Here are some basic guidelines and information about decorating with area rugs that will help you to enhance the beauty and individuality of your home or apartment:

Decorate from the rug up

If you are redecorating or furnishing a new home, area rugs should function as the "foundation" of the design plan for any room or area in which they are used, as well as the focal point of the space. The rugs will also help you to plan the overall color scheme and create a mood for the room. Given the various rug styles, and the array of designs and color combinations that are available, the possibilities are virtually endless.

Size matters 

From small scatter rugs to palatial carpets, both the actual room size and the specific decorating scheme are critical in determining the size of the rug best suited to your needs. For example, dining room rugs should be large enough to cover the table area and the chairs when pulled back, and leave as much of a border of floor as possible. For a bedroom, depending on the size of the room, you can use one large rug that will extend out from the sides and front of the bed, or two smaller rugs on each side of the bed. And in placing a rug under a table and/or any other large piece of furniture, you should take into account how much of the pattern will be hidden or obscured under the table. Obviously, a center medallion design would not be the ideal choice for that purpose.

Two’s company, even three may not be a crowd 

You can make an extra large living room and/or family room more inviting and intimate by using two or more area rugs in the space to create separate "conversation" and TV areas, a “music “ area, or a hobby area, etc. Different rug styles can also be used within the space to add personality or enhance the mood of a particular part of the room.

It’s fine to mix and match

There’s no decorating rule that says you shouldn’t mix area rug styles within a home or even within the same room. So, as long as space permits, you needn’t be concerned about placing a transitional or contemporary design rug in a room with the traditional Persian carpet you inherited. The only thing that matters is that the rugs complement the furnishings and each other, and that the mixing of styles is appealing to you.   

On the surface of things

Area rugs look terrific on finished wood flooring, ceramic and other types of natural tile, and many other surfaces. If you are renting a furnished home or apartment whose main rooms are covered with broadloom, there’s no rule against placing area rugs over the carpeting, provided that the rug colors and patterns work well with those of the carpet. This used to be a “no-no,” but not today.

Problem spaces are no problem

Do you have a room that’s very long and narrow or a square, and need a rug to fit within those spaces? Does a structural column or other obstruction make fitting a standard size rug into the room impossible? If you have any of these or other problem spaces, you can relax. Hand-woven rugs from India can be made to order for you in virtually any shape and size. Just ask your decorator or talk to an area rug retailer who carries rugs made in India.

Haven’t found the right shade of blue, or the perfect size or shape you need?

You will be happy to know that hand-knotted and other types of hand-woven Rugs from India can be made to order for you. You can customize your own rug by selecting a design, then choosing the colors, size and shape that satisfies your personal taste and/or specific decorative requirements. Simply talk to your decorator or discuss your needs with an area rug retailer who sells “Rugs of India”.