Take the Floor

Posted: 27 July 2009 by Metricon Homes

Tags: colours, furniture, modern, rugs, tiles, timber, trends

We hang gorgeous paintings and prints on our walls and magnificent silks from our windows – so why not use the floor which is usually bare, to make a decorating statement. How? Simple, by filling it with bright and beautiful rugs. The trend currently is to steer away from neutral tones in favour of a big, bold designs that look a lot like works of art. A floor rug is a great way to add some extra pizzazz to a room and bring all of the other elements together – and best of all – if you get sick of it you can hide it away in a cupboard somewhere.

Why a rug?

A floor rug can work as an aesthetic feature to just about any room of the house and is a great add-on to a beautiful timber or tiled floor. If chosen carefully, it can be complement furniture and décor and tie all the different pieces together visually, all while adding a touch of sophistication. There are also a number of practical benefits.

The Australian trend towards large open-plan living and hard floor means a rug can help not only in defining the specific areas of a room but also add an element of warmth. Rugs are great for providing relief and comfort from hard floors and they also work to reduce the echo you can also get in a large spacious room. Rugs are also portable, meaning you don’t have to leave your beloved investment behind if you move.

Hot trends

We are leaving behind a trend of quiet, monochromatic colours and looking for some excitement. A modern take on old-style floral patterns has become a hot new look. We are also seeing a lot of rugs without boarders so the design looks like it is moving off the page.

Adding a fire-engine red and garden greens seem to be the flavour of 2009 with charcoal and shades of grey emerging as the new chocolate.

How to choose a rug

Choosing a rug tends to be the last thing you to do your room as it can often be determined by size of the furniture and colour scheme of the room. You also have to consider the attributes of the room as you don’t want a big, bold rug to take away from these or make the space look too busy. For example – if you have a fantastic view from the room you don’t suddenly want your rug to be the most dominant thing in that space. Also consider where the rug will be and who uses the room to rule out what you don’t want and therefore make your selection job easier. If pets and children are in the equation, for example, then you might be inclined to steer away from white or creams.

You have to consider what is already occupying this space. If you have modern, modular furniture, then you could afford to go something bold. However if your furniture has a lot of patterns – it might be worth toning it down. One of the big mistakes is purchasing a rug that is so large that none of the existing floor can be seen.