It’s easy to overlook the power of rugs when redesigning a room. After all, the idea of a room floor is often less discussed than the paint color of the walls and the furniture that fills the space. However, the large surface area of carpet means it is one of the most important features in your scheme. So, how do you make sure you’re doing it right?
Whether you’re looking for new bedroom, entryway or living room rug ideas, interior experts share 5 rug mistakes to avoid – and they’ll all Make an impact on your plan over time.
5 Rug Mistakes Designers Think To Avoid
What do you need to know before investing in the hottest rug trends? These are the most common mistakes designers notice – for floors that stand the test of time.
1. Overplay mode
(Image credit: Paul Redside)
Designer Katie Raffetto from San Francisco Katie Lafitto Interior Design (opens in new tab) Be warned against using rich colors and patterns – as indiscriminate use of prints and bold color combinations can overcomplicate your space.
She urges us not to avoid using too many colors or patterns on carpeted rooms in bright paint ideas and vice versa if we want to be bold with our rugs.
“Neutral wall-to-wall creates a soft and beautiful backdrop because you might get tired of patterns or colors,” she says. However, Katie adds, you can make exceptions in more interesting spaces like a media room or game room.
2. Carpet your entire home
(Image credit: David Lovati)
Carpet can have its purpose (and looks great) in every room of the house, but not all, Katie warns. Instead of carpeting the entire house, she recommends making some rooms more natural, whether that means adding wood flooring ideas in your living room or opting for a smaller rug for your entryway.
‘[Only] Use wall-to-wall rugs in specific spaces. It can be great in bedrooms and closets, but too much can quickly make your home out of date,” she said.
3. Overemphasizing the importance of face weight
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“We instinctively assume that the higher the number, the higher the quality. While this statistic affects carpet quality, it is far from the only aspect to consider,” cautions architectural draftsman Zaeem Chaudhary. Communication Design Solutions (opens in new tab)“Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a 50-ounce rug is always better than a 40-ounce rug,” he adds.
Zaeem similarly explains that both density and twist can affect the overall quality, and recommends consulting with your salesman or flooring professional to find the best combination for your home.
4. Forget about underfilling
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Flooring expert Zara O’Hare (opens in new tab) Explains that one of the most common mistakes is not the look or feel of the rug in the full scheme. Instead, the biggest problems occurred before the carpet was put down.
“I see a common mistake that a lot of people make,” she said. ‘May people believe that because they have thick carpets, they don’t need any bottoming. This is not the case at all. ‘
Experts warn that without any backing, your rug will be less comfortable underfoot, but it can also affect its durability.
5. Choose the Right Carpet Staples
(Image credit: Paul Redside)
“One of the things that many people tend to overlook when installing their own rugs is the rug staple,” say Texas designers Maegan and Stefan Bucur from Rhythm of the Home (opens in new tab).
‘Few people know that the longevity of a rug depends on choosing the right staples. If you have a high pile rug, then you will need stronger staples to secure the rug and underlay to the subfloor,” they add.
For example, if you choose the wrong staples, they can loosen over time and cause your rug to sag, which means early replacement. This is especially important when considering hallway rug ideas—as this space has the most foot traffic—and is therefore likely to wear out the fastest.
