A rug can effortlessly transform any room. Not only can a rug change the look and mood of a room, they also have a range of practical benefits – from warming your home, to reducing noise.
Nowadays, homes don’t come carpeted, which means many people who move into a new home consider buying rugs for their floors. If you’re trying to decide whether to buy a rug or two for your place, it’s easy to think it’s a simple matter of décor.
When it comes to home décor, few pieces are more versatile than a rug. It’s a total multi-tasker, capable of enhancing style and hiding imperfections in one chic fell swoop. In fact, it’s our firm belief that everyone should own at least one rug, and we’ll tell you why.
TOP REASONS WHY RUGS ARE IMPORTANT
If you are trying to make a change to your flooring, but you don’t have a very large budget for the project, you might consider simply adding rugs to the floors in certain areas. Rugs carry a lot of advantages along with them.
But there are actually many reasons why adding a rug to your home may be a good idea, and so it’s important to keep all of them in mind to give you ideas as you furnish your place.
Here are 20 reasons why every home dweller should consider having rugs in their space.
BRIGHTEN A DARK ROOM
Dark hardwood or laminate floors are a beautiful and popular staple for contemporary homes. However, they can drain a lot of light from some spaces, especially corridors without windows.
Runner rugs in a lighter tone will break up this sort of flooring to give you the best mix of richness and airiness. A traditional patterned rug like this one incorporates off-whites
In a room with dark walls and furniture, add a large rug that features light colours. This one features cheery orange accents and a simple but eye-catching geometric pattern. Throw a light rug over a dark carpet to help brighten the look and feel of your lounge room.
An important benefit of rugs is that they are versatile. You can move them around the room, to different rooms and even take them with you when you move! They are perfect if you love changing your décor frequently, allowing you to mix it up with the season or whenever you like.
CHANGE COLOUR THEME
Rugs are an instant way to create a soft, luxurious surface underfoot. Rugs can do a number of different things to a room. They can divide the room into different areas, create a theme, be re-positioned or removed completely, and be exchanged for other rugs on a whim.
You can do whatever you want with them, it is nice to be able to change your flooring style at the drop of a hat simply by putting out a different rug. Use a favourite rug as the basis of the colour scheme in a room. On the other hand, if you add it after you have your furniture in place, you can use the rug to accent or tie in your existing colours.
A rug has the ability to add to (or change) the colour scheme in a room. Changing the mood of your room can be as easy as swapping between two rugs. Consider buying two different styles for your living room: one for summer and one for winter.
ENHANCE YOUR DECOR
People usually think of rugs as a way to enhance their home décor. This is for good reason as rugs come in just about every colour, design, material, and shape you can imagine.
A whimsical or bright coloured rug can make a bold statement. While a neutral or traditional patterned rug may serve as the perfect complement to a room. You might also want to place a dark rug on a light floor and vice versa for contrast.
They warm up a room while adding a decorative touch: rugs are a sure-fire way to add colour and texture to any room. A rug can anchor a room, define it, add warmth, and help layer a room’s decor.
A graphic, modern rug is enough to create an entire world of its own, showcasing our furniture. An old and precious rug creates a theatrical feel which can be enhanced by a soft hue on the wall or a print on the curtains and home textiles.
INVITING TO VISITORS
Call it a foyer, an entryway, an entrance hall, but whatever you call it. It’s the space between the great outdoors and your well-thought-out home that’s not always easy to style. This can be particularly true for rugs, because you must consider not only the natural elements, but also the style of your home…and tastefully merge the two.
Because, in case you’re wondering, yes, there will be mud on someone’s shoe when they come through your door. Yes, a child may dribble some ice cream from his cone on his way outside. Yes, someone’s wet footprints will find their way across the rug as she runs inside to grab her forgotten purse.
Most of the time, tenants can be barred from placing welcome mats outside their door. But you can certainly put a small rug that says “Welcome” just inside your door. Such a rug can serve as a nice way to greet guests as they enter your home. While also giving them a convenient means to wipe their shoes, which helps keep your home clean.
