Now that you’ve decided to change your flooring from wall-to-wall carpet to hard flooring, you may need an area rug to add color, warmth, and protection to your new floors. Area rugs are more than just floor covering, they are works of art and the right carpet can transform your room from pleasant to fabulous.

With so many area rug options, how do you decide which one will work for you? This article will give you the knowledge you need to choose the right one for each room in your home.

You must first decide on the size of the rug you need. If you want it to cover most of the room, a good rule of thumb is 2 feet from all the walls, that way the rug isn’t under much furniture and you can still see some of your beautiful flooring. Most rugs come in the general sizes of 2×4, 3×5, 4×6, 5×7, 5×8, 6×8, 6×9, 7×10, 8×11, 9×12 , 10 x 13, 12 x 14 and rugs are typically 30 inches wide and different lengths. Always measure the space before shopping for a rug to make sure it will fit in the room.

Another important factor when choosing a rug is thickness. If the carpet is too thick, you may not be able to open a bedroom or closet door. Measure the space between the floor and the bottom of the door before you go shopping. If you are using a pad under rugs, consider the thickness of the pad and the rug together when near a door.

The next step is deciding what type of rug will work best for each room in your home. Wool is always the best option, but there are also different types of wool rugs to choose from. When you have children and pets, you will need one that can withstand a lot of wear and tear and spills. Synthetics like olefin, polypropylene, and nylon carpet work best and clean very well.

Any area rug where you can see the same pattern on the front and back is always best. Not all are made to withstand daily use, spills, and pet accidents. Consider which room you will be in. A rug that works in the bedroom may not be able to handle the daily grind of a living room.

Here are different types of rugs and where they will work best in your home. This is my professional opinion and it is not set in stone, but from the cleaners point of view of what I see every day.

Synthetics made with olefin, polypropylene fibers. These rugs withstand heavy use, are easy to clean, and can be used in any room in your home.

Hand knotted wool rugs are good for bedrooms, in front of wood burning fireplaces, living / family rooms, and entryways. When used in a driveway, make sure the tints are stable, front and rear vacuumed at least once a week, and professionally cleaned a minimum of twice a year as they get all dirt and debris. debris from outside. Wool rugs can be used in the kitchen, but they can easily get stained from food and drink spills, although having a multi-colored pattern hides many spills.

Remnant rugs Converted to rugs they can be used in any room, but will need to have a pad to prevent scratching the floor and keep it in place. Synthetic carpet scraps work great for playrooms and basements. It’s easy to fit excess carpet edge onto scatter mats for entryways and mud rooms.

Plain weave (dhurries and kilim’s), braided and rag rugs can work in a bedroom, kitchen (can stain easily), sunrooms, and home offices. Flat woven rugs tend to like to keep a gray look when they get too dirty. These add a nice rustic / country touch to any room.

Wool Felt Fluff They are great for adding texture to a room, but they don’t take much use as the fibers form like mushrooms and form a pellet. They are difficult to vacuum and difficult to remove all loose dirt and debris from the bottom of the fibers. Good for a bedroom.

Viscose, Rayon, Art Silk and Cotton they are ideal for low-use areas such as bedrooms. These can easily fade and absorb spills and stains easily. They can also be made into wall hangings.

Hand tufted / designer work best in low-use areas. These types of rugs are known to shed, may have the smell of latex glue, stain easily, and are not environmentally friendly.

Cormorants They are very fashionable and nostalgic. They are ideal for bedrooms and pets love them too, especially for an indoor bathroom. Lint needs to be vacuumed and cleaned more frequently and traps a lot of dirt and debris in the fibers. It can be difficult to keep them fresh and clean.

Silks They are a great luxury to have in a bedroom or home office and are perfect as wall hangings. Silk rugs are famous for their impeccable finish and beauty. It is not recommended for use as an entrance mat or in a dining room.

Knowing what type of carpet works best for each room in your home saves you money and headaches. If you have questions about which mat works best, call your professional area carpet cleaners and some trusted carpet galleries to get their opinions.

Choosing the best carpet