Area Rugs

Shapes

Don’t be afraid to use shapes other than a rectangle. Round rugs are great for seating vignettes, passageways and entrances. Other uncommon area-rug shapes include square rugs, runners, oblong or animal hide rugs. 

Colors

To coordinate your rug color with an existing color palette, follow the 60-30-10 rule:

• About 60% of the room is your dominant color, such as the color of the walls or the largest piece of furniture.
• 30% is a secondary color. This is where your rug color choice comes in.
• 10% is an accent color, such as the color(s) of vases and lamps. 

Pattern

Before selecting a patterned rug, consider your space. Do you have patterned walls or furniture? If so, it might be best to choose a subtly patterned rug. If your space is filled with a solid color, a bold or bright pattern may liven things up. 

Traffic

When buying an area rug, it’s important to keep in mind how much foot traffic the rug will experience. Low-pile area rugs work best in high-traffic areas as they hide footprints or tracks. A detailed pattern is also helpful in high-traffic areas for camouflaging stains. High-pile or shag rugs are soft, making them great for bedrooms and sitting areas.