Rugs are a significant, but often overlooked part of any room or home. More than just an accessory, if used correctly, they can change a room’s style, atmosphere and overall vision. When buying a rug, people are often quick to jump to a safe option or to a style that they have used in the past, but being brave and taking a chance on a new style or size of rug can be just what a room needs for a little revamp and revitalisation.
Finding the perfect rug for your space and taste can be a little tricky as they come in all shapes and sizes, and like a pair of ill-fitting jeans the wrong match for you could be disastrous and could turn your beautiful home into a big old mess. But fear not, we’ve been doing a little research and we’re here to show you the best and brightest in all price ranges to help you to find you rug soul-mate.
‘Ivy Trellis’ by Rodarte from The Rug Company
If you’re out on the prowl for your dream rug it may be a good idea to take a look at some designer and high-end rugs to find out what styles, colours, patterns you are most drawn to (that is of course if you can manage not to shed a tear at some of the prices!) The best place to head to for some inspiration is The Rug Company, they are host to masses of beautiful rugs including collections from some of the best designers. A few of our dream rugs at Angel + Blume are designed by the house of Alexander McQueen, and though we might yelp at the price it’s good to have aspirations…
‘Military Brocade’ by Alexander McQueen from The Rug Company
‘Monarch Fire’ by Alexander McQueen from The Rug Company
Once you’ve established your likes and dislikes when it comes to rugs, you can start shopping around. Companies like Graham & Green are a great place to start as their selection is well stocked and their prices reasonable. This is a charming take on a Moroccan style rug, and could be easily worked into an already decorated room.
‘Atlas Berber’ from Graham and Green
If you’re looking for a small rug to allocate a space in a room for a few chairs and a table, or a comfy seating area, Graham and Green have some lovely circular rugs in a few styles, which are ideal for creating an individual space inside of a larger room.
‘Round Pink Rug’ from Graham and Green
‘Circular Goat Skin Rug’ from Graham and Green
There is always a pattern vs plain debate when it comes to picking out rugs, and ultimately it boils down to your taste and the room itself. If you want a plain rug it would be best to make sure you add colour or a pattern in another component of the room for example the walls or curtains so that the room doesn’t become too washed out. This elegant rug from Scottish designer Anta is the perfect plain rug to complement other styles and colours you may want to include.
‘Large Owl Rug’ from Anta
When a room is in need of a contemporary and quirky patterned rug, either to set the pace or follow suit, there are a few designers you can try. Jonathan Adler always brings a sense of fun and originality to his designs and has a wide range to complement your style.
‘Red Arthur Kilim Flat Weave Rug’ from Jonathan Alder
This enjoyable design from Adler is the perfect companion to a modern home, and can be the only splash of colour needed if you’re into more of a muted, minimalistic look elsewhere.
‘Zebra Peruvian Llama Flat Weave Rug’ from Jonathan Adler
If you like your interiors to have a playful edge, and you’re a sucker for a faux animal print, this zebra rug is simply to die for, especially since no animals did!
Stair runners are an amazing way of decorating a home, and one of the best place to go in search of runners is Alternative Flooring. They have a wonderful range of styles and colours, and can tailor their designs to your specific needs.
‘Wool Blocstripe Sable Bone Bloc’ from Alternative Flooring
This beautiful monochrome design will add a bit of pizazz to a neutral hallway and help create a welcoming atmosphere as well as a style statement upon entering your home. Another contemporary style from Alternative Flooring is the Rock ‘n’ Roll Roxanne design which would be perfect for updating a home’s interior into a modern look.
‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Roxanne’ from Alternative Flooring
When it comes to choosing a rug’s size, it’s generally best to follow the ‘bigger the better’ rule. If you buy a pre-made rug the standard size is usually around 300x200cm, although it will always vary depending on which store or website you visit. If you have a large space to play with, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t end up with a rug that’s too small and therefore disturbing the room’s ambience and flow. One way to get around this is to order a section of carpet and have the edges bound. This gives you flexibility on the size and can be quite cost effective. We did exactly that with a client with the brilliant Crucial Trader.
‘Audrey Sunrise’ from Crucial Trader
‘Krakow Rug’ from Niki Jones
Niki Jones creates some wonderful classic contemporary rugs, as well as cushions and linens, which can be custom made into any size you like.
‘Optical Rug’ from Niki Jones
‘Polygon Rug’ from Niki Jones
The possibilities are fairly endless when it comes to rugs, big or small, plain or patterned, classic or contemporary, expensive or cheap. Start thinking about what you would really love on your floor and then track down the right supplier, this will save you from being overwhelmed by choice!
angelandblume.wordpress.com 