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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.