Decorating a Family Room with Area Rugs

August 1, 2011 by admin
Filed under: Small Rugs

by Chrissy Olson

Decorating a Family Room with Area RugsDecorating a Family Room with Area Rugs

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Home Page > Home Improvement > Interior Design > Decorating a Family Room with Area Rugs

Decorating a Family Room with Area Rugs

Posted: Jan 31, 2011 |Comments: 0

If you think that you can only use area rugs in rooms that have hardwood floors, think again. In reality, these versatile rugs can be used just about anywhere – even in carpeted rooms. Rugs add depth and dimension to an interior design scheme, allowing you to create a customized look with ease. Deciding to use rugs is easy; figuring out precisely how to arrange them is a bit trickier. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few tried-and-true tips for using area rugs in a family room or living room.

Always Use Rug Pads

Rug pads keep area rugs in place while keeping wear and tear to an absolute minimum. Many people are under the impression that pads are only needed in rooms that have hardwood floors; that is not true at all. In fact, rug pads can – and should – be used in carpeted and tiled rooms, as well. Every time pressure is applied to an area rug, as in a footstep, friction occurs between the rug and the floor. Over time, that friction can wear through the bottom of a rug. A quality pad absorbs a lot of that pressure; in turn, friction is reduced and wear and tear is prevented.

Measure the Room

Whether you’re planning to use large rugs or small ones, you should always carefully measure a room before moving ahead with your plans. Measure the overall dimensions of the room first. If you’re going to use small rugs to accent a corner of a large room, measure that corner as well. Different measurements will be needed for things like runners, too, since they need to be arranged in narrow spaces. Keep in mind that you should always allow at least five to eight inches of floor space to show around each edge of a rug to achieve an aesthetically pleasing look.

First, Do a Test Run

Nothing is more aggravating than investing in an area rug, only to discover that it doesn’t fit into your living room like you thought it would. Even if you’re meticulous with your measurements, a rug can look a lot different than you’d envisioned when it’s actually laid down on your family room floor. Instead of wasting a lot of time and money, cut out squares of various sizes from a tarp. Arrange them in your family room to see which sizes work the best. When you’re finished, you’ll know the exact measurements of your ideal area rug.

Basic Ideas for Using Area Rugs

The following suggestions should spark some great ideas for decorating a living room or family room with rugs. Keep them in mind as you make your plans in order to achieve the most stylish and attractive results possible.

Coffee Tables – Rugs look great beneath coffee tables. In this case, size is extremely important. A too-small rug will be swallowed up by the coffee table and will fade away into the background; a too-large rug will overpower the coffee table and look awkward. Try to choose a rug that mimics the shape of the coffee table; for instance, choose a rectangular rug for a rectangular table. The edges of the rug should extend out at least eight inches from the feet of the coffee table. This will produce the most eye-catching results.

Sitting Areas – If you’re decorating a large room, you can use an area rug to define a sitting area. Lay down the rug and arrange the sofas and chairs around it. In effect, it will look like a “mini-room” within the larger living room or family room. For added style, select a rug that contrasts nicely with the flooring and furniture.

Sofas and Chairs – When arranging furniture around an area rug, it’s usually best to have the front legs on the rug and the back ones off of it. This produces the most visually stunning effect. Always use furniture pads on the bottoms of your furniture so that it doesn’t wear holes in your rugs – or scrape up your floors. Remember, too, that you can always rearrange your rugs and your furniture from time to time, which is a great way to keep your interior design scheme looking fresh and new.

Whether you opt for one large rug or for an eclectic array of smaller area rugs, you’re sure to love the stylish visual effects that they bring to your living room or family room.

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Gina B Hopkins –

About the Author:
Gina Hopkins writes about different home renovation tips and the latest on area rugs for design, out of St. Louis, MO. Always looking for the best bargain on renovation materials, she tends to end up shopping at more often than not.

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What type of rug/flooring should I put over hardwood floors to turn it into an exercise room? I know I can purchase the pvc mats (treadmill, utility, etc), but what rug should go under these?

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