INCREASE SAFETY
Do you panic every time your precious little one falls whilst practicing their new walking skills? A rug could offer you the perfect landing cushion, protecting delicate heads, knees and hands during this most important phase of their lives.
Rugs are ideal for cushioning our footsteps, reducing slips and falls and minimising injuries when falls do occur. It provides safety protection for the whole family, but especially for toddlers and older individuals.
Rugs can help lower the risk of injuries from slipping mishaps inside your home. If your home has a long hallway and you have young children living with you, adding a runner there can help prevent injuries. Similarly, if you notice part of your floor gets slippery after it’s cleaned, you might choose to put a rug over that part to prevent slipping hazards.
Be sure to place liners underneath rugs, as necessary, to keep them firmly in place. You can also add a bath mat to absorb water and prevent slips after showering.
COVER IMPERFECTIONS
If it’s your floor that has a problem – like cracked tiles, for example – a quick fix would be to hide it using a rug. Ideally, these rugs go well and blend in with the rest of the furniture in the room. Wall-to-wall carpeting might be there to stay, but rugs are all yours to take with you should you relocate.
An unsightly stain or distracting imperfection in wood can be a great reason to cover that part of your floor with a rug. If part of your floor is damaged, however, you should bring it to your landlord’s attention. Tripping hazards in floors should be fixed, and never just covered up, to avoid accidents.
Even if you are renting, you still want your home to look nice and to be able to show it off. Sometimes floors in rental units are more economical and have imperfections. Using rugs is a great way to hide those imperfections and make your floors look less utilitarian.
TIE A ROOM TOGETHER
Many people think of a rug as a “finishing touch” for a room. However, a rug is a great way to begin decorating since it can give you a good colour palette to start from. Rugs can define a conversation area in the living room, a seating area in an office, or an eating area in the kitchen or dining room.
They can separate rooms that have no defining wall and mark off areas by placing them on wall-to-wall carpeting.
Rugs provide an additional visual layer, making it easy to transform a room from cold and dreary to warm and colourful. Drawing from the Big Lebowski, the “dude” says; “that rug really ties a room together”.
Rugs come in virtually every size, colour, pattern and material one could possibly imagine. Which makes it easy to find the rug as the bold focus of your room, or you can use it to unify your colour schemes. It just makes everything make more sense. A rug works as well, if not better, than art or throw pillows to unify your colour schemes.
CLEANING IS LESS HASSLE
Have your children messed up your floor, or your dog decided to shred your favourite teddy? If you don’t have a rug, the song-and-dance that must ensue is an elaborate production involving a broom, dust pan, bin bag, and perhaps even a mop. With a rug, all you’ve got to do is bust out your trusty vacuum.
Rugs are easy to clean. The fibres mean that there is no problem vacuuming rugs. Regular vacuuming, once a week, will easily remove dust. But weather permitting, means it can be a good idea to hang your rug outside and beat it.
If an accident does occur and something gets spilt, make sure you remove the stain immediately. Use a cloth to soak up the liquid until it is all absorbed. To remove the actual stain, it is advisable to use professional cleaning agents and to follow the instructions. If you happen to ruin your carpet, you can imagine the cost of having to replace the whole thing.
PROTECT WOOD FLOORING
Hardwood floors are much coveted, but they can be an expensive investment. It’s worth protecting valuable floors in high traffic areas, such as under a dining table where scratches from dining chairs will soon start to show. Whether you have hardwood floors or carpet, a rug can help protect against spills, stains and scuffs.
Wood floors in hallways, entryways, and near the garage are normally high-traffic areas that will see more wear and tear.
Use runner rugs in these areas to keep shoes from leaving marks and scuffs on the floor and to protect against debris brought in from the outside.
While it can look nice to have a smaller rug that just covers the floor in a seating area. If you want to protect the wood flooring in a larger area, you’re going to need a larger rug. Place rugs in high-traffic areas like the lounge room, or in areas where the kids play and eat. They are also a stylish alternative to the unappealing plastic floor protection mats often used under desk chairs.
