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Rugs. And I Don't Mean Toupees.
- by mswen
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- October 27, 2008
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Oh, rugs! You drive me crazy: you confuse me; you take all of my money. But, with a house full of chilly hardwood floors, I NEED you -- and you know it. Although you've made me chase you through countless stores, up and over eBay, and through Craigslist, and have wrecked havoc on my stress level when you've arrived at my home home waaaaay too large for a room or seven shades off of the color you appeared to be on my monitor, one good thing has come from our messy relationship: I know all about you. And so I'm here to bittersweetly share your secrets and mysteries with the world.
-----------------Before you
You’ve got just a few
Size
Are you looking to cover your entire floor with the rug? If so, the general rule of thumb is to have about an eight inch gap around the rug’s perimeter. If you want a smaller area rug, experiment with size and proportion before committing to a specific size or shape.
Use tape to create an outline on the floor of the size/shape of the rug you’re considering, so you can get a sense of how you’ll arrange the furniture on and/or around it. You may end up prefering a size smaller than you originally thought you’d need.
...Color/Pattern
This is where people (OK, I) get the most stuck when picking out a rug. There are no hard and fast rules to this (and if there are, ignore them); but sometimes it takes trial and error to get the look you’re going for.
Once you settle on the size and shape of the rug you’re looking for, take a photo of the room with you to the rug store – with so many colors and patterns to choose from, it’s easy to get distracted, overwhelmed, and/or excited and buy a rug that isn’t right for it, so having a picture to refer to will keep you focused.
If your room is already decorated, pick out one key hue in your room and buy a rug with that color prominently displayed. As with wall paint, light colored rugs make a room feel bigger; dark colors create coziness (and, hide dirt quite well).
----------------Where to
No matter if you’re looking for a rug that’s
here are some fail-safe places
Ikea’s Hedda rug.
Ikea
1 Ikea Way, Stoughton, MA 02072
For budget-friendly, mostly basic, sometimes funky, mainly cotton and wool rugs, Ikea is a great starting point.
For budget-friendly, mostly basic, sometimes funky, mainly cotton and wool rugs, Ikea is a great starting point.
The Geo Square printed cotton rug at Urbans.
Urban Outfitters
361 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115
For super funky and fearless rugs, Urbans has them. On the cheap.
For super funky and fearless rugs, Urbans has them. On the cheap.
Colorful Dash & Albert rugs at Hudson.
Hudson
312 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Super-chic decor store Hudson carries fun, colorful, and casual Dash and Albert rugs. These cotton mats come in an insane amount of colorways, and add a bit of preppy chic to any home.
Super-chic decor store Hudson carries fun, colorful, and casual Dash and Albert rugs. These cotton mats come in an insane amount of colorways, and add a bit of preppy chic to any home.
The Isola Bella Rug at Anthropologie.
Anthropologie
799 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116
Wickedly colorful and pretty-yet-pricey rugs are the norm here, but in the right room any one of these stunners would make jaws drop. Which would be worth every penny.
Wickedly colorful and pretty-yet-pricey rugs are the norm here, but in the right room any one of these stunners would make jaws drop. Which would be worth every penny.
Boston's best rug shopping
While the interweb is a fab decorating resource, for a big, heavy, and pricey item like a rug, it’s always best to see it in person before purchasing. But if you’ve found the perfect one online, see if they offer samples (Pottery Barn does) or an easy return policy…just in case.
-------------------Want something
Don’t really see anything that grabs you out
a floor covering? Have no fear: good, creative
Add an artsy touch underfoot with a floor sticker.
Painted canvas floorcloths are an early American-type of folk art and are very durable. Their bold patterns can even work with modern decor.
-----------------Caring for
- Le duh: you need to vacuum your area rug regularly to help keep your rug, you know, clean, and also helps keep your home allergy-free.
- Inevitably, you’re going to spill something on your rug, and it’ll require some spot cleaning to remedy. First, blot — don’t rub! — any spills with a clean cloth. Then, mix a simple cleaning solution out of clear dishwashing liquid with water (1/4 teaspoon per quart of water). After the spot it out, remove the cleaning solution from the rug by misting the area with clean water and blotting with a dry towel. Repeat as needed.
- Every once in awhile, splurge on a professional cleaning. Most local dry cleaners will offer this service.
- Use a rug pad to keep your rug in place and help reduce wear and tear on the rug. It will also protect the hardwood floor beneath the rug from being scratched by the fibers on the back of the rug.
- Every few months, rotate your area rug to allow the rug to wear evenly.
begin...---------------------
things to think about.
Material
Confusingly, rugs aren’t all created equal. They can be hand made or machine made, and they come in all sorts of different types of materials. The pros and cons of each all depend on your budget; how high-traffic your area is; and what kind of care you want to commit to. The most common types of rugs are:
Cotton. These tend to be the most affordable and casual, and while they’ll get dirty easier, they can usually be machine washed with pretty successful results.
