How To Buy A Rug

Think about what you want the space to generally look like. A good starting point is to brows interior design photos online. Some pivot their décor around a single object like an existing feature or a piece of art. If you’re starting from a relatively clean slate, consider the rug as your piece of art. Top Canadian interior designer Sarah Richardson encourages the same approach.

Colour and style are ultimately personal preference but once you find a selection of rugs that fit your overall décor direction and colour pallet, be sure to try the rug out in your home before buying. Any reputable rug dealer will permit (and encourage) you to take the rug out “on approval”. Lay the rug down in the room where it will live and be sure to inspect a different times of the day. You want to see how the rug interacts with the the space light and colour of the objects around it. Remember, most rugs have a “light side” and a “darks side”. The rug will appear “darker” from one end of the rug versus the other because you are peering into the knap so there is less light being reflected.
A bold geometric design with saturated colours will command a very different look compared to a Delicate Curvilinear Design with Muted Colours. (Below Left: Persian Heriz, Wool, Geometric, Saturated. Below Right: Persian Tabriz, Wool & Silk, Curvilinear, Muted)

When thinking about furniture in the space, the general rule is that the furniture should fit on the rug. In the case of a dining table, the chairs should remain on the rug when the chair is pushed away from the table. When in doubt between two sizes, the general rule is to go with the larger size. However, the larger the rug, the more expensive so the smallest you can go with a rug is to be sure that the rug is under the feed of anyone seated at the furniture in the room.

A few points to remember:
– Don’t position a rug right up to the hearth of a fireplace, leave a few inches of floor showing between the hearth and the rug
– At the very least, the front legs of the furniture should be on the rug
– Be sure not to cover up any floor vents or registers
– Try not to put rugs under items that are practically immovable. One day you will need to clean the rug and to clean it well, it should be picked up by a professional rug cleaner.

Generally speaking, two factors make up price (like all things manufactured) – ‘Effort’ and ‘Materials’.
The larger a rug is and/or the more finely knotted the more effort went in to making it. The construction method also dictates how much time when into making a rug.
– An 8×10, hand-knotted, extra-fine wool or silk rug can take 6 months to a year to make
– An 8×10, hand-knotted, course wool rug can take a few weeks or months to make
– An 8×10, machine made , polypropylene few can take a few minutes
When comparing price and materials and knots etc. it can be confusing. It is easier to know that a well-made, hand-knotted wool rug (when taken care of properly) can easily last over 100 years. So be sure to consider how long the item will last.

Another factor that is often overlooked, and sometimes the most important, is the ongoing care required for the upkeep of your rug. Consider your lifestyle. Do you have kids? Do you like to entertain? Do you run a “shoes-off” home?
Buying a light colour silk rug for the living room with kids and the odd wine and cheese party might not be the best choice. On the other hand, rugs filled with colour and pattern can be great for hiding soil, traffic and the odd stain.
Typically you should consider getting your rugs cleaned every 1-4 years depending on the amount of traffic they get.