Area Rug Safety

Area rugs add warmth and beauty, and are often the perfect accessory to complete a room's décor.  But they must be used strategically to create the biggest impact while supporting safety in the home.

Area rugs help define a space by establishing parameters of a seating group or a particular area.  They also serve to create harmony and pull all of the elements in that space together.  In an open floor plan, they work to create visual distinctions between different areas without the need for large obstacles, like furniture, walls, or doors.

On glossy or light-reflecting floors, area rugs can block distracting glare.  Their texture absorbs the shine, making the light in the room more balanced and even.  This contrast of textures adds interest to a space.

Area rugs make a sitting area cozier, often adding needed color and accent.  They can even act as interesting artwork.  But they can potentially cause hazards in doorways and other highly traveled areas, so think ahead.  You may want to use rugs only in lightly traveled areas. 

Where an area rug could pose danger, you might want to create an "area rug look" with contrasting flooring that is flush with surrounding floors. This will identify a specific area visually without adding unwanted obstacles.  Use non-skid floor mats under the area rug to protect your area rugs from sliding.

All of your area rugs do not need to be of the same pattern.  Add interest by mixing patterns, keeping in mind the color scheme you have selected for the area.  It is easier to coordinate patterns by having one rug with a dark border and a lighter pattern in the center next to another rug that might have a light border and a darker pattern in the middle.  From the living room to the dining room to the family room, this is a great way to mix patterns and create interest.

Are you traveling and want a suggestion on what to purchase as a memory of  your trip?  Area rugs would be a great memory that will be useful and last many years.  They can be large enough for the floor or smaller and mounted on the wall.

Area rugs are a way to make a room special -- creating a conversation area, creating warmth, and creating a great accessory for your floors and walls. 

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• Holiday decorations are already in the stores so it is time to decide if you want to add to your decorations this year. 
• This is a great time to look at holiday dishes.   Red and white dishes are fun to pull out after Thanksgiving and use into January.  They make every meal festive with very little work.

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• A rule of thumb is to make the area rug big enough to put all the furniture on the rug or none of the furniture on the rug.
• If you have a coffee table on this rug, it may cover the center rug pattern so use a rug with an outside border.
• If you do not have a coffee table that will be on the rug, you can have a medallion accent in the center of the rug.