Eglinton Loft, Living Room
How To Choose The Best Rug
Rugs are an essential element in interior design that transforms the look and feel of any space. They add warmth, comfort, and style to your home while also protecting your floors and defining different areas within a room.
Rugs come in tons of shapes, sizes, materials, and thicknesses and with countless options available, selecting the right rug can be overwhelming. This is why we’ve put together a guide to walk you through the process of how to choose the best rug for your home!
Common Mistakes
001) Buying a rug too small.
Does size matter? Yes! This is probably the number one mistake we see, and in most cases, bigger is better. A rug should take up a decent amount of space within a room while still allowing the flooring to peek through and to be able to walk around the rug without stepping on it. As a general rule, aim for a clearance of 6″ to 18″ of space around the rug to walls.
002) Buying a rug in the wrong fabric.
Rugs are either made up of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a combination of the two. Natural fibers are more delicate which means using the wrong material in a specific area could result in visible wear and tear, staining, fading, and crushing. If placing a rug outside, ensure it’s suitable for the outdoors.
003) Not adding a rug pad under your rug.
Lots of people skip this step but adding a rug pad under your rug will help for tons of reasons. Rug pads act as a buffer between your rug and the floor to help protect against furniture dents. It also helps by making the rug less slippery and adds extra comfort to your feet!
004) Adding rugs where they aren’t really needed.
This might be a hot take but we don’t recommend rugs under dining tables unless you have the clearance to be able to pull your chair back without getting the legs of the chairs caught on the rug, or in formal dining rooms. Less formal dining rooms or breakfast nooks are high-traffic areas with direct exposure to foods and beverages which is another reason why we don’t suggest rugs in these types of spaces.
Unless it’s a bath mat, we do not recommend rugs in bathrooms.
Common Sizes
Sizes will vary depending on how big (or small) your space is but below is a list of common rug sizes per room.
Entry and Kitchens: Small Runners – Common sizes: 2.5’ x 7’, 2’5 x 10’, 3’ x 12’
The most common rugs in entryways and kitchens are runners. For runners, one of our go-to’s is Ruggable because they offer tons of options in various designs, are affordable and are washable. Washable rugs are great for high-traffic areas as they are less maintenance and it’s easy to pop them in the washing machine as needed.
Living Rooms: Large Rugs – Common sizes: 7×10, 8×11, 9×12
As a general rule of thumb, all of the furniture should either sit on top of the rug or the front legs of all the furniture pieces can sit on the rug while the back legs sit directly on the floor.
For even smaller living rooms, you may need to size down to a 5×8 or 6×9 rug but we do not recommend going any smaller as this will make your space feel even smaller.
Bedrooms: Medium – Large Rugs – Common sizes: 5×8, 6×9, 7×10, 8×11, 9×12
A rug in a bedroom is a must, this is the one space where you want to create a cozy ambience and adding a rug will do just that. Rug sizes will depend on the bed size. Twin-size beds work best with a 5×8 rug whereas full/double beds fit 6×9 rugs better. For queen size beds, consider an 7×10 rug and for king, a 8×11 or 9×12 rug fits best.
Place your rug further down the bed so that your nightstands aren’t on the rug.
Children's Bedroom, Cumberland
Rug Types & Production Methods
Low Pile / These rugs have tighter and shorter loops and are best suited for high-traffic areas or in homes with children and/or pets. Low-pile rugs are also a great option for those who suffer from allergies since allergens are unable to settle in as easily.
High Pile / These rugs, like shags, have looser and taller loops and are best suitable for low-traffic areas like a bedroom. High-pile rugs snag more but feel super soft on your feet and add a hint of luxury to your space.
Hooked / A hooked rug is made when loops of yarn or fabric are pulled through a stiff woven base like a burlap. The loops are pulled through using a crochet hook or similar.
Tufted / A rug type that is created with a hand-held tufting gun. These rugs are made without knots, similar to a hooked rug, loops of yarn or fabric are pulled through the rug’s backing material. Tufted rugs shed more and require more maintenance.
Hand Knotted / These types of rugs are made using a handloom, meaning each yarn of fabric is knotted together without the use of electricity. It’s produces a beautiful, durable product made by skilled artisans.
Braided / A rug type that is made of three or more strips of fabric sewn together to resemble a braid.
Flat-Weave / A thinner, handmade rug created without knots. These rugs are not as soft as other types of rugs but are super versatile and can even be hung on walls as an art piece.
Shags / These rugs have tons of texture and are super soft to the touch. The pile is thicker and can be made up of many different fiber types.
The process of making a rug by hand is tedious but rewarding.
Final Thoughts
We love working with local vendors! If you’re in Toronto/GTA, check out one of our go-to’s, Area Rug Shop! They offer rugs in various sizes and styles and are very knowledgeable and friendly!
