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6 Tips for Choosing the Best Area Rug

November 27, 2018 | By Tara Walano, Darvin Rug Specialist


I have been studying design for decades. While my formal education started it all off, interior design is a constantly evolving art that requires a willingness to be open-minded about the potential for any space, a good eye for color and texture, and confidence in one’s experience.

As a rug specialist, when I talk with people about buying an area rug for their home, it always feels like a new and exciting adventure. No two homes are alike, no rooms are ever the same – and certainly every owner has varying degrees of likes and dislikes. Whether it’s Persian rugs, kitchen rugs, runner rugs or outdoor rugs, everyone has likes and dislikes.

Rug by Oriental Weavers

Kaleidoscope Rug by Oriental Weavers

Adding an area rug to a room can be as impactful as you want it to be. Oftentimes, less can be more if the rug is used to simply add an accent to a room or meant to add a little warmth underfoot. However, never underestimate the ability of an area rug to fully impact a room of solid colors or lines, you can choose to make a statement with a bold design or bright colors.

Darvin offers area rugs for sale by award-winning brands such as Magnolia Home - Loloi, Mohawk, Nourison, Dalyn, Oriental Weavers, Karastan, Kas, and Feizy.

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Delano Rug by Kas Rugs

Biggest Challenges
The biggest challenge anyone has in choosing the perfect area rug starts with identifying a style that speaks to them; next, finding the right colors that comforts them; lastly, choosing the right ‘feel’ or texture that warms them.

Any one of the above items can be the dominant reason for someone to choose a specific area rug over another, but typically it is a balance of the three that determines what goes home with a customer.

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Important to know
These are the Top-6 decisions that influence an area rug choice. Looking at only a few of these can potentially lead to an area rug that doesn’t fit, doesn’t wear well, or is unable to stand the test of time from year to year.
1. Target room for the area rug (Bedroom, family room, dining room, etc.)
2. Shape and size of the room, including ceiling height
3. Style and amount of furniture in the room
4. Prominent colors
5. Distinguishing decor
6. Does space open up to other rooms

Room/Rug Size When it comes to the perfect area rug, it will always come down to placement. This is a really big deal because you want the placement in the room to have the perfect relationship to the other items in the room, which includes walls, artwork, accessories and furnishings. Just because a room is big does not mean you must utilize a big area rug, there are many more variables to take into consideration.

Rug Shapes
The most popular shapes of area rugs are rectangles and round. Both shapes provide distinct advantages and understanding that can be the difference between a dream room and a nightmare. Round rugs are designed for confined, casual and odd-shaped spaces, while rectangular rugs are best used for large and more formal spaces.

Be Prepared
Help your rug specialist help you by coming prepared to the showroom with photos of the room, paint chips, color swatches, tiles, wood floor samples and any other tangible items that are fixed in the room. It is critical to bring images shot from a couple different angles and it will ultimately help your rug specialist help you choose color, style and size.

Rug Specialists at Darvin Furniture

Rug Specialists Tara Walano (left) and Sharon O'Sullivan (right)

Darvin Furniture & Mattress offers free consultation with rug specialists. Stop into the Darvin showroom or go to the website and see the hundreds of quality area rugs available at Darvin, 15400 La Grange Road in Orland Park, IL.