5 Things to Consider When Buying an Area Rug

Want to give your home’s interior décor a finishing look? Nothing can beat the charm and beauty of an exquisite handmade area rug. More than just looking pretty, unique, and aesthetically pleasing, rugs are also practical as they offer to cushion and can help minimize injuries in case of falls. Plus, they’re perfect for creating a cosy living space that radiates warmth and comfort. But when it comes to decorating your space with rugs, there’re an of things to consider; such as making sure that the rug blends in well with the rest of your décor, is easy to clean, and has a soft texture. Don’t want to end up spending bucks on a rug that isn’t just ‘perfect’? We’ve got some expert rug buying tips to share! Let’s face it, handmade area rugs are expensive and you can’t buy a new one every other year. While the right rug can pull your room together, the wrong one can make it appear chaotic, disordered, and fallen apart. Although rug buying is a tricky business, it’s not that hard to pick the right article once you know what you’re looking for. Here’s a list of some major things to consider when purchasing a rug:

1. The Rug Style

Perfect décor begins from perfect flooring. With a rug that describes your style sense and accentuates the current furnishings, you can bring the entire space to life while managing to make it look just the way you want it. Pick a style that’s ideal for the type of decor trend you’d be following and goes with the theme of your interior. For instance, if you’re into traditional or transitional décor styles, find a handmade Bokhara rug for sale, or a Pakistani rug that features traditional design patterns.

2. The Colors and Designs

The choice of rug colour and design depends largely on how the room currently looks. For spaces that are filled with bold patterns and hues, pick a neutral-coloured rug to keep things in balance. However, if you wish to add a flash of life to an otherwise plain and boring-looking room, bright bold traditional rugs can work really well. Confused about the choice? It’s always safe to play with earthy tones and neutrals such as shades of grey, beige, off-white, etc. The design patterns can be traditional or modern depending on your décor preferences.

3. Size and Shape of the Rug Needed

This is where a lot of homeowners mess up! Choosing the wrong rug size – one that’s too small – can lead to the unappealing ‘floating-rug’ look because your rug won’t be touching any of the furniture items. On the other hand, a rug that’s too big may look like wall-to-wall carpeting. The trick to finding the ‘perfect’ size is measuring your room’s dimensions beforehand. Ideally, the rug should sit in the very centre of the room with the major furniture items, such as sofas and the centre table, placed on top of it either completely or partially. The rug shape must match the shape of the room. Or, if you’re going to place the rug under a table, choose the shape accordingly – square rugs under square tables, round ones under round tables, and so on.

4. The Materials Used and Durability

There are three major qualities that a rug’s material must’ve:

• Soft and plush
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Durable

Most commonly, handmade rugs are made using natural materials such as wool, cotton, and silk. Their prices vary but all three rug materials are quite easy to clean and maintain, with wool being the popular choice owing to its high durability, stain-resistance, and velvety texture. However, regular cleaning is must if you want a wool or silk rug to retain its original shape for years on end. To keep the rug looking fresh, simply vacuum clean it 2-3 times per week, place it in a low traffic area, and don’t walk over the rug’s surface with muddy or dirty shoes. If you’re getting a rug for an outdoor seating area, jute and sisal rugs can work well since they’re UV resistant and can stand whatever mother nature throws at them.

5. The Rug’s Care Guide

Lastly, an exquisite handmade rug, such as a Bokhara, comes with not just a heavy price tag but also the cost of regular care and maintenance. If you have toddlers, own pets, or can’t take out the time to clean your rug on a regular basis, choose one that’s easy to take care of. You can also go for the much less-expensive machine-made rug alternative. Polypropylene and nylon are great artificial rug materials that don’t require much care and are considerably affordable as compared to wool and silk rugs. Remember, rugs are often a one-time investment, so pick one that you’d be able to take proper care of.