LAYERING RUGS
Are you wanting a rug that is just too expensive in the size you need? That’s where layering rugs can step in to help! Find a neutral coloured rug in the right size for your room and then layer a smaller size of the rug you adore on top. You’ll get the benefits without the cost.
Layering and patterns are two big trends in flooring. Rugs are a cost-effective and fun way to add these trends to your home décor. Rugs can be installed on any type of flooring – yes even carpet! You can add a pattern, incorporate a contrasting pattern, layer different colours to bring depth to your home design – and so much more!
Sometimes one rug just won’t do — however, if you layer a tiny rug on top of a large rug, you may end up with a strange look so keep sizes in proportion to each other. If you have wall to wall carpet, you can layer a smaller rug on top and that won’t look bad.
SOUND CONTROL
It’s said that some people march to the beat of their own drum, but sometimes it sounds like your children are literally marching to the beat of drums. If you have hardwood floors, you could possibly set up folding chairs and start charging admission for your concert. Fortunately, rugs can work wonders muffling sound – especially with a thick rug pad.
It can be hard to leave behind a home you’ve grown sentimentally attached to. Or, you know, one with amazing rugs you hate to bid adieu.
Open floor plans and great rooms are a fixture in many homes. These spaces have many advantages for homeowners but sometimes these large open areas aren’t advantageous for noise levels. If you have tile or hardwood floor in a large room, you’ve likely noticed that sounds carry and can get out of control. A rug adds a layer of sound absorption that is surprisingly effective at quieting a room.
GROUNDING ASPECT
Many people intuitively know that rugs help a space feel grounded, even if they don’t know how or why. There are a couple of reasons for this.
The first is that, when properly placed, a rug can help anchor the furniture in a room, which helps to create a cosy, intimate space.
For example, a living room or family room rug should be large enough that the main pieces of furniture (sofa, chair, coffee table etc.) are all sitting on the rug, or at minimum have the front legs on the rug.
Without the rug, it can feel as though the furniture is ‘floating’ in the room.
The second reason that rugs help ground a space is that they provide a resting place for both body and energy. If you subscribe to Feng Shui or similar beliefs, or even if you just intuitively sense it, a rug slows down the energy that flows though the home. A rug introduces a sense of calm into a space by slowing the energy.
ARTWORK FOR YOUR FLOOR
Contemporary rugs look more like paintings than ever before, from squiggles, brushstrokes and wiggly stripes to washes, wild abstracts, doodles, sketches and even prints. There’s no limit to what an artful designer can do.
Rugs are literally a work of art – just one that is designed to be walked upon! A bold patterned rug creates a focal point for the room’s décor. A rug in just the right shade can tie together the colours of your drapes and furnishings.
Rugs are often so beautiful, it’s seriously tempting to hang rugs on the wall and admire them as though they are wall art. It’s genius because you get the impact of upscale art at a fraction of the price. You can also add a rug in a contrasting colour to make your furnishings or wall colour really pop. Rugs add a lot to some rooms design!
Bringing colour and graphical elements into a room, rugs help create a dynamic gathering place.
WARMTH
Lay a rug on a hardwood floor and you instantly increase the warmth and comfort of a room. Add a rug next to a bed and you’ve given yourself a layer of cushion and softness to step on first thing in the morning. Hardwood floors are not only chilly underfoot in winter; they don’t help hold in any heat. Place a rug over your floors during colder months to help warm up the whole house.
Sometimes a long stretch of wood or tile flooring can be slippery underfoot – especially if you have little ones running around in socks. A rug adds a bit of traction right where you need it. And it does so beautifully and with style!
In addition to being softer, rugs are warmer than hard surface flooring. It has a greater insulating value, especially if it has a pad under the rug. This applies throughout the home but is particularly welcomed in basements, where the floor can be downright cold.
Especially if you have solid-surface floors, such as hardwood, concrete or tile, you can appreciate the cushy relief rugs bring to your space.
