Carpets are one of those pieces of decoration that simply bother you, no matter how skilled the decorator. Unless you have planned in advance to carpet the whole floor, you probably left the decision to buy the carpet for the end. And that’s where all the trouble begins. Having already selected all the furniture for the room, finding the right rug seems like an impossible mission. Something like a little black dress for women – you know there are billions of them out there, you just cannot seem to find the one that works for you.
Also, the carpet is inevitably a thing in the room that significantly affects its appearance. It’s one of those subjects that, if fitted right, does not interfere with the overall impression, and you don’t notice it in particular. However, if they are of the wrong design, carpets will be like a fist in the eye, a constant interference with the appearance of the room.
So let’s try to summarize some of the top tips for choosing a rug for your living room.
First of all, the purpose!
One of the essential things to look at first is what kind of rug you need. Or rather, what type of carpet can tolerate your lifestyle. Try to estimate how much you will use it, so to speak. There was nothing sadder than watching my attempts to have a carpet with a Labrador puppy with the desire to sharpen his teeth. I threw a total of 3 rugs before admitting to myself that it might not be time for it.
So, consider how many of you are in the household, do you have pets, do you have any children, and then decide what carpet you need. It doesn’t make sense to buy costly rugs if your four-legged friend has a particular appetite for them.
Also, if you have young children, it is not advisable to have carpets with long threads as the little ones can swallow them. Furthermore, if you are going to tread on the carpets often and mercilessly, you probably need some denser and more durable mats that won’t look spent after six months.
Second, the size
Large spaces tolerate large carpets, and small spaces tolerate small ones. Rarely the other way around. Don’t aim to have a big rug just because you saw it over a friend’s house.
The oversized carpet will clog up the small space, and you will get a counter effect. Similarly, tiny rugs in a large room can look ridiculous. So you have to position them smartly to make them stand out.
Finally, the pattern
If your seating furniture is colorful or in some bright colors, it is safest to choose more fuscous and neutral designs for your carpet. The same is true the other way around. If the furniture is light in tone, or neutral white or black, then it is acceptable for the carpet to be of a stronger color or pattern.
One of them should come to the fore, not both. There are exceptions to this rule, of course. Depending on the overall decoration of the room, more strong colors can be perfectly complex as a whole, but this is mainly true for modern interior decoration. It is indeed rare that a colorful oriental rug fits into such a pattern.
And one final thought. You can live without a carpet. So take the time to find the ideal one. To assume that it will live with you for at least a few years, so it should be comfortable, beautiful, and fit for purpose. Nothing terrible will happen if you don’t have it right away.
