How to Choose the Right Area Rug

Determine where in your home you plan to use the area rug. This will help solidify not only the size of area rug you need, but also what purpose it will serve. For example, wool rugs are extremely sturdy and stand up well to heavy foot traffic, making them perfect for entryways.

Measure the floor space with a measuring tape and take the dimensions to the store. This will help prevent purchasing the wrong size of rug.

Choose a style and color that matches the decor of the space the rug will occupy. If the area rug is going into a room that is expensively furnished with antiques, choose an Oriental rug that will accent the antiques. If the area rug is going in a playroom, choosing a durable machine-made rug is the smart choice.

Ask rug store employees about the texture of the rugs you like. There are many textures to consider when choosing an area rug, such as the velvety Saxony style or the looped Berber style. The Saxony style is luxurious but it shows vacuum marks, while the Berber style is a better choice for high-traffic areas.

Decide what quality of rug you desire. The quality of the rug can be determined by whether it was hand dyed or hand stitched. The denser the knots of the rug, the better the quality, so look for rugs with a weave of 400 to 750 knots per square inch.