Stepping on Style: Interior Design Trends in Area Rugs
by Kate McIntyrekate.mcintyre@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Interior Design School Review Columnist
Today's selection of reasonably priced area rugs, from bold geometric patterns to artfully aged Orientals, allows you to treat your rug more like a fashion accessory than an investment piece.
Complementing Your Interior Decorating
When you go area rug shopping, bring swatches and paint chips with you. In addition to ensuring that the color scheme of the rug works harmoniously with your interior decorating, think about the overall feeling of the room. Is it clean and minimal, or baroque and colorful? These considerations will dictate whether you need a simple jute or sisal rug -- or a more extravagant oriental rug.Size Matters in Interior Decorating with Rugs
It is essential that you measure the size of your room before you go area rug shopping. The size of your rug depends on several factors. You do not want your rug to touch the walls, nor do you want your rug to seem dwarfed by the rest of the room's interior decorating. A good rule of thumb is that your rug's length should be two feet shorter than the room's width. Another option is to choose a rug that covers a section of the room, such as a conversation area in front of the fireplace.A Great Interior Design Investment
If you have more traditional tastes in rugs and know that your interior design tastes are not likely to change, it pays to invest in a higher-quality rug. These rugs do not depreciate in value, and they develop lovely patinas with age. Look for hand-knotted rugs made of wool or silk. Much like sheets, rugs with higher thread counts are of higher quality than more loosely piled ones.Area rugs can spice up dull rooms, unify eclectic ones, and soften the harsh look of bare floors. No matter your interior design needs, you should be able to find an attractive, cost-effective option.
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About the Author
Kate McIntyre is a writer in Portland, Oregon. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.
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