Hey Buddy, Want to Buy a Rug?

Wall to wall carpeting was big in American homes during the 80s and 90s, but recently there has been a gradual return to hardwood floors and area rugs. Area rugs come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns, from the $50 offerings found at the discount store to the exotic rugs costing thousands of dollars. If you’re in the market for a rug or two, here are 5 tips to help make your shopping experience a success.

1. Buy a rug that fits the need.
So much of shopping is an exercise of the eyes. Store owners know this and set up their displays accordingly. A beautiful rung can capture our eyes and wallet, but be completely impractical. So before you go shopping, determine before hand where this rug will be used. Think about traffic flow, who will be walking on or near it the most, the potential for accidents and damage, etc. In other words, don’t buy a genuine Persian rug to put under the dining room table. No matter how beautiful it is, and no matter how much your supra shoes wearing teen promises to be careful.

2. Consider the decor.

Take a walk through the room where you plan to put your new rug. Honestly look at the current decor and decide if you’re happy with it or not. If not, this might be the time to make the change. If you are happy with it, look for rugs that fit the decor. Nothing looks more out of place in a room than an area rug of contrasting style or color. You also might want to take a look around the entire house. If you’re like most people you’ll be consistent throughout, so look for rugs that will compliment the general decor of your home.

3. Pay attention to size and shape.
A rug that’s too big for a space can swallow it up and make a room look terribly small. Odd shapes that contrast with the general layout can distract from the rest of the room and be an eyesore. They are referred to as “area” rugs for a reason so as a general rule, keep rugs to no more than 35% of available floor space. Anything more and you might as well get carpet. Shapes should be consistent and complimentary with the rest of the furniture.

4. Consider materials for ease of cleaning.

No matter how hard you try to prevent dirt, every area rug will find a way to absorb it. You’ll eventually need to clan the rug so ask the sale person about care and cleaning. If an expensive exotic rug is your preference be prepared to pay the cost of professional cleaning. Most discount rugs made from polyester can be cleaned with a grocery-store carpet cleaner.

5. Avoid online shopping.
There are some things you can buy online with no trouble and some things you can’t. Area rugs fall into the latter category, at least for higher-end products. Not that high-end products don’t exist online, it’s just that if you aren’t going to settle for the cheap generic rug, why settle for the online customer service? If you purchase a rug online from some far away place, what happens if there’s a problem with the rug? What if you have a warranty claim? For starters, shipping can be a nightmare if you have to return it, and that’s even if the company is reachable. No, if you’re going for a high-priced rug, you’re better of dealing with a living, breathing person.