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How to Choose Dining Room Rugs
You may be in the middle of a dining room redecoration process. Meanwhile, purchasing a dining room rug might seem like something that can be left to the last minute. Though dealing with elements like furniture, lighting, and the room's layout requires plenty of time, it would be better to spare some time to find a suitable dining room rug. As more than being a decoration element, area rugs are one of the factors that define a specific room and reflect the function and style of the place. That means, along with having a role in presenting the interior design, rugs refer to how a particular room is determined. Accordingly, you should notice that the rug you choose fits the dining room's style and functionality.
In light of these, the hunt for an appropriate and chic dining room rug may be more tedious than you think because there are lots to consider. We have listed the essentials that directly influence your decision. Keep reading to learn how to pick the right area rug for your dining room.
Size and Shape
The first thing you should get through is to determine the size of your area rug. Before thinking about any other variables, deal with measuring and defining the size. This is because an area rug with the right size will help you to give your dining room a solid foundation. Here are the tips for picking the perfect size for your dining room rugs:
- Before starting, ensure that the furniture is in the right place to determine all the crowded and empty floors in the room.
- Pull all the chairs out from the table as if you were eating at the table. Define several inches behind the chairs with a painter's tape.
- Make the measurements according to your marking. Plus, make sure that you leave enough space between the designated size of your rug and all the furniture near the table.
- Do not forget to keep the room's size in mind because you do not want to cover the entire floor with your rug. Try to leave at least 10 inches between the walls and the rug's edges. This way, you will have a balanced look in your dining room.
Generally speaking, the size of your dining room rug should be as follows:
- For a 6-chair dining table, an 8x10 area rug,
- For an 8-chair dining table, a 9x12 area rug,
- For a 10-chair dining table, a 10x14 area rug will likely be suitable for your dining room.
When it comes to the shape of a dining room rug, the best idea is to stick to the form of the dining table. Accordingly, a round-shaped rug for a round table, a square-shaped rug for a square table, and a rectangular-shaped rug for a rectangular table should be preferred. This way, you can ensure balance and symmetry in your dining room design. Moreover, matching the table and rug shapes helps you create visual cohesion in the room. Nevertheless, some may prefer to apply a contrast between these two shapes by choosing, for instance, a square rug under a round table or a rectangle rug under a square table. You may prefer this method if you want to create an eclectic style in your dining room. Note that contrasting shapes work better with smaller tables.
Material
After determining the right size, the second thing to do is decide the suitable material for your rug. First of all, you should keep in mind that the dining room is one of the high-traffic areas. Besides, there will be heavy furniture pieces sitting on the rug. Therefore, the area rug you pick for your dining room should be made from a durable material that can stand up to heavy use.
Other than the material’s durability and longevity, you should also consider that it should be easy to clean and maintain. Since spills will be inevitable in a dining room, you should prefer area rugs made from easy to clean and maintain, stain-resistant, and antimicrobial materials.
In light of these, instead of rugs made from delicate materials like silk, you should prefer natural materials, such as cotton and jute, or human-made materials like polypropylene. It will be wiser to choose budget-friendly rug materials because you do not want your high-end area rug to expose too much stain and high traffic. In this sense, synthetic area rugs will be perfect alternatives that provide various options through which you can find the best fit for your dining room. Note that you may also prefer outdoor rugs for your dining room because they will be highly resistant to stains and mildew.
Color and Pattern
Most probably, the enjoyable part of defining a suitable dining room rug is deciding the hoes and patterns. At this point, think about the feeling you want to create in your dining room. Do you want to bring some joy to the place with your rug? If this is the case, you may prefer vibrant colors and interesting patterns for your dining room rug. Or, maybe, you would like an area rug that reflects your modern style. If so, you may consider having a dining room rug with geometric patterns and solid colors. Suppose that you have an open space and want to determine a specific area as your dining room. In that case, you may place a bordered rug with matching colors with the furniture under your dining table. This way, you will be able to separate this area from the rest of the room.
It would be better to keep the following notes in mind before deciding on your rug’s colors and patterns:
- Avoid light-colored dining room rugs because they will not hide stains and conceal wear and tear over time. Instead, prefer multi-colored or bold-colored rugs.
- Protect the sense of continuity and harmony by choosing colors and patterns due to the rest of the room. Incorporating colors and patterns will help you to prevent having a chaotic look in your dining room.
Type
Last but not least, you should consider your dining room rug’s texture which is something different from the material. Although we all adore high-pile rugs because they bring coziness and calm to the room, they are not suitable alternatives for high-traffic areas like the dining room. High-pile rugs are not easy to clean options, and they may cause bacterial growth because of dirt and crumbs hiding in the piles. Rather, low-pale and flat rugs are more sanitary and easy-to-clean options, making them perfect for high-traffic areas. Speaking of the high-traffic areas, another crucial thing you should keep in mind is that tripping hazard is much more likely in such places. That is why you should make sure that you prevent your rug from wrinkling, slipping, or moving across the room. In this regard, you should consider having a non-slip area rug for your dining room to ensure safety. Moreover, non-slip rugs help you protect the floor from scratching.
Now that you have all the information you need to choose the perfect rug for your dining room, you are now one step closer to having your dream dining room. Hunt for the best dining room rug with the above tips in your mind. If you think some more information would be good before purchasing your rug, do not hesitate to take a look at the following blog posts:
How to Choose the Best Materials for Rugs