How To Buy A Rug
While our expert staff can guide you through the rug-buying process, here are a few things to consider:
Purpose:
- Start your decorating with a focal point in mind - an inviting fireplace, an heirloom from a relative, an outdoor view, a gorgeous painting or a beautiful rug. A rug is an important focal point, plus it ties in other elements; something a sofa or chandelier doesn't do. Choose your area rug first, if possible. You'll have many more fabric, furniture, drapery and paint choices than you'll have rug choices.
- Determine the correct size you need by drawing a diagram of your room on graph paper (1/4" = 1'). SEE "PROPER SIZE" BELOW.
- Sketch out the main elements i.e. windows, doorways etc. then start to add your furniture groupings keeping in mind how you are going to be using the room and traffic flow.
- Think about how you want the room to feel. Are you looking for traditional or contemporary? Is the room formal or casual? Rugs have a dramatic impact on the feel of a room and when used properly can enhance the mood you want to create. You will spend more time in a room that has a wonderful rug in it!
- Be conscious of color balance in a room. If you are using a lot of dark, rich color on the floor then make sure you use color on your walls, such as artwork or window treatments.
- Keep in mind lighting. If a room is used primarily in the day with lots of natural light coming in (blue light) then you can go with a darker rug than you might think. And if a room is used primarily in the evening with incandescent light (yellow light) then think about using a lighter colored rug. Hint: The color red will look more vibrant in incandescent lighting and beiges and neutrals tend to wash out in sunlight.
- If you are visiting one of our showrooms, bring in samples of the decorative elements already in your rooms: pillows, fabric swatches, paint chips or clippings from magazines.
- Match the quality of the rug you'll need with the area of your home where it will be used. In foyers, go for a higher quality rug that will stand up to constant use. If the rug is for an area of your home that gets low traffic, durability might be less of a priority.
- Also, match the rug quality with the other furnishings in your home. Often the rug is the last purchase that is made when redecorating and the budget has been spent. A little planning can help you avoid running out of money for a quality rug to complement your other purchases.
- Many people put their rugs on top of carpet to create a focal point in the room. The same general principles apply whether you are using carpet, wood, tile or stone with one exception: the rug on top of carpet can usually be smaller without looking undersized.
- If the carpet is beige or neutral adding a rug is a great way to bring color into the room, just be careful that the rug and the carpet compliment each other. Never try to match the color of the carpet with the main color of the rug; it won't look good, it's much better to use the many accent colors in the rug to help you tie them together.
- Don't be afraid to mix patterns and colors. The rule of thumb for mixing patterns is to vary the scale. For example, use a small dot with a large-scale check or a narrow stripe with a large-scale floral. Use the many accent colors in your new rug to tie the whole room together.
- Remember: your rugs are among your most mobile decorating accessories. They travel well from room to room and house to house so think long-term when you purchase a rug.
- Ask questions! Hagopian's staff will be able to answer your questions about rugs. Our staff is second to none when it comes to offering you service that is knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. We never try to push you to buy something that does not work in your room. We offer free consultations and a Free In-Home Trial (FIT) program. We know we've done a good job when you say; "I love my Hagopian rug!"
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Proper Size
Living Room - Allow about 1-2 feet minimum of exposed floor around all sides. If possible center the rug on the main focal point in the room, like a fireplace, entertainment system or window. If the rug has a medallion you will need to take it in to account when placing your furniture. For larger rooms, more than one rug is acceptable because you may desire multiple conversation areas.
Dining Room - Add 4-5 feet to the width and length of the table dimensions to allow for chairs moving in and out (true with round tables also). This is more important for your guest on the sides than at the ends. In most cases this means an 8 x 10 rug. In older homes, you may need to bend this rule as the dining rooms tend to be smaller. In general many people prefer an all over patterned rug to one with a medallion.
Bedroom - There are basically two ways to use rugs in a bedroom, one is to purchase a large rug that covers most of the floor, the other is to use rugs around the bed and in sitting/dressing areas. We often recommend the latter approach because it has many cost and decorating advantages. Smaller rugs are easier to move to different areas of the room or the house, so you can create a fresh look in minutes. Also, since many bedrooms are carpeted the rugs do not need to provide warmth, they are there to add color and interest much like a painting on the wall.
Foyer - "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Sure, it's a cliche, but it's true. Your entrance into your home visually communicates who you are. The common mistake most people make is to purchase a cheap rug for this high traffic area, it's like someone who does a lot of cooking buying cheap cookware. Invest in quality for high traffic areas; it will cost you less in the long run!
Many people use rounds rugs with center medallions in their foyer because they are very dramatic. If the rug has a medallion, remember it should be centered on your door and chandelier if it can't be centered go with a less prominent motif. When placing a rectangle rug in your foyer we recommend that it be perpendicular to the door so that you are walking across the width of the rug as you enter.
Hallways - Runners are commonly 27"-32" wide and available in lengths of 8, 10 and 12 feet. Runners should be 4"-6" narrower on each side than the actual width of the hall, and when deciding on the length be sure that it won't end in the middle of a doorway or extend into the next room. Trust your own eye in judging the length; every hall has a natural termination point. Longer and wider runners are available, although they can be harder to find in hand knotted rugs. On the other hand, we can make almost any size you need with a little time. In many cases if you have an unusual size hallway it is faster to have something made for you just the way you want it than to hunt around for months trying to find the right size and style. Power loomed (roll) runners can be ordered in any length and be made quickly into a hall runner. Hand made runners will take longer, but it's worth the wait to get just the right one.
Stairs (curved or circular) - If your stairs are anything but straight we will need to come to your home and measure for a proper fit.
Stairs (straight) - For standard stairs allow approximately 18"-20" of runner for each step. It is best if you measure your stairs exactly then add an extra riser, and finally a 10% overage. Some larger scale patterns will require more overage because they need to be shifted for the pattern to line up properly.