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When decorating your home, think of your floors as
the foundation for your design scheme. An area rug
can visually integrate or harmonize eclectic
elements in any decor or can revitalize a room.
Tips for selecting a rug for your home:
1.Visualize the desired
total look of the room. Do you want a room that's
uncluttered and monotone or a room rich with colors
or textures? If you start with a totally empty room,
choose a rug, then paint or paper the walls in
colors found in the rug.
2.Remember, the rug has
to fit the room ¨C in more ways than one. Consider
how the room is used, how much traffic the area gets
and who will view it under what light. For
high-traffic areas such as hallways and foyers, you
may want a durable, patterned rug.
3.Choose furniture that
enhances the rug design or colors found in the rug.
4.If you start with
furniture, choose a rug to pick up the colors used
in your furnishing patterns. Patterns can be mixed
if they are coordinated by color. Elements of a rug
design can be further incorporated into the overall
design scheme. For example, if the rug is floral,
add framed prints or flowers in similar colors.
5.Size up the size of
the room and the area you want to cover. The most
common area rug sizes are 4-by-6 and 6-by-9 feet.
They work well under a coffee table. An 8-by-11-foot
rug or larger can cover an entire room. Smaller area
and scatter rugs can be ideal for adorning smaller
spaces¡ªa hearth, a bedside, the area in front of a
kitchen sink¡ªwith a splash of color and warmth.
6.A rug with a bold,
overall design can be the focal point of a room with
a chair and sofa in solid or subdued patterns.
7.Light colored rugs
make a room look more spacious, and deeper colors
lend coziness to a room.
8.Choose a rug that
will perform well, with the right combination of
density and fiber. The denser the pile, (with closer
tufts or stitches), the better your rug will wear.
9.Synthetic yarns -
nylon, polyester, acrylic, and polypropylene - and
the naturals - wool and cotton - are durable, soft,
and easy to clean.
10.You¡¯ve got to hand
it to machine-made rugs: they may look strikingly
similar to the handmade kind, but they¡¯re usually
much less expensive.
11.Watch out for fringe
elements. If the rug you like has fringe, make sure
it¡¯s sewn on well, and very carefully use the vacuum
cleaner.
12.Don¡¯t be boxed in by
the idea of getting a rectangular rug. A circular or
octagonal-shaped floor covering can add flair.
13.Remember to take a
swatch of any fabrics you¡¯d like to match with you
when you shop for a rug. That way, you¡¯ll have a
better idea of what will complement your existing
d¨¦cor.
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