Rug Up But Get it Right the First Time!

This time of the year we feel the chill of winter. A new rug or two will not only change the décor but will add another textural dimension, giving you that warm, cosy feel. Open plan living is very much a part of our Australian lifestyle and with hard floor surfaces a popular choice in many new homes or extensions, rugs have an integral role to play, dividing rooms and reducing noise.

Rugs bring so much to the total look of any home, knowing what to choose and selecting the correct size can be confusing. Ethics are also important when selling or buying rugs and at insideout, we have a policy not to stock any rugs that would use child labour or contain chemicals that create off-gassing for the life of the rug.

Love your rug, but be practical, ethical and buy the best quality rug that your budget will allow. Here are some practical tips for getting it right…

Scale: rugs come in standard sizes 160 x 230, 190 x 290 or 250 x 350. Because of the growing popularity of large rugs, 300 x 400 some even larger 350 x 450 are available. The standard sizes are a fixed price, but at Insideout we can offer the option of custom sizes, colours and designs – anything is possible so get creative! Use masking tape or old sheets on the floor to measure out sizes.

Open plan: use larger rugs to define the areas, rugs that are too small will not connect the furniture to this space and can look messy.

Lounge room: you can place all furniture on the rug, or place sofa and occasional chairs around the edges, (at least halfway on the rug). Leave space between adjoining areas such as the dining room. Too close will take away from what you want to achieve.

Dining area: important to allow about 70cm so the chairs can be pulled out comfortably and still on the rug. A 2m x 3m rug for a six-seat dining setting and a 2.5 m x 3.5 m for an eight-seat dining setting. We have some great PET options for outdoors or under dining tables. These are made from recycled plastic and look and feel like a normal rug. Great for red wine spillages and messy guests are no problem. Flatweaves are also a great choice.

Additional rooms within your large space: I love a round rug in a corner with a few chairs and side table creating a small area, another room created. Choose a warm sunny spot for your winter read and morning cuppa.

Small rooms: don’t think small! A larger rug will make a room look larger, but the colour and pattern are important so ask an expert.

Cold rooms: some homes are cold – either in temperature or appearance. Our new rug range boasts some beautiful textures in neutral tones to add to a minimalistic décor.

Be practical: before you fall in love with that beautiful rug, stop and think of where it will be placed. Flatweaves are very popular and are a great choice for under a dining table. If you have little ones (or even messy adults) a darker or patterned rug is the best choice. Use flat weaves for hallways and high traffic areas.

Don’t forget outdoors: our indoor-outdoor rugs are unlike any other polypropylene rug on the market, great for under the dining area and outdoor entertaining. They can be bleached and hosed down to clean and are a great choice for brightening up an outdoor area.

Wool: Pure good quality wool is a great choice for a comfy rug to lie around on, is easily dry cleaned and will give many years of use. If you choose wool for a hall runner, I like to custom make them and have the wool cut shorter for much better wear.

Rugs are a big statement to your home so don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions and take home samples or rugs to try. The insideout team are happy to provide advice – we’re passionate about rugs and ensuring our clients don’t make expensive mistakes. Drop in and see us today and make sure you get it right the first time.