To rug or not to rug?
Posted June 19, 2023
To rug or not to rug?
Rugs. They’ve been around for thousands of years with many ancient civilisations weaving their own out of the materials they had on hand such as reeds, grass, and animal hair. Our rugs today, made by machines, couldn’t be more different but they still have the same function – to provide comfort, warmth and style. Let’s explore the place that rugs have in our homes today.
The last decade has seen a shift in flooring design with an increasing number of homeowners including more hard flooring in their homes. Traditionally, carpet would be used in all rooms apart from the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry for obvious reasons. However, now it is far more common to see hard flooring - whether that be vinyl, laminate, hybrid, timber or tiles, used as a floor covering in dining and living areas, hallways, and even bedrooms. When this is the case, hard flooring covers a far larger area or sometimes all of the floor space in the home.
Hard flooring offers a huge array of aesthetic finishes and designs, which add interest and character to a space. It is also extremely practical, with almost all types being scratch and stain resistant. This makes it easy to clean and low maintenance, a big drawcard. Yet something that hard flooring cannot provide is softness and warmth.
Enter rugs! The increase in the use of hard flooring in homes over the last few years has caused many homeowners to look to rugs as a way of reintroducing some of this softness and warmth back into their spaces. There’s something about planting your feet on a plush surface, especially on a chilly winters day! Rugs are a fantastic way to achieve this warmth and comfort underfoot in areas with hard flooring. Rugs can also:
- Reduce noise
- Protect floors
- Anchor furniture
- Define spaces
- Enhance décor
With all these great benefits, it’s no wonder so many people are including rugs in their homes. Here are some areas that could be enhanced by one:
- Bedrooms – a rug underneath your bed and extending out from the edges gives a soft surface for your feet to land on when you rise each morning.
- Dining areas – placing a rug beneath your dining table provides comfort underfoot when using your table. Use the size and shape of your dining table as a guide to choose the ideal rug. The rug should extend at least 90cm from all sides of your table to look in proportion and to ensure that when chairs are pushed back from the table they remain on the rug. If you have a round table, we recommend choosing a round rug to create a cohesive space.
- Living/lounge areas – In these spaces, the bigger the rug, the better! Smaller rugs tend to make an area look smaller. If you want all of your seating to fit comfortably on the rug, we advise that it extends a minimum of 20cm from the edge of each couch or chair. Another thing to note is that entertainment units don’t need to sit on the rug, keep this in mind when choosing a size. If your space only allows for a smaller rug, you can place couches and chairs half-on, half-off the rug, with the front legs sitting on the rug.
- Hallways – Placed in the centre of your hallway with equal flooring showing either side, a rug can be a real statement in your hallway. As well as providing warmth, their soft surface also helps to dampen acoustics and minimise footstep noise.
A thoughtfully chosen rug underneath your dining table adds comfort underfoot as well as stylishly defining the space.
Although we have generally looked at rugs being used in areas with hard flooring, they can also certainly be used in carpeted rooms and areas too! In these instances, rugs are more utilised to anchor furniture, define spaces and enhance décor.
There is a huge selection of readymade rugs available in all sorts of fibres, colours, shapes and sizes allowing you to find something to suit your space, style and budget. If you’re after something unique, custom rugs are an option allowing you to choose exactly what you want, right down to the edging. A custom rug can become a real feature in a space and make a real statement in your home. Here at The Flooring Centre we have established strong relationships with both Bremworth and Signature Floors who offer ready to go rugs as well as custom options. If you’d like a rug for your home or you’re after some advice, pop in and have chat to our friendly team, they’re more than happy to help!