How to select the perfect area rug for your home

The size of an area rug can dramatically alter the room's overall effect. A rug that is too small for the space can cause the room to feel uninviting. A rug that is too large for the room can, paradoxically, make the room feel smaller. The right-sized area rug will bring warmth and balance to the room, creating the perfect finishing touch. Almost any room in a home can accommodate an area rug, but it's more than just color and pattern that you need to consider. When looking at rugs, it's important to consider your lifestyle, space and family dynamics as well. Finding an area rug that will properly balance, support, and complement a living space in your home is well worth the search. That being said, there are a few vital considerations you should know about before you rush out to buy the first fancy floor piece that catches your eye. While many people think of rugs as accessories, they can also form the base of a stunning home area. Some designers actually recommend purchasing the rug before anything else in a space, as rugs tend to be more restrictive in terms of design, shading, and budgetary considerations. There are as many area rug styles as their are furniture styles, lighting styles, or room styles - meaning there's an almost unending variety of options. Rooms are no longer limited to traditional Persian rugs or classic European styles. Alongside these time-honorees styles are modern and contemporary alternatives, bold floral, strong geometric, simple jute and sisal, and even novelty rugs. Before settling on a style make sure to educate yourself about what is available and think about what kind of atmosphere you want to create in your room. And remember that an area rug doesn't need to match everything in a room, but it should work with the textures and tones of the existing furnishings. Some people are into patterns. Some aren't. But if your furniture and walls are all solid colors a patterned rug can really bring your room to life. Likewise, if you have patterned furniture a solid rug can have a grounding, calming effect. It's all about balance. Make sure the rug is centered in the room and the distance between the rug and the wall is the same on all four sides. You can also use rugs to define spaces. So if you have an open concept space, or you want to layer rugs, the rules can be a little different. When choosing a rug be honest with yourself about how much work you are willing to put into maintaining it. For the majority of rugs you'll need to regularly vacuum and rotate it. Flat weave rugs are easy to vacuum, but you can also take them outside and beat out the dirt and dust, some will have to be either sent out, or professionally cleaned in your home . Obviously you need to think about what colors you like and what colors you'd like to live with day in and day out. If you don't already have furnishings consider how different rug colors will work with the tones of the flooring, walls, and ceiling. Rugs can either stand out or blend in, so think about what effect you want to create when considering color.