How to Shop for an Area Rug

With so many different types of area rugs available to shoppers, finding the perfect one sounds like - and can be - a daunting task. But with a few simple preparatory steps, things get a lot simpler.

First, choose the area rug style that best fits with your decoration scheme. Decide what you want the focus of your room to be. Do you want it to be the rug? Then look for something with a big pattern or bright colors. Is there already a focal point in your room? If so, you might want to look for a more understated pattern in muted tones. Does your wallpaper or furniture have a pattern? Be sure to make a mental note of the colors and sizes of the patterns and choose a rug with a complementary scheme. Don't feel like you have to get a rectangle, either. Rugs come in lots of different shapes and sizes - like obliques, circles, and hexagonal shapes - and any of these could be the perfect complement for your room.

If you have a predetermined spot in the home for the rug - maybe under the coffee table or dining room table - measure your furniture and be aware that the rug should be larger than the table. All four legs should fit on the rug, and it should be about the same length as all the furnishings in the space already. Leave some floor between the area rug and the furniture to accent the decor. If your rug is going around a table, make sure the chair legs don't go off the rug when people are seated at the table.

Finally, consider a rug pad. It keeps the piece from moving around and creates a stable base for furniture. It also prevents the rug from wrinkling, reduces wear on the area rug, and acts as an additional noise barrier. Pads also keep rugs from scratching delicate floor surfaces, like wood or laminate, and make vacuuming much easier.