Area Rug or Carpet?
As an interior designer, I have a soft spot for area rugs—they're like the cherry on top of a well-designed room! They effortlessly tie everything together, adding a pop of color and pattern. Plus, they can be taken away for a deep clean or be steam cleaned on the spot. And hey, they last longer too!
When it comes to area rugs, I love a wool hand knot, whenever the budget allows. The hand knotting gives the rug textural depth and richness, while the wool is naturally repellent to stains! Wool is also extremely durable and will last forever.
If budget is tight, a polypropylene, is also durable, and can be a good choice. There are also printed cotton and poly blend washable rugs now, also great for tight budgets. I love how the print can replicate the textural aesthetic of a hand knotted rug. There are so many styles from, modern/pop art, to traditional and the print can have a nice faux aesthetic to it. Nothing can replace a hand knotted quality woven rug, but these are a great alternative for the right projects.
That’s not to say that carpet doesn’t have a place in a home. For example, in a small bedroom, an area rug might look too cluttered and busy so carpet can be a good choice. I also like wall to wall carpet in closets, to keep you cozy during the winter months. It’s a lot more comfortable than a hard cold surface. I love doing an animal print in the closet because it camouflages stains and gives a little style to a busy cluttered area.
Another place I recently used animal print carpet was in the design of a large game room. This game room was almost three rooms combined and we needed to transition the flooring from the wood in the hallway. Thus, we chose an antelope print carpet that added the interest of an area rug and the comfort of carpet. And as I mentioned above, this carpet will camouflage any stains that may happen in between cleanings – which is great for a game room.
So while both carpet and area rugs have their perks, you’ll find me using areas more often based on their ability to pull a room together and add color, pattern and interest. If you are in the market for an area rug, don’t forget Etsy. They have beautiful, quality rugs that you won’t see in every home. Read the reviews of the seller and make sure you are buying from someone reputable. I buy from Etsy for my clients often and have yet to be disappointed. Other good options that sell to the public are Lulu and Georgia, Annie Selkie, Serena and Lily, and Caitlyn Wilson.
