Area rugs are a very underutilized decorating tool. These versatile items do more than just protect your hardwood floors from getting scratched up by furniture or give your pet a soft spot for napping. A well-chosen area rug can help bring more definition to a particular space; add warmth, color, or texture to a room; enhance your existing decor through contrast or coordination; or provide a visual focal point via bold design.
Of course, to get that much mileage out of a rug, you'll have to know some tips and tricks for selecting the right product. Here are a few pointers we've gathered from the pros about how to decorate with an area rug:
- Maintain proportion by sizing the rug according to the room rather than a single piece of furniture such as a coffee table or love seat
- Area rugs are not meant to cover the entire floor, so be sure to leave a visible border of at least one foot (12 inches) of original flooring around the edges
- Multiple area rugs used in the same room should coordinate with each other in some way (e.g. shape, color, or pattern)
- To create an immediate sense of visual contrast, try layering two or more area rugs on top of each other
- Use a bold colored area rug to offset neutral walls and furniture; use a softer colored rug to complement darker paint and decor schemes
- If you have an absolutely gorgeous area rug in mind, don't be afraid to decorate around it and present it as the focal point in the room
- For high-traffic areas or homes with small children and pets, stick to rugs made of durable materials and darker colors
- Because colors have profound influences on mood and creativity, select shades of red, blue, and yellow for home offices and workspaces
Keeping these tips in mind as you browse for Ashley area rugs at HomeLivingFurniture.com will help ensure that you buy a rug that not only fits a particular room, but also the general decor and overall personality of your home.
