Considerations for choosing a living room rug

Rugs can make or break a room. A good choice is to put everything together and say "this room is complete. In a living space, a good rug helps define the area. It brings warmth to any area that looks and feels cold underfoot - we're looking at you, tile and hardwood. Choosing the right rug for your space can be challenging. We have some suggestions to help you choose the best rug for any space every time and add warmth to your room.

1. It's all in the timing

Please choose a rug first - or last. If you want to make a real statement with your rug to steal the show, start with your rug and build the room around it. But if you already have furniture you love, your rug can be a supportive element in a larger space, and you can choose it to work with the palette you already have.

2. Sing the rainbow

 Embrace color and trends. After all, replacing your rug is the perfect opportunity to refresh your living space and give it a whole new feel, so don't be afraid to try out some of the new hot colors, such as earthy red and pink shades, which will serve to complement mustards, tans, navy and blue-greens. Warm, rustic shades of brown will also be great. Think cognac brandy, almond and beige here. To introduce a real pop of color, consider a soft fuchsia, faded indigo or peach terracotta.

3. What's underneath

Please Consider your flooring. It is the base on which you will place your carpet, and some colors can work well together. Warm woods work better with warm carpet tones, while modern, light woods look great with gray, navy and white carpets.

4. Love your neighbors

Be sure to consider your neighbors. If you live in an apartment building, carpet can be a great soundproofing material, especially in busy areas such as living rooms. Strategically placed rugs will absorb sound and stop your neighbors from hearing your every move, and will absorb some of their noise as well.

5. Size matters

Do not choose a rug that is too small for the space. In all areas, a larger rug may be the difference between pulling your space together - or not. Get bigger every time; any extra cost is worth it. Let room orientation be your guide when deciding how to run your carpet. In long rooms, it's best to place rugs lengthwise. Using painters tape to mark the position of the carpet will help visualize the final look and is a pro tip to ensure the carpet is in the correct position from all angles.

6. Not always black and white

Don't choose a carpet that is black or too white for your living room space. Of course, choosing a carpet color is entirely a matter of personal preference. However, consider avoiding plain black or white carpets in high-traffic areas, especially if you have a young family or pets. Make maintenance part of your selection criteria so that you can spend more time enjoying your carpet and less time vacuuming. However, these rugs look super gorgeous in other, quieter areas.