The rules of the rug

The Rules of the Rug

You should buy the biggest rug you can afford. The bigger the rug, the more luxurious it will feel. You can buy a large carpet and have it hemmed or whipped at your local carpet store.

A patterned rug or carpet works really well, zoning an open plan space. A rug should extend at least a meter beyond a dining table to allow chairs to be pulled in and out. When a rug isn't large enough to accommodate all the furniture, you must at least anchor the front legs and the armchair to it, if not the entire furniture.

Shape

You should consider layering your rugs much like you would cushions. Persian, modern and stripey rugs can all be layered together in odd numbers. Rugs can be secured to the floor using upholstery pins.

Putting Rugs on Carpets

A rug on a carpet is best with sisal or more matting surface.

Carpet

A carpet in a bedroom can be softer and less hardwearing. A carpet downstairs and on stairs should ideally be 80% wool and 20% nylon.

Carpet Tips and Tricks

The cut pile is good for hard-wearing carpets because it's tougher and the fibres are closer together. Loop pile carpet should be avoided if you have pets. When buying carpet, consider the fitting costs, disposal and underlay. If you are using stair runners, you will need to sand and paint the stair side.

Discover More

Take a look at our Pinterest board for some rug inspiration.