, which can lower production costs per unit. Additionally, retail rugs may utilize more affordable synthetic fibers, so it's crucial to READ THE LABELS before making a purchase.
Size matters! If your rug is too large for the space, it can overwhelm the room, and if it's too small, it may leave the room feeling disjointed and unfinished. Ideally, all your furniture should rest on the rug. When selecting your rug size, think about traffic pathways and make sure you can walk down the hall or through a room without having to be half on rug and half on flooring. Did you know that it is not a design crime to have your furniture’s back legs sit off the rug to better serve your space?
What if you have an odd-shaped room? Think about the possibility of getting your rug custom-cut to fit your space perfectly. While opting for anything 'custom' may come with added expenses, it's crucial to ensure the rug's scale complements the room's flow. Your local rug installer or retailer can assist you in designing and crafting a custom rug.
Now that you have narrowed down your options, it’s time to start testing rugs out! You can often TRY rugs in your space before you BUY them. One of our favorite local rug shops where we live in Portland, OR (available online too) is KUSH. “They always let me and my clients take some of the girls home to see how they look in the space” - Teal. It is SUPER helpful to see how they relate to the other colors and reflections in the space and how natural vs artificial light can change the appearance of the rug’s color. Did you know your wall color or ceiling and trim can actually reflect onto your rug, changing its color? True story. With that said, try before you buy.
Sisal Rug & Jute Rugs
Beyond wool, jute and sisal are highly favored for their textural qualities. However, it's essential to keep in mind that it can be challenging to remove crumbs or stains like peanut butter and jelly from the fibers of a sisal rug once they're embedded. Sisal offers a stiffer texture, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. Nevertheless, if placed in spots with heavy foot traffic, such as entryways, stairs, or hallway runners, be prepared to replace them every few years. On the other hand, jute boasts a softer texture and is better suited for bedrooms and living rooms.
The image is an example of a jute rug from Serena & Lily. Shop the rug here!
Another option for a high traffic area is a synthetic material like these. You can stomp your heart out on them and they will hold up! Checkout their neutrals if polka dots aren’t your thing. They are a repeat throughout Teal’s home. Moppable, wipeable, hell yes!
Rug Pads - Unfortunately choosing the rug is not the only to-do. SIGH. Always consider your rug pad. We opt to stay away from buying the more expensive pad that comes with the rug and turn to Crate and Barrel or even Amazon to assist us in getting the cushion and no skid that we want. Don't be alarmed when your pad size options don’t perfectly match your rug. We often take a quick scissor to one end or the other to achieve the perfect size pad. MOST authentic handmade rugs come in odd sizes, so this is a common little adjustment.
Rug Corners - For even more grip, we recommend rug corners. These guys help keep the rug’s corners from turning up over time and traffic. They are a lifesaver and don't harm the rug or the floors! If you have a thin wool or cotton rug, these are essential in our book of design secrets.
Don't break the bank when it comes to kids' rugs. In fact, Teal has frequently opted for indoor/outdoor rugs in her kids' rooms for easy cleanup after those Halloween night candy extravaganzas or during flu season... if you catch our drift. A little trick to keep the room cozy, lay down a sheepskin area rug over a more affordable rug that lies underneath.
Now the fun part, showing you some of our favorite affordable rugs! Each image is linked to the actual rug for further research!
We’d love to hear from you! Please comment below or DM us on Instagram @tealandscott.
HELPFUL LINKS
You’ve got the basics, now ready to go bold? Read our blog How to Add Color with Rugs.
In our Rug Youtube ft. Wild Shaman we talk all things rug quality, and you can watch us as we play with color and give tips on building a palette in real time.
In our Rug Youtube ft. Kush we dive deeper into materials, rug care, and building more neutral palettes.
Affiliate Disclosure: Teal and Wendy hand pick every product they recommend. Some product links are affiliate and may provide a small kickback to T&S at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate they earn from qualifying purchases.
