| Decorating With Area Rugs |
Focal Point – Furniture or Rug?
Rugs can help draw attention to a certain part of the room or just be a focal point by itself. If you want your furniture to be the focal point, you’ll probably want to select a rug that picks up the colors in the patterns of the furnishings. Different patterns can usually be mixed as long as they are color-coordinated. If you want your rug to be the focal point, a rug with a bold design works well when the sofa and chairs are a solid color or a subdued pattern. A fireplace can be a focal point in a room. In that case, it works well to go with a rug having a more subdued all-over pattern so that the rug is not a distraction. When two or more items are competing to be a focal point, it can upset the balance or harmony of the room. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is this: A rug can be “busy” or the other colors and patterns of the room can be “busy,” but it’s not good when everything in the room is “busy.”
Use A Rug to Highlight OR Downplay the Existing Floor
In a room where you want to show off or highlight the existing floor, select a smaller size rug in a solid or perhaps a tone-on-tone pattern. If you want to downplay the existing floor, then select a large rug with a strong, vibrant overall pattern.
Opposites Attract
The following ideas can often be applied when using multiple rugs in a room or when coordinating a rug with the upholstery and wall colors. A rug with a pattern is able to blend in better than a rug with a solid color.
· A floral pattern offers a pleasant contrast with geometric designs.
· Rug patterns that are “busy” go well with less ornate designs.
· A large pattern and a small pattern can go together well.
Create A More Spacious Feeling
A rug with a small pattern or a light color makes almost any room seem more spacious.
Create Warmth
Deeper, darker colors in a rug can create a feeling of warmth or coziness in a room.
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One Rug or Multiple Rugs
One large rug is often best if you want to have the elements of a room (rug, upholstery and window treatments) match or complement each other. While a large rug can bring the features of a room together, multiple rugs can divide the room into different areas. The most common decorating tip when using more than one rug in a room is that the rugs should complement each other without being identical and that they have at least one aspect in common; whether it’s design, color, or size. Two rugs that are the same size will most likely divide the room in half, and that’s fine, if that’s what you want. Using multiple rugs of different sizes allows you to create more interest or to define different areas or functions within the room.
Open Spaces
Rugs look great in spaces where there is no furniture on the rug, including, in front of a fireplace, in the middle of a room, in front of a bookcase or in front of a sink. Rugs used in open areas can provide a splash of color to give the room more personality.
If a rug is placed in an open area that has lots of traffic, keep in mind that certain materials will hold up better than others in the long run.
Entryways and Hallways
A rug used in an entryway can create a welcoming feeling. It can be formal or informal and often sets the mood for other common areas, such as the family room.
A rug in a hallway can either be inviting people into the area(s) beyond the rug or it can help to separate the private areas (such as bedrooms) from the common areas of a house, depending on the layout of the house and the placement of the rug.
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