What Size Area Rug To Choose?

So you’re interested in filling up a room with an area rug? Brilliant idea! But what is the first thing to look for in a rug? Size. Its not an exact science. The first step is to take a tape measure and measure the room space. The type of room and furniture placement must be taken into consideration as well.

Rugs can absorb sound, add warmth to your feet and protect your floors in high traffic areas. They can also be beautiful focal point for the room that adds style to your office or home decor.

We suggest having an equal amount of flooring exposed on all sides of the room. Often, we notice rugs that are not the right size for the room or space, usually falling on the too small size. The following guidelines will assist you in not making this mistake!

Living Room

Usually 8×10 or 6×9 feet area rug brings together most furniture groupings nicely. Furniture over the rug can create a more intimate space. To make the room look larger, show the border of the rug around the rooms perimeter.

The furniture should be either completely on or off the rug, the exception being the sofa, where the back legs can be placed off the rug.

Dining Room

In the dining area, the rug should be at least 4 feet longer and wider than the table. But again it depends, measure the length and width of the table.  There should be enough space for the chairs to be pulled out and still remain on the rug. Our general rules are the following:

4 chairs – 6×9 feet

6 chairs -8×10 feet

8 chairs – 9×12 feet

10 chairs – 10×14 feet

Bedroom

You have two options for the bedroom (1) use one room size rug, most of which will be under the bed or (2) several rugs around the bed. If you go for option 1, it should be large enough so that one or two steps can be taken when getting out of bed.  We suggest an 8×10 feet  or several 3×5 or 4×6 feet rugs.

Entry Way

3×5 or 2×3 feet area rug is possible. Look out for the thickness of the pile, so that the door can open and close over the rug. Also consider the material of the rug in this space,  wool rugs can  handle high traffic areas.

Hallway/Stairs

Have at least 4 inches of floor showing on each side of the rug.

For long hallways, two 6 feet runners might work.  A 12 foot runner can also work.

If you have any more questions in regards to size the experienced staff at Indo Designer Rugs will be happy to assist you in finding the appropriate size rug for your space.

The Ardabil

V&A London

One of the oldest carpet designs is the Ardabil. The orginal Ardabil carpet was completed during the rule of the Safavids, which began in 1502. This period, lasting 175 years, was the golden age of Persian art and carpet weaving was perhaps the greatest of these arts.

The beauty of this design lies in its simplicity and richness in colours. The design is simple, a central medallion surrounded by variety of filler patterns with subtle differences. There is also two lamps hanging from the medallion.  In our opinion it’s jewelry to the eyes.

Two of the most famous Ardabil carpets, signed “Maksud of Kashan” are dated 1539-1540. One was given as a gift by J.Paul Getty to the Los Angeles County Museum. The other was brought to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London by William Morris. The Ardabil carpet measures 10.51m x 5.34m (34′ 6″ x 17′ 6″ feet). This carpet is enormous and probably another reason why it’s in a museum.

The famous design can also be  seen in 10 Downing Street.  The original Ardabil, however, is one of the great treasures of the V&A museum.  It doubtful whether it has ever been surpassed in quality since it was made in 1539.

Mughal Empire Influence on India

During India’s Mughal rule, master weavers were brought to India to produce fine works of art for palaces and forts. These master rug weavers were given artistic license to integrate their own vision, coupled with popular Indian motifs. Moreover, the master weavers were inspired by the European botanical paintings that were brought to trade with the West. The culmination of these creative influences produced rug designs with scrolling vines and flowers, but much truer to real life.

Since that time, these finely constructed, hand-knotted, works of art have achieved world-renowned status. Today, you will find the same designs and patterns that were created by the master weavers, but the finishing process has evolved. To reproduce these elaborate rugs, the finest wool is imported from New Zealand and hand spun locally in India.

The process to create the antique finish is equally as important as the craftsmanship. The hand-spun wool is dyed in small quantities by a process known as tie-dyeing. This creates asymmetrical colors that are unique to this type of rug, along with aging the appearance of it. The final step entails washing the rug several times with herbs to accent the sheen, luster and the antique look of the sixteenth century. These rugs will compliment almost any room and endure beautifully for generations to come.

New Rug Shipment at Indo!

We have just received a fresh shipment from India exclusive to Indo Designer Rugs.

New designs and colours and sizes (4×6, 6×6,  8×8 and 9×12 feet)  have been added to our Antique Finish collection.

How to Select an Area Rug

Adding an area rug to a room is an easy way to give your space a new look, provide warmth or add color. If you find a rug that you love, you can use it as inspiration and decorate your space around it. Area rugs are easy to move from room to room. Don’t limit the rug to the space that you buy it for: Put rugs in different rooms of your home to create fresh looks. Or, swap out rugs for different seasons.

COLOR:
Because it takes up much of your living space, an area rug can be the foundation of your room’s look. Even if your existing taste is traditional, a contemporary rug can add a nice contrast. In a modern room, a traditional or Oriental rug can soften the look.

Look for a common accent color in your room and use this color in your rug for emphasis. If your room is brightly colored, select a neutral colored rug. If your room is neutral, a vibrant rug will add a needed statement and focal point.

In general, dark colored rugs add warmth to a room, light colored rugs make a space appear larger. If you have pets or children, consider a dark rug to hide dirt. And, make sure the rug is stain resistant and easy to clean.

SIZE:
Area rugs are great for defining spaces within a room: A sitting area, a cozy area in front of a fire place. If you are using a rug to define a space, leave no more than 2 feet of carpet past the edge of the furniture on it.

For a dining room, 8 x 10 feet is a standard rug size. The rug should extend at least 16″ from the edge of the table so that the chairs have room to pull away. For an entryway, make sure to swing the front door open and leave 2.5 feet of floor from this space clear. Runners in hallways should have at least 5″ of floor showing on all sides. To warm up a bedroom, use runners on each side of the bed. Or place a large rug under the foot of the bed only. Use small 2′ x 3′ area rugs over existing carpet at entry points or high traffic areas to protect your carpet from wear.

A great way to test what size rug you will need is to lay down some sheets or towels in the area that you are considering to get a picture of the size and space. You can also use masking tape to mask out the area. This helps to give you a picture.

courtesy of 2Modern Design Talk.

Chuk Palu Rug Shipment Just Arrived!

Chuk Palu Rugs Inc, based in New York City, specializes in one of a kind hand-made contemporary design rugs from Afghanistan. We are now proud to make them available in Calgary at Indo Designer Rugs!

Chuk Palu Rug designs reflect Afghanistan’s natural environment, the rich natural colours of its flora and the fine lustrous wool of Ghazni sheep.  Here are just some of the designs that have arrived at our showroom.