YOU’LL BE FLOORED
Rugs can make a major difference in home decor, design experts say
A good rug can make a huge difference to your home, adding style and a layer of comfort wherever it’s placed. Choosing the right one can take some doing, so here’s a look at what’s currently trending in rug design and the questions worth asking.
The first thing to consider when choosing a rug, says Wayfair.ca spokeswoman Alexa Battista, is where your rug is going to go since this will help determine the best material choices and size. She says, for example, that if it’s for an entryway and will get a lot of foot traffic, you’ll want to choose a durable material.
“Softer options like wool and cotton are best for the living room or bedroom, adding comfort and warmth to an area where a lot of time is spent. Rugs made of jute and bamboo are best in high-traffic areas, such as the kitchen and entryway, to withstand natural wear and tear over time,” she says.
A common mistake people make when choosing rugs is that they buy them too small, Battista says.
“For prominent spaces such as the living room or bedroom, it’s best to choose an option large enough to cover a majority of the floor, allowing for key furnishings such as the sofa or bed to sit on the rug,” she says.
Another thing people commonly forget, she says, is a rug pad.
“This is important for most rugs, but especially a runner, as this size is typically located in high-traffic areas. Adding a pad helps to prevent shifting and provides extra cushioning. More importantly, adding a padded layer underneath will help to reduce friction and ultimately extend the life of the rug,” says Battista.
Battista says some rug styles never really go out of favour, such as vintage-inspired and Moroccan rugs. These work really well, she says, when paired with modern furniture, blending the old and the new, and hand-knotted wool rugs more tribal in style are both affordable and cosy to walk on.
She says faux cowhide rugs are popular at the moment, adding texture and warmth on their own or layered on top of a larger lowpile rug.
“This style is especially popular in living rooms or underneath a dining set as it adds texture and warmth both whether standing on its own or layered on top of a larger, low-pile rug,” she says.
Los Angeles interior designer Adam Hunter was recently in Vancouver unveiling his latest rug collection with The Rug Company, carried locally by Avenue Road.
Hunter was a Broadway singer and dancer in his previous career and there’s an element of theatre in all of his rug designs.
His Waves rug, for example, was
influenced by the thin-line drawings of American cartoonist and author Sheldon Silverstein in his book The Giving Tree.
The pattern, when repeated over and over again, began to resemble waves folding upon themselves, he says.
His Transcendence rug was inspired by a Los Angeles sunset.
“In my opinion, there is no better sunset. It’s just like the world is on fire,” he says.
Working with The Rug Company appealed to him, he says, because they’re part of the international program Good Weave (an organization aimed at ending child labour) and are known for their designer rug collaborations, working with individuals from fashion, design and architecture.
“I’d never seen rugs be made that way. Rugs were either Persian or monochromatic. Geometric maybe.
“So I think The Rug Company put this rock-star spin on it. They made it feel very glamorous and appealing,” he says.