Right rug can make the room
Think of floor coverings as a piece of art for your home
If you are looking to transform a space with colour, pattern, or even an element of history, an area rug might be just the thing to do it.
“A rug is the single piece of decor in a room that helps pull everything together and complete the design of any space,” says Shahab Pezeshk, the business manager for the Pacific Rug Gallery in North Vancouver.
“This can be easily noticed when you remove a rug from a room and look at all the furniture and realize a disconnect.
“When the rug is added back to the space, there is a certain warmth that helps complete the look.”
Pezeshk says a rug should be considered as a piece of art in a space, rather than an absent-minded addition that merely covers the floor.
“The colours and designs of a rug can act as a decorative piece of art on your floor,” Pezeshk says. “In addition to changing the look of a space, the functionality of a handmade area rug can contribute to the warmth of any space — both literally and aesthetically.”
Perhaps that’s why Pezeshk says there has been a significant increase in the number of people shopping for statement-making area rugs in recent years.
“There has been a steady rise in people and designers who have replaced carpet floors with area rugs, to a point where the majority of the people we meet and work with have either hardwood, laminate or concrete flooring and are in search of area rugs to warm up their space in every room of their house,” Pezeshk says.
Adding an area rug to a home can seem like a daunting task, especially if it sports a unique and statement-making design. But, according to experts, it’s not as tricky as it initially seems.
“Consider all the colours in the room and try to go for a rug that helps tie everything together without overwhelming the eyes,” Pezeshk says.
“The most important tip in incorporating a new rug into and existing decor is to watch for colours and patterns to ensure that certain pieces of furniture are not competing with your new rug. Sometimes, certain pieces look great independently, but once they are put together, they just don’t work well.”
And don’t forget to consider the “style” of your home — whether it’s traditional, contemporary or classic. Pezeshk advises keeping an “open mind” when rug shopping as, in person, colours and patterns may not be as perfect a fit as initially imagined. Don’t be afraid to take a potential piece home in order to see how well it plays alongside your existing home decor elements.
“We offer the service of bringing a few choices into a customer’s home to allow them to choose the rug they like best right in their space,” Pezeshk says. “Arranging the furniture in different ways may help in figuring out just the right size that you need and the composition of the room.”
And, when in doubt, ask for an expert’s help. After all, when it comes to area rugs, size matters.
“Make sure to have a good idea and grasp of size for your room and double check to ensure that you are not buying a rug that is too small,” Pezeshk advises.
Arranging the furniture in different ways may help in figuring out just the right size ...” Shahab Pezeshk
“It is sometimes OK to use a larger rug as it can be covered by furniture, but using a rug that doesn’t fit the scale of the room is one of the biggest design mistakes and just doesn’t look right.”
How do you pick the right size rug for a room, especially as people are living in smaller homes and condos? According to Pezeshk, it all comes down to the furniture.
“When trying to choose the right size of rug, you must consider the arrangement of your furniture and the overall size of the space,” Pezeshk says.
“When putting a sofa on an area rug, you want to make sure that if your space is large enough, you put the entire sofa on the rug. However, if it is a smaller space, you may consider putting only the front legs of the sofa on the rug. This helps create the illusion of a larger space and also shows off more of the design and colours of your rug.”
Once you’ve decided on factors such as colour and size, considering quality is also key.
“I always tell my customers, ‘A rug is not the necessity of life, but a luxury.’ Whether you are buying a handmade rug or machine-made rug, quality matters,” says Nasim Qasemali, the founder of Ariana Artisan Rugs in Langley. "A lot of times, people are tempted to buy cheap rugs to save a few bucks, not knowing that these cheap rugs may have lasting health implications later on, such as breathing difficulties that occur when these rugs start emitting chemical fumes during hot days or during winter when you turn on your heat. That is why I strongly emphasize good quality.”
So, can there ever be too many area rugs in a space? According to Pezeshk, the answer is both yes and no.
“It really depends on the space,” Pezeshk says. "Some clients have over 30 rugs in their home and they are totally happy with that and are always on the hunt for more rugs, while others prefer only one centrepiece-style rug and do the rest of the decorating with furniture and other accents. Some people consider area rugs as decorative pieces and others consider them as collectible art, while others just use them for functionality and warmth.
“The beauty of handmade area rugs is that each one has a certain history and a background that tells a story. So, if you ask us, a person can never have too many rugs.”
FOUR THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING A RUG
Rugs can be an investment, especially if you’re looking to add a piece to your home that will last for years — or even decades.
“Some rugs are certainly an investment piece that grows in value over time,” says Pezeshk, the business manager of the Pacific Rug Gallery. “A better-quality rug will wear better and can last a lifetime.”
One of the most important things to discover when looking at rugs is its authenticity.
"Authenticity can be gauged by considering the quality and style of knots as well as the signature of master weavers which are sometimes woven right into certain super fine quality Persian rugs,” Pezeshk explains. It is a good idea to ... do some research about the different regions where certain patterns tend to come from.” Shahab Pezeshk
“It is important to look at the back of the rug to get a better understanding of the style of knots and how fine the knots of a certain rug are. Also, it is a good idea to use the help of an expert when purchasing an authentic Persian rug and to do some research about the different regions where certain patterns tend to come from”.
So, what are some of the other earmarks of a quality rug? According to Pezeshk, there are three things to find out before deciding to purchase a high-priced rug.
Handmade and hand-knotted — You want to make sure the rug is handcrafted rather than machine-made.
The material used — According to Pezeshk, silk, wool, cotton, or a combination of these materials are best.
The knots are fine quality — When it comes to knots, the higher the number of knots per square inch, the higher the quality.
The pattern — Patterns woven by master weavers with their signature on the rug add authenticity and value.