How to choose the Perfect Rug for your Home

Adding a rug to your home can change the whole feel to your space, as they immediately add warmth and depth. The team @ The Interior Designer have outlined some helpful tips in choosing your next rug. Plus, we have shared some of our favourite rugs also to give you some inspiration.

Decorative rugs and runners have found a renewed status in the arena of thoughtful design for the home. In an era of open plan living they are an effective way to define spaces and create pathways with artistic and aesthetic appeal. With the increasing use of hard floors such as stone, concrete, tiles and wood, rugs can also be an effective way to soften a room’s acoustics, while also introducing texture, mood, colour and personality. We are huge fans of introducing rugs to your space to add beautiful and unique elements.

7 types of rugs

1. Hand-knotted: Each hand-knotted rug is a unique, labour-intensive work of an artisan. Each piece of weave is knotted by hand to create a one-of-a-kind, hard-wearing and vibrant rug.
2. Tufted: Strands of wool or yard are punched through a canvas backing and sheet and held in place with glue and fabric. These rugs are textured, durable and cheaper than hand-knotted rugs.
3. Woven: These rugs are made on a loom where vertical threads (warps) are held in place and horizontal threads (weft) are passed under and over. Woven carpets can be made of wool, silk or cotton.
4. Loop pile: The yarn is punched through the backing material then looped over and passed back through the material again. The loops can be all the same size or different lengths to create a textured look. Short loops are great for high-traffic areas whereas longer loops have a more luxurious feel.
5. Twist pile: Very similar to a loop pile except that the loop is given a twist or two. This creates a textured rug that is resistant to tracking (the leaving of footprint marks on the rug).
6. Cut pile: By taking a loop pile and cutting the tops off the loops at an even height, a cut pile rug is created. The effect is soft and luxurious with a rug that is elegant and quite formal.
7. Cut-and-loop pile: This combination of a cut-and-loop pile is used to create designs, textures and patterned effects. A great rug for hiding footprints and any tracked in dirt.

Some quick tips.

Choosing the correct size rug depends on the dimensions of the room. Make sure you don’t cover the entire floor space since your rug should have its own visual ‘frame’.

A good rule of thumb is to keep 30 to 60 centimetres of open space between the rug and the surrounding walls.

International sizes differ from Australian sized rugs, so if you’re buying an imported piece or ordering online, double check which size specifications you’re working with.

Rugs are a cost-effective way to add something new to your home and have listed some favourites below to inspire you.

Check out our 3 favourite rugs available now at www.theinteriordesigner.com.au

Zane Rug:

Cool Vista Rug:

Bateeq Rug White: