Contemporary Rugs Can Transform a Room

When tackling a do-it-yourself home decorating project, you can use rugs as a relatively inexpensive means of enhancing or transforming a room. There are practical considerations in how to use rugs to advantage, and how to get good value for your money. The purchase of contemporary rugs for one or more areas of your home can make a significant contribution to the beauty and comfort of its interior.

When you use rugs to decorate a room, it is important to assess what you are trying to accomplish: for instance, two or more rugs can visually separate the various living areas of a room, while a single rug can unifying the room into one spatial flow. As well as deciding on the number and size of rugs you need, it is also important that you choose a rug or rugs that will be compatible with other colors and patterns in the room. You must also consider the quality of the rug and the potential traffic to which it will be subjected so that you chose one that can be maintained for many years.

What are the Advantages of Using Area Rugs?

A benefit of decorating with rugs is that one rug can serve many different functions over time, and will, therefore, provide good value for your money. A contemporary modern rug can hang on the wall as a piece of art work, be moved later to a floor in the family room, kitchen, bathroom, or even a baby room, and end its life on the basement floor. If you move to another house, you can take the rug with you. Rugs can also preserve the beauty and life of your wall-to-wall carpeting or your hardwood floor when placed strategically in high traffic areas, and can be used to warm up both the appearance and the feel of tile, stone, and concrete. Rugs can be used to mute sounds and add a dramatic splash of color to an otherwise bland room.

What Are You Trying to Accomplish?

If you want a rug to be the focal point of a room, the color and patterns should be bold and bright. If you are selecting a contemporary area rug for a room with existing decorating elements, you should repeat either the dominant or the accent colors already in place. You should also consider the rug pattern so that you don't choose one that clashes with the pattern of another fabric in the room. If neutral colors have been chosen for the walls, curtains, and furniture, you can use a rug to add visual impact by choosing a strong pattern in a bright color like red or royal blue. In general, rugs should not have a busy design if the colors and patterns of the room already make it appear very busy.

Instead of using a rug as the focal point of a room, you can choose one that defines a conversational or work area instead. You can also select more than one rug order to break up a room into different areas. When more than one rug is used in the same room or they are placed in such a way that they can be seen together, they need not be identical but the colors and designs should be harmonious.

You may decide to use a rug to preserve a hardwood floor or wall-to-wall carpeting in an area that has a lot of heavy traffic. If that is the case, it is a good idea to select a rug with a detailed pattern and a dark color that won't show dirt easily, and is of good quality. If a rug is needed for a room in which small children or pets play, you might consider purchasing several small rugs that can be cleaned by throwing them in the washer and dryer.

What Size Do You Need?

Choose a rug that is proportional to the floor space in the room. If the rug is the focal point, there should be an equal amount of bare floor around it on all sides, even if the room is irregular in shape or there is, say, a fireplace that projects into the room. If you can't manage that, at least have an equal amount of bare floor exposed on two parallel sides of the rug. The rug should be large enough to unify the furniture by extending under all or part of most items that are placed in the central area.

If you are using more than one rug to define two or more areas of the room, the rugs should be under at least the front legs of each item in the selected areas. If it is a rug for an eating area that is part of a larger room, choose a rug that is big enough to extend beyond the table by eighteen to twenty-four inches. If the rug is in a bedroom, it doesn't need to be centered if the bed is not centered in the room. Instead, the rug should be situated so that the most visible exposed floor spaces on three sides of the rug are identical in size. When placing your furniture on a rug in any room, there should not be more than two feet of empty rug extending beyond the furniture groupings.

To help decide what size of rug you need, use masking tape to mark the four corners of the area you plan to cover. If you still have trouble visualizing the effect, you can cut pieces from a paper roll to cover the area.

Why Choose a Contemporary Style?

Contemporary rugs feature unlimited choices of color and design, and lessen the need to add a lot of other decorating elements to a room. Contemporary rugs are not only suitable for a modern home, they can also create dramatic appeal in a more traditional home. You can purchase affordable rugs on a limited budget if you shop carefully. Discount outlets and sale prices can lower the cost of adding one or more rugs to your home. The better quality rugs are, in general, easier to maintain and will last longer than their cheaper counterparts.

The cost of a rug is closely tied to the fiber from which it is made. Wool is the most expensive and most durable fiber, and is soft and easy to clean. Wool provides the standard by which all other fibers are judged. Cotton and jute are softer than wool, but not as durable, and jute won't stand up under prolonged exposure to sunlight or moisture. Sisal is strong and durable, as well as colorfast and static-free. Synthetic fibers include the tough and durable acrylic; the stain-resistant, water-repellent, inexpensive polypropylene, or olefin; and the durable, easy to clean and maintain nylon.

Whether the rugs you choose are made of expensive wool or a cheaper synthetic fiber, they can add beauty to your home, and comfort under foot. Contemporary rugs are artwork for the floor, and when chosen well can add that magical decorating touch we all love.