Sisal. A natural fiber that’s strong and very durable. Excellent for high-traffic areas.
Wool. Wool is longer-lasting and more durable than cotton, so they’re more expensive — buy machine (rather than hand) made if you want something more affordable.
Polypropylene. This synthetic fiber is actually plastic, meaning that it’s highly resistant to stain and water. It wears well and is ideal for indoor/outdoor use or very high-traffic areas.
Acrylic. These rugs wear and hold vibrant colors very well, and often look just like wool.
Worried about clashing patterns? Of course, you can always play it safe with a solid-colored rug; braver decorators can look for a rug with a complimentary pattern. Just consider the proportions and the main color of the patterns – if you’ve got a smaller pattern on your couch/curtains/pillows (say, a floral), pull the most dominant color from it and look for a rug with a larger, simple pattern in that color (say, a thick stripe). And vice versa.
buy...-----------------------
budget-friendly or want to invest in an heirloom,
to shop when you’re ready to buy.
A striped rug by Dwell Studios at Target.
Target Stores
180 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
Don’t be afraid to shop Target for nice, decently-made, affordable rugs. They also carry made-for-Target lines from Mary Kate & Ashley (!), Shabby Chic, and Thomas O’Brien. Hint: check the website to browse their huge selection there, first; all styles may not be at your local store, and shipping is usually free.
Don’t be afraid to shop Target for nice, decently-made, affordable rugs. They also carry made-for-Target lines from Mary Kate & Ashley (!), Shabby Chic, and Thomas O’Brien. Hint: check the website to browse their huge selection there, first; all styles may not be at your local store, and shipping is usually free.
My new dot rug from Pottery Barn.
Pottery Barn
122 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
For traditional styles with a modern twist, Pottery Barn never lets you down when you’re looking for a well-made rug, but still don’t want to spend an arm and a leg.
For traditional styles with a modern twist, Pottery Barn never lets you down when you’re looking for a well-made rug, but still don’t want to spend an arm and a leg.
Gorgeous chunky plaited wool rugs at West Elm.
West Elm
160 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
West Elm’s mostly neutral rugs are a decent investment because while they’re modern, they’re not trendy. Which means you’ll have yours for years to come.
West Elm’s mostly neutral rugs are a decent investment because while they’re modern, they’re not trendy. Which means you’ll have yours for years to come.
Martha Stewart’s Bloomery rug at Macy’s.
Macys
Saugus Square Mall, Saugus, MA 01906
Though you’ll be dropping some cash if you buy a rug at Macy’s, you’ll be confident that you’re getting top quality for your buck. And with lines by Martha Stewart and Calvin Klein side-by-side with traditional orientals, you’ve got lots to choose from.
Though you’ll be dropping some cash if you buy a rug at Macy’s, you’ll be confident that you’re getting top quality for your buck. And with lines by Martha Stewart and Calvin Klein side-by-side with traditional orientals, you’ve got lots to choose from.
Heirloom-quality rugs at Dover Rug.
Dover Rug Company
549 Worcester St, Natick, MA 01760
If you’ve got the coin to drop on a hand-knotted or an antique Persian rug from Iran, head over to Dover Rug. It’s THE place for the upper crust to invest in some of the finest rugs available, with all sorts of styles and sizes to choose from.
If you’ve got the coin to drop on a hand-knotted or an antique Persian rug from Iran, head over to Dover Rug. It’s THE place for the upper crust to invest in some of the finest rugs available, with all sorts of styles and sizes to choose from.
...different?-----------------------
there in the big bad world of shopping, but still want
design comes to the rescue.
Flor carpet squares are genius tiles that you can connect any which way to create your own custom rug. The tiles attach to each other — not to your floor — and are even recyclable. Need more proof that it’s cool? Martha Stewart has created a line for the brand.
This laser cut floor covering at Brocade Home is soft (it’s a wool felt blend) and beautiful.
your new rug--------------
P.S. This guide's format brought to you by aliciak.
Now go read her guides!
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You should know about a place called Grillo Oriental Rugs. It’s located in an industrial park in Braintree, but it’s a real “diamond in the rough.” They are well known for cleaning rugs, but they have a showroom that is stocked with beautiful quality Oriental rugs. Their prices are MUCH, MUCH less than fancy rug galleries. It’s DEFINITELY worth the trip.
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Rugs can transform a room and make it feel sooo cozy. And of course I would buy one of Martha Stewart’s Flor rugs. WOOT! Oh, and I love how you separated your guide. Smarrrt!!
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Perfect guide for me right now… saving up for a rug to go under my kitchen table… I am leaning towards going with the Flor squares, and I especially love love love the the design you have below from Flor… Would be beautifully with my 100-year old Victorian house!
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