Masters Home Improvement

Adding a rug to a room can create a strong focal point, create a living zone or simply hide an unsightly stain or blemish. While a fitted carpet gives a specific feel, rugs allow for a mixture of textures and designs.

Creating a whole new look without any expense can be achieved by moving and repositioning existing rugs. They also help protect hardwood floors and save carpeting from being bleached by the sun.

Whether you choose a traditional handwoven rug in soft earthy hues or a contemporary piece using striking graphics, there is a rug to suit every room and every space.

Up-to-the-minute trends

Paying homage to the swingin’ ’60s and ’70s, shag pile is back in fashion. Boasting long, long pile tufts that are soft and touchable, shag pile exudes comfort and playfulness. The latest versions offer eye-catching graphics and vibrant hues.

In most rooms, the rug must work with the furnishings – it has to fit gently and not leap out at you. That’s why the latest rugs in neutral tones are popular options; they’re quietly subtle and exude sophistication.

Size matters when it comes to rugs. Currently larger rugs are very popular – ranging from 200 x 300cm to 240 x 340cm.

Choosing the correct size rug depends on the dimensions of the room. Make sure you don’t cover the entire floor space since this ‘artistic work’ needs to have its own visual ‘frame’.

A good rule of thumb is to keep 30 to 60 centimetres of open space between the rug and the surrounding walls.

Get the right fit

There are a few things to remember on the correct placing of a rug in a room…

In the dining room, the rug should go under the table with enough width and breadth so chairs stay on the rug when people push back from the table.

In the bedroom, a rug works well when it’s placed under the lower two-thirds of the bed. This gives a nice soft surface to bare feet on a cold winter’s morning.

Placing the front legs of a sofa on a rug while the back legs remain on floorboards helps to make the sitting area more inviting.

In the living room, a strong design can make the rug a focal point of the room. Likewise, a light coloured rug will open the room up and create a sense of space. A dark rug, however, will make a cold room feel warm and cosy.

A long hall runner with a distinctive design can add a decorative touch to a house.

In the playroom, keep the pile short and the colours mottled for piece of mind and easy cleaning.

No matter what size of rug you choose and how you position it, one golden rule is to never have the corner of a rug in front of a doorway. This creates a tripping hazard.

Types of rugs

• Hand-knotted: Each hand-knotted rug is a unique, labour-intensive work of an artisan.  Each piece of weave is knotted by hand to create a one-of-a-kind, hard-wearing and vibrant rug.

• Tufted: Strands of wool or yard are punched through a canvas backing and sheet and held in place with glue and fabric.  These rugs are textured, durable and cheaper than hand-knotted rugs.

• Woven: These rugs are made on a loom where vertical threads (warps) are held in place and horizontal threads (weft) are passed under and over.  Woven carpets can be made of wool, silk or cotton.

• Loop pile: The yarn is punched through the backing material then looped over and passed back through the material again.  The loops can be all the same size or different lengths to create a textured look.  Short loops are great for high-traffic areas whereas longer loops have a more luxurious feel.

• Twist pile: Very similar to a loop pile except that the loop is given a twist or two.  This creates a textured rug that is resistant to tracking (the leaving of footprint marks on the rug).

• Cut pile: By taking a loop pile and cutting the tops off the loops at an even height, a cut pile rug is created.  The effect is soft and luxurious with a rug that is elegant and quite formal.

• Cut-and-loop pile: This combination of a cut-and-loop pile is used to create designs, textures and patterned effects.  A great rug for hiding footprints and any tracked in dirt.

For more ideas and inspiration, and to see the latest product ranges, visit your local Masters Home Improvement store.