Scott Gray is currently a freelance writer and enjoys providing tips to consumers who are in the market for all types of cheap area rugs, contemporary rugs and oriental rugs

---

The Benefits of Wicker Picnic Baskets

Wicker picnic baskets are a lovely, traditional way to pack a breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a well-earned snack. You can take it with you anywhere --... Read More

Fast Solutions with Feng Shui

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art used in the home to create balance and harmony. Feng Shui Practitioners have many tricks of the trade used to... Read More

A Guide to Wood Stove Inserts

A wood stove insert serves several purposes. First of all, they can keep heat from escaping through the fireplace. Wood stove inserts also raise the heating efficiency... Read More

How to Install a Wood Stove

"There are a number of factors that must be taken into account when installing a wood stove. It is important to make sure that the stove is... Read More

Inuit Stone Sculptures From The Arctic North

When most people think about stone sculptures, it's probably giant pieces of abstract art located outside large buildings or perhaps inside a famous art gallery or museum.... Read More

How to Build Your Own Cuckoo Clock

Of all the various kits available from hobby stores and websites across the Internet, cuckoo clock kits are very rare indeed. Why is this? Two reasons: one... Read More

A Look at Waterbed Sheet Sizes

Just like conventional beds, waterbeds come in a number of sizes. It is important to buy the appropriate size sheet for the bed, or the sheets will... Read More

Finding a Color Scheme - Decorating with What you Have

If you feel helpless when it comes to picking and blending colors, your answer could be as far away as your nearest pillow. Check out this quick... Read More

Vinyl Mini Blinds

Vinyl blinds are the perfect choice for high-humidity locations such as kitchens, bathrooms, or waterfront homes. Horizontal vinyl blinds with standard braided cord blinds and non-textured gloss... Read More

An In-Depth Look at Air Filter Manufacturers

Because there are several air filter manufacturers on the market, it is helpful to be able to sort through the different manufacturers and products. The brief manufacturer/product... Read More

Rug - Snug as a Bug!

Rugs are a great way to decoratively cover a floor. Whether you have carpet, tile or hardwood, a rug can protect your floor and add a designer's... Read More

A Look at Luxury Down Comforters

For those striving to create a bedroom retreat, a haven from the rest of the world, luxury is a necessity. Along with good color choices and fine... Read More

Luau! Decorating with a Hawaiian Theme

Hawaii is a first choice travel destination with millions of people - and for good reason. Bring a little of that island feeling into your home, either... Read More

Feng Shui in Colours

How does choice of colour affect your feng shui?Colours and colour schemes are factors that are considered thoroughly in interior design. And so it is in feng... Read More

Japanese Sword: A Great Piece for Any Home

A Japanese Sword is a wonderful decoration to add to any room of your home or office. Many people think that a samurai sword might look out... Read More

Where to Buy Discount Down Comforters

Many people love the look and feel of down comforters, but can't afford the high price tag. Luxury down comforters can cost in excess of $5000, more... Read More

Bathroom Vanity Lights: Tips Before Buying Vanity Bathroom Lights

Bathroom vanity lights are often overlooked in a bathroom. Artificial light from vanity bathroom lights and general lighting is important during hours when natural light is not... Read More

Lamp Shades Decorate a Room

When redecorating a room, don't forget about your lighting. While it may seem that you will have to purchase all new lamps for your new décor, sometimes... Read More

Decorating Tips: The Meaning of Colors

Colors have many different meanings. Have you ever been in a blue room, feeling calm and relaxed, and then walked into a red room and you began... Read More

Where to Find a Cheap Adjustable Bed

Adjustable beds are no doubt very expensive. But the benefits procured from adjustable beds make them seem very affordable and worthwhile. Adjustable beds are available in many... Read More

Wrought Iron Baker?s Rack: Beautiful and Elegant

When it comes to home accessories, baker's racks have long been a favorite of consumers due to their versatility, beauty, and practicality, and the wrought iron baker's... Read More

Decorating, Where Theres a Will Theres a Way

Decorating anything is one of the easiest things in the world! And when it comes to decorating your home, if one has a will and there is... Read More

A Guide to Kitchen Sinks

In any household, a kitchen sink is one of the central fixtures and always sees plenty of action. It is used both for preparing food and for... Read More

Bathroom Vanities and Cabinets Come in Many Different Styles

Modern bathroom vanities and medicine cabinets come in a huge variety of styles and finishes, from the simulated antique look to sleek modern designs. Your choice of... Read More

How to Choose a Sofa for a Family with Kids

If you have children in your home, what sort of sofa should you choose?With kids in the house, you probably need more seats. A 1 seated sofa... Read More

The Increased Popularity of Granite Kitchen Countertops

The popularity of granite kitchen countertops has increased dramatically in recent years, with the media focus on kitchen remodeling and personal incomes rising. Originally the choice for... Read More