5 Tips on Choosing an Area Rug for Your Bedroom

How many times have you been jolted out of your dreamy wakefulness in the morning thanks to the ice-cold floor? It’s not a pleasant sensation at all, and each time it happens, you probably thought, “I need a rug!”

Traditional and modern rugs for bedrooms deserve much appreciation. Even though they’re mostly hidden under a bed, desk, or futon, they still occupy a wide space and remain visible from every angle.

They also have practical uses besides keeping your toes snug and toasty. Rugs can cover up stubborn floor stains and imperfections, protect hardwood floors from scratches, prevent lightweight furniture from getting jostled out of place, improve room acoustics, and insulate your floor so that your room stays warm during the drafty winter months.

Choosing such a vital piece of bedroom accessory needs careful thought. You may not realize it, but there are many things to consider when choosing rugs, like color, design, texture, and material.

Let us help you out: here are our top five tips on how to choose a rug for your bedroom.

1. Get the Right Size

Size matters where rugs are concerned. A mismatch between the size of the rug and the room can diminish the appeal of the former, no matter how gorgeous or expensive it is.

What’s the ideal size for a bedroom rug? It depends on where you plan to place it. Below is a cheat sheet of the ideal measurements:

• Carpets under the bed - The rule of thumb is that the edges should extend 18 to 24 inches away from the left and right (if not all three) sides of the bed. This length is ideal because it also covers the space fronting the nightstands, should you have any.
• Carpets under a sitting area - If you want to separate your sleeping and sitting areas, get another carpet for the latter. Ideally, the edges of the rug should be tucked under the first set of couch legs at the very least.
• Carpets under the bed and a desk or sitting area - If you have a small bedroom, a rug will merge your sleeping and sitting areas into a cohesive, cozy space. Find one that extends from underneath one side of your bed to the front legs of the couch, desk, wardrobe, or whatever furniture stands on the other side of the room.

You might ask, can I use two or three smaller rugs instead? You could. But consider the cons: you’ll have more edges to deal with (a.k.a., tripping hazards), one or two more rugs to dry-clean, and plenty of exposed, cold flooring.

2. Choose a Material that Matches Your Floor

More than an aesthetic concern, matching the material of an area rug with the floor is a practical issue. For example, you won’t want to lay an area rug with synthetic latex backing directly on the hardwood: the latex could stick on the wood and leave ugly marks. Natural fiber rugs are better for hardwood. If you want to be on the safe side, choose cotton, wool, or synthetic rugs because they are compatible with most floor types.

Here at Lolo Rugs and Gifts, our handmade, modern rugs are made from woven wool and bamboo silk, both of which are ideal for treated hardwood and other types of flooring.

3. Choose One that Stays in Place

We’ve already mentioned it, but it bears repeating: area rugs can be safety hazards if they’re not properly positioned. That said, it’s sometimes unavoidable for a corner or edge to lie exposed on the floor with no furniture to cover it. To prevent accidents, choose a well-crafted rug with a sturdy backing made with high-friction gel, latex, or anti-slip underlay. You can also buy anti-slip rug pads separately for an extra grip on your floor. If it’s not possible to use underlays with an area rug, you’re better off finding another — safer — option.

4. Choose According to Your Habits

Other things to consider when choosing a material for an area rug are your habits and lifestyle. If, for example, you enjoy lying on the floor while reading or watching TV, you might enjoy a high-pile rug more. But if you have a pet dog or cat that’s prone to shedding, or if you must keep the bike you ride every day inside your room, a low-pile rug would be more practical. It’s easier to vacuum and can endure more cleanings than a high- or medium-pile rug.

5. Match Your Style

Finally, choose an area rug that suits your taste. Some choose rugs according to their personality: outgoing people tend to go for bright colors, while minimalists often choose whites, blacks, and earth tones. Alternatively, you can choose rug colors and designs based on the atmosphere you want to create in your room. Muted colors are best if you want to maintain a relaxing ambiance, but if you want visual stimulation, geometric patterns and bold color combinations will do nicely.

As with most things related to interior design, choosing a rug requires more than a second’s thought. Use these tips as your guide on your next rug purchase. If you need a designer’s advice, Lolo Rugs and Gifts can help. We can visit your home and provide samples for a free rug showing at your convenience.

Contact us today.