ANCHORS FURNITURE
A living room or family room grouping of furniture can seem to float in a room. Add a rug and you’ll visually anchor the furniture, changing the whole look of the room. A rug makes this same impact beneath a dining room table or strategically placed in a bedroom. A rug changes the focal point of a room and adds a visual divider that makes a space feel more cosy and comfortable.
Rugs make a room look connected and cohesive. In living rooms and family rooms, use a rug that’s big enough to fit under the front legs of your furniture. If it’s too small to do that, centre the rug under your coffee table.
Be it in the living room, bedroom or dining room, area rugs feel right at home. A rug connects everything and makes it feel nice and cohesive. As a rule of thumb; use a rug under the largest piece, or group of furniture, in a room to anchor the space.
COMFORT
If you’re not the type to wear slippers when walking around your home at night, you may wish to add rugs to certain parts of your floor so that your feet feel more comfortable, especially with floors that tend to get cold.
It’s no secret that rugs are a lot softer than hardwood or tile, and most people will agree with the statement that rugs are more comfortable to stand on than a hard surface floor. Not only does the rug feel softer to the touch on your skin, but its softness gives it flexibility, which allows the rug to absorb some of the impacts of your footstep.
Conversation areas like the living room can be warm and be inviting with the help of a rug and in certain spaces, they create a cosy feel, particularly in the colder months. They are great in high traffic areas or in areas where children often play on the floor like a baby’s nursery.
ALLERGIES
While it may seem counter-intuitive, rugs can have a positive effect on allergens in the home.
For years, those with allergies were advised to remove all carpeting and rugs from the home, on the basis that rugs trap allergens. Numerous recent studies have shown that rugs are beneficial to allergy sufferers because it traps allergens – thereby keeping them out of the air, where they will be breathed in. If you have no rugs in your home and suffer from allergies or other breathing conditions, you may find that a rug will help alleviate some of those problems.
Rugs act as the biggest air filter in your home. They improve indoor air quality by trapping dust, pollen, and other particles from the air. Rugs are a better choice than carpet for asthma and allergy sufferers because they can be taken out of the home to be more thoroughly cleaned.
For more information on Rugs and Allergies, click here.
NOISE REDUCTION
Noise transferring from room to room or between units can be annoying. Rugs actually help to absorb and reduce noise like the sound and vibration of walking or things being dropped onto the floor, especially on hard surfaces like hardwood floors.
A rug will significantly decrease the noise in your space. Not only is a rug quieter to walk on than a hard surface floor, it also absorbs sound from the air. Do you notice that your room has a slight echo? That is because the hard surface floor does not absorb sound in the same way that a rug does. Lay down a rug and listen to the difference.
Especially when accompanied by an ample rug pad, area rugs do a wonderful job of buffering noise.
You may notice an echo in your home at the start of moving day. As you add items that absorb sounds, such as furniture, window treatments, and rugs, the echo diminishes. If you think that a room or hallway has too much of an echo for your liking, adding a rug to that area should help.
STYLE
Rugs instantly add colour, texture and pattern to a room and create visual interest that reflects your style and personality. They are considered as practical, functional art for your floor that helps define the mood or character of a room.
Rugs are especially great if you’re renting and want to freshen up the space but aren’t allowed to paint the walls. Hang more pictures or art, or add any permanent decorative touches.
Just remember that the rule of thumb in design is to create an equal balance of interest for the eye. So, if you have neutral coloured furniture and décor, a bold printed rug would be perfect and vice versa.
Aside from all of the practical benefits a rug can be a decorative rug that really ties a space together. This can be done subtly with neutral colour tones, or you can make a statement with something bold and patterned. If your room is missing a little something, a rug can fill in the gap nicely.
Thoughts?
So, as you can see, there are many advantages to having rugs in your home, that go beyond appearances. (Although the appearance and style of the space are definitely a big factor!).
Practical. Versatile. Beautiful. Rugs are an excellent addition to any home. Need some help deciding just which rug best meets your needs? Then discover these tips for choosing the perfect rug here.
Browse our wonderful range of rugs and keep up to date with our blog for more interior design tips!
