Five Tips to Select a Stunning Rug
01 — Rugs are Art!
Just like art, rugs can be a stand-out centerpiece, or they can subtly compliment and elevate a room. This tip is meant to encourage you to explore styles, consider colors, and have fun while searching!
02— Mix Styles
The key to a timeless, unique, and beautiful space is mixing styles. Rugs are a great way to do this! Take the photo of the Waldron Project above. For their traditional-style home and tufted sofa, we chose a contemporary-style rug to pair. This mix of styles adds visual interest and shows personality. What could you mix up in your home?
03 — Size
The good news about rug sizes— they offer some wiggle room! It’s all about what visually grounds your space the best.
IN GENERAL…
For living rooms, we love to see rugs tucked partially under your sofa and chairs
For a dining room, you probably want all four legs on the rug whether the chair is tucked in or pulled out
WHEN IN DOUBT
Use painters tape to block off outlines of rug sizes to see the footprint of how a rug would look in your room
If unsure, we believe a little bigger is better. A rug that is too small makes your furniture appear “floating” or creates gaps in your room
04 — Material Matters
How do you know what material to look for in a rug? That depends on the use and longevity you are looking for.
Investing in a rug is absolutely worthwhile. Purchasing a high-quality rug means it will last you decades, if not a lifetime. Wool rugs are very durable and finding one that’s hand-knotted makes it even longer lasting. If you’re worried about getting tired of the look of one rug, remember you can move it to different rooms to change the look entirely.
On the other hand, finding a rug that’s budget-friendly and replaceable has its benefits, too! For an outdoor space or entryway, getting a flat poly-print rug makes sense because, though it won’t last forever, that’s an area you’d want to swap the rug out of more frequently.
FIBERS
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Wool is known for its durability and longevity. Wool fiber naturally repels stains, so it's easier to keep clean than many other rug materials. The main downside of wool rugs is that they tend to shed when they're brand new. It's best to regularly vacuum your wool rug to get rid of loose fibers
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Polypropylene rugs are made from synthetic fibers. They can mimic the designs of luxury rugs at a more affordable price point. Poly rugs typically last around 5 years.
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Jute rugs add a wonderful, natural texture to a space. It’s mildly-durable and you can find them at affordable prices. The biggest downside is the scratchy feeling on bare feet, and shedding if the jute is not tightly woven.
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Viscose is high-quality material made from bamboo, however viscose is naturally very absorbent, so this material would work better in a low-traffic areas. Think: closet, sunroom, bedroom. Some place that you could enjoy allll it’s luxury, without worrying too much about a spill.
ASSEMBLY
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Durable and long lasting! Pricier because of the care it is made with.
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Not as durable as hand-knotted, but more affordable.
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Mimics colors of vintage rugs, but with less authentic texture and materials, making it more affordable.
05 — Look in the right places
In our East Village retail shop + showroom, you can find a hand-picked selection of new and vintage rugs to browse through. Our rug sample wall is stuffed to the brim with a mix of samples. As always, samples are available to take home, and our designers are in store always to help with decisions or provide further design services.
The next two weeks we have an in-store Rug Sale that just begun! From 1/25-2/8/2022, take 30% off vintage and 15% off new rugs from our showroom.
