The Foundation of A Room
I am a rug snob. I go weak in the knees over quality antique and semi-antique rugs that have history and show a bit of age….I’m not talking worn out here... they need to be in good condition or repairable.
My particular favorites are Heriz. They are durable and hard wearing and can last for generations. They say this is due to the high amount of copper in the drinking water of the sheep. All I know is that they call to me. I can spot them among stacks of hundreds! The flat weave really appeals to me.
No matter the quality, a plush rug says “Grandma” in my book.
In my opinion, a rug is the most important purchase when designing a room, or for that matter, an entire house. The rug is where I get my clues and inspiration for my fabric selections and paint colors. Making an investment in a nice rug is a tough decision. However, once you bite the bullet the fun begins!!
A word of advice: never, ever buy a rug without seeing it in your room first!
Reputable rug dealers will bring several to your home and let you live with them for a few days before you make a commitment.
If possible, I take the rug with me to the fabric showroom and lay samples right on top of it. When dealing with a larger rug I take with me the most accurate color photo available.
However, colors never look the same in a photo. (Only once have I ordered a rug off the internet and I will never do it again unless I can return it for a full refund.) I have been known to haul around rugs a large as a 10 x 14!
When deciding the best size for your room, start with the largest dimensions possible. Measure the length and width and subtract one foot all the way around… more if you are dealing with floor registers or vents. More often than not…. I say the bigger the better! Most rooms do best with at least an 8’ x 10’.
There are three “rules” for placing your furniture on a rug. 1) all legs on, 2) legs half on and half off and, my least favorite, 3) all legs off.
Although, I did live with option #3 for many years simply because I fell in love with a Kilim rug that I just had to have!! I adore Kilim rugs as well. Especially their bold color combinations. However, their thin profile and odd sizes make them more difficult to use.
Kilims are a great choice to hang on a wall or transform into covers for pillows or ottomans. You can also layer them on top of sisal rugs to “grow” their appearance and help keep them in place. A really good rug pad can do the trick as well.