How a Designer Picks A Rug
The four questions I ask as I’m searching for the perfect rug!
One of the first project Aurora Interiors was hired to do was a carpet, wallcovering and art revamp in a local Hampton Inn.
Working with the carpet manufacturer to custom color the corridor carpet was a fun challenge completing the work on my own as a side-hustle.
Aurora Interiors started as a budget-conscious commercial design studio - now there is a bit of commercial work that is done, but mostly it’s residential remodels. Funny how things change!
But my long time with carpets reminds me how I’ve been going down the rabbit hole with rugs - not for clients, just for me.
There are so many options out there: synthetic, natural, washable, antique, and the list goes on. It’s hard to choose the right one for your space and your lifestyle - I get it! So, I wanted to share how my designer brain finds the perfect rug for a space!
First, my mind always goes to the use of the space - is this a high traffic, secondary or wet area? That usually helps me narrow down the search. I really think how often a space gets used, because as much as we’d love a beautiful antique rug in the living room- if you’ve got 3 kids and a dog running on it every day, maybe that’s not the best choice for you.
We also wanna be really practical about wet areas, or places where rugs will need to serve a practical purpose. Do you need a rug that can wipe feet? Capture moisture? Cover a hazard? All this can impact the fabric, texture, size, and quality of rug we want in a space.
My upstairs hallway is my current target - it’s high traffic enough but it’ll be going over broadloom carpet until we replace the carpet with wood flooring. It needs to be versatile and lend itself to what that space will look like in a couple of years - since I don’t want to purchase another rug down the road!
This brings me to my second thought- longevity. How long do I need this rug to last? Is it a temporary decor item, or something I want to age for years to come (like my hallway rug.) Temporary pieces, like seasonal decor or kids’ rooms, can be a little more out-there and specific, but timeless investment pieces may need to be more muted and tired-and-true to last you as long as you’d like. They need to work with different kinds of flooring, colors, and whatever you think may shift in the space it sits in.
Third, there’s the length. It’s a simple question, but an extremely important one that can limit or expand your search. For me, it’s a runner. Not just a normal runner, an extra long runner. I’m shooting for 16’, and typical runners are 10’-12’. So, I may need to do some extra digging or get a little creative in my search. Length can also impact your budget, how the rug looks in your space, and where you’ll end up needing to look for it.
Fourth, I wasn't too conscious of the environment. I don’t personally own any vintage or antique rugs (that I use on the floor,) but I would like to. So you can really debate the type of rug you’d like to own. If you want it to be washable, antique, wool, printed, speciality, or from a certain type of business or maker.
I try to make my home a bit of a laboratory for my clients - I’m always trying something to see how the product or material survives in my home to help relay the maintenance and longevity of a product to my clients. I have washable rugs, printed mats, wool, synthetics, and outdoor rugs - but no antique rugs!
Let’s recap - I need an extra long runner, that can shift as the space changes, that’s not a hindrance on the environment and that I love in this medium traffic space. So, that’s the brief for my space- and while I don’t yet know what I’ll be getting, I hope this journey shows you what to consider before your next rug purchase!
It’ll take some time for me to find the right one, but in the meantime - what do you think I’ll pick? The photo is a hint! Rosebowl Flea Market, anyone?!