4 Ways to Choose the Perfect Rug for Your Living Room
The interior decor of your living room sets the tone for the space where you unwind with your loved ones and entertain guests. It also impacts your home’s overall aesthetic and subtly displays your aesthetic sensibilities.
So, choosing the right interior decor elements is important. One such defining element is handmade rugs. They add warmth to your space and soften the edges, making your space look more inviting.
But how do you make the right choice? Continue reading below for a better idea.
How Can You Choose the Perfect Living Room Rug for Your Home?
You can choose the perfect rug for your living room by considering the following factors:
1. Desired Placement Method
The manner in which you place the living room rug is important, since it will act as a focal point. There are two ways you could do this to achieve a striking visual effect, as seen below:
a) Placing it under your living room furniture
Placing your rug under your living room furniture will help you anchor the space together and create a cohesive effect. Before you do that, you should first arrange all your living room furniture the way you want.
When you’re doing that, leave 20 centimetres between each furniture piece and the wall. The rug can fill this space for an aesthetic look. You should not place your handmade rug under the TV cabinet or entertainment unit, as it makes the space look smaller.
b) Half-on, Half-off
You should choose a correctly-sized handcrafted rug to ensure that it doesn’t eat up the space. To achieve this effect, you should place your furniture such that half of it is on the rug, and half of it is on the floor.
Ensure that at least the front legs of your furniture are on the rug.
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2. Size and Shape of The Rug
The size and shape of your handmade rug determine the visual balance of your room. You should consider the size of your living room before choosing the rug for a better idea.
For example, your rug should cover all furniture in a big living room, and a compact area in a small one.
The shape of your rug helps you plan the rest of your living room. You can choose from shapes like rectangular, circular, square, or a squiggly based on your room. Consider the table below for an idea about which types of rooms they complement:
| Type of Rug | Type of Rooms They Complement |
| Rectangular | Most medium to big living rooms with a coffee table and sofa/settee arrangement |
| Circular | Small to medium-sized living rooms with round coffee tables |
| Square | Square-shaped rooms with modular or square-shaped furniture |
| Squiggly | Most small to big living rooms with chairs kept outside the rug area; can be placed under furniture for a comfortable feeling |
Table 1: Design Aesthetic of Differently Shaped Rugs
3. Rug Material
The type of handmade rug you choose is impacted by your foot traffic or the number of people who walk about the area daily. You can opt for rugs made from wool, cotton, jute and sisal, silk, sustainable yarn or rayon. Consider the table below for an idea about their design aesthetic and the foot traffic they can handle.
| Type of Rug Material | Foot Traffic They Can Handle | Design Aesthetic |
| Wool | High foot traffic | Soft, Plush |
| Cotton | Low to moderate foot traffic | Colourful, Warm |
| Jute and Sisal | High foot traffic | Earthy, Rustic |
| Silk | Low foot traffic | Luxurious, Sophisticated |
| Sustainable Yarn | High foot traffic | Artisan, Down-to-Earth |
| Rayon | High foot traffic | Luxurious, Soft |
Table 2: Foot Traffic Handling Capacity and Design Aesthetic of Different Rug Materials
4. Style of The Rug
The style of rug that you choose is another factor that determines how your living room will look. You can choose from styles like modern, traditional, natural, or designer rugs, based on your preferred aesthetic.
Additionally, you should ensure that the style of your rug complements your room decor. Let’s now understand the aesthetic of the rugs and which kind of rooms they fit in the table below.
| Rug Style | Design Aesthetic | Type of Living Room They Are Suitable For |
| Traditional | Intricate, timeless, Oriental-inspired patterns | Bohemian, Classic |
| Modern | Minimalist, Sleek | Scandinavian, Industrial |
| Natural | Earthy, Rustic | Casual, Rustic-style |
| Designer | Sophisticated, Luxurious | Contemporary, Vintage |
Table 3: Type of Room Best Suited For and Design Aesthetic of Different Rug Styles
After choosing your preferred rugs, you should learn how to maintain them to ensure their longevity. Let’s consider some tips below.
How to Maintain Your Living Room Rugs
You can maintain your handmade living room rugs by regular cleaning, spot and deep cleaning:
i) Regular cleaning: Involves frequently vacuuming the rug to remove dust and dirt. Remember to contact the rug supplier in India that you purchase it from for specific instructions if applicable.
ii) Spot cleaning: Blotting and removing spills and other stains to prevent permanent damage
iii) Deep cleaning: Hiring a professional cleaner to ensure complete cleaning
Final Remarks
Choosing a handmade rug for your living room should be a careful decision, since replacing it can be expensive. So, you should consider parameters like those mentioned above, along with the presence of pets or children, guests and layering requirements.
These factors will help you understand the best rug for your living room.
Chic Up Your Living Room Today!
Contact a reputed Indian rug supplier to source high-quality hand-crafted rugs and spruce up your living room today!