Decorating With Area Rugs

Area rugs can transform an otherwise ordinary room into a visually pleasing environment that you can warm to as soon as you enter the room.

As with most elements of home decor, you probably can't explain what it is you like or what you're looking for.  You just know it when you see it.

Whether you prefer bright and lively colors in an area rug, or muted earth tones; busy patterns, or simple designs, you'll find an Oriental or Persian rug that has what you want.

The most common patterns found in Oriental and Persian area rugs are traditional floral or curvilinear arabesque motifs like palmettes, vases, and garden elements, with a medallion or with an open field and tribal geometric designs. Most of these designs are symmetrical.

You'll also find many rugs which are not symmetrical, with a picture much like a painting.

The great thing about Oriental and Persian arearugs is that they look natural in almost any room of the home.  The most common places to find them are the living room and dining room.  There are  countless stories of folks who begin by buying for these rooms, and they just can't stop!

Rugs in bedrooms and foyers, runners in the corridors and on steps, and smaller mats in bathrooms are just a start after they've filled their homes, they fill their offices next.

 Since handmade area rugs are proven to be superior to machine-made carpeting, they're able to last longer even in high traffic areas including corridors and elevators.

There are no rules that state where to place a particular pattern of rug, although carpets that have an open field instead of a central medallion are usually preferred in situations where a dining or coffee table would be placed on top of the rug.  In these rugs most of the detail and pattern is in the borders.

The color scheme of a rug is usually the most influential factor in choosing where to place it.

The colors of the area rug don't have to be exactly the same as the curtains or upholstery, they just need to complement them in some manner.  For example, if your drapes are baby blue, your rug doesn't have to be exactly the same.  But accents of the color would complement the drapes.

Also, very colorful area rugs tend to look better in less colorful rooms.  Likewise, simple rugs with fewer colors look better in rooms with more color.

The most important thing to remember is that there are no rules -- you have to be happy with the rug you choose.

Article produced by: Rugman.com