Luxury Rug Buying Guide: How To Choose The Right Rug

When approaching interior design, it’s a common misconception that soft furnishings require less thought than large furniture pieces. The truth is soft furnishings play an integral part in the all-important task of layering and making a house feel like a home, and they should be selected with the same careful attention you’d dedicate to choosing any other piece for your interior. Rugs, in particular, have long been a signifier of luxury, offering warmth and underfoot comfort as well as color, texture, and pattern. They can be used to divide spaces, define a mood or simply parade the art of tapestry across a floor.

But, with the range of piles, materials, and styles out there, investing isn’t always easy. Whether you’re after a slender hallway runner or a living room showpiece, our luxury rug buying guide will provide ideas and advice on choosing the right rug for your home.

RUGS SIZE

It can be hard to visualize the true scale of rugs in-store and online, so it’s essential to get the accurate size of your desired rug and the area you plan to display it. “To get the most out of a  luxury rugs design, it should always be surrounded by exposed flooring otherwise it somewhat loses its effect,” advises Art of Rugs, so plan a little space—perhaps for a walkway—around the edge of your rug.

There are size guidelines to help you decide on the dimensions of the rug you need but remember that interior design shouldn’t be confined by hard and fast rules. Every space is different and this approach should be used just as a starting point.

KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM RUGS

For rugs beneath kitchen or dining tables, measure the perimeter of the table and add around 140–150 centimeters to the length and width. This ensures the size of the rug is proportionate to the table and provides extra space so that chairs remain on the rug when pulled out.

BEDROOM RUGS

In a master bedroom, add at least 60 centimeters to each side that isn’t touching a wall to ensure the rug sits well past the bed frame. Underfoot comfort is bliss first thing in the morning – this size and positioning will make sure your feet hit the rug when you climb out of bed.

LIVING ROOM RUGS

As a rule of thumb for a living room rug in the center of a furniture display, subtract around 60 centimeters from the length and width of your space to give you the ideal rug size. If you’re using a large rug, whether your furniture sits entirely on the rug or half off is a personal preference. Play around with your room setting to see what works but remember if your rug has a beautiful motif, it’s best to show off the full design.

HALLWAY RUNNERS

For hallway runners, measure your space and subtract around 30 centimeters from the width and 60 centimeters from the length for a neat fitting and perfectly sized rug.

RUG CARE AND MAINTENANCE

– Blot any rug stains and spillages with cool water as rubbing can make stains even worse. Always seek specialist help for aggressive stains or extremely expensive designs.

– Shag pile and loop-pile rugs should be beaten to remove dust and dirt, while hand-spun yarn rugs should be vacuumed regularly at first as they often shed.

– Turn rugs regularly as sunlight can cause fading. Be wary that furniture and heavy footfall can flatten certain areas, resulting in an uneven appearance.

– Rugs that are placed on wooden or tiled surfaces should be fitted with underlay to prevent slipping. Underlay also enhances underfoot comfort, extends the life of the carpet beneath, prevents natural vegetable dyes from transferring to flooring, and provides extra heat and noise insulation.

Remember underlay should be slightly smaller than the rug itself so it doesn’t peep out beneath.