Featured Rugs

Rugs – We've Got It Covered

Apart from the practical benefits of a rug (the cushioning, comfort and warmth), rugs  can also provide visual value to a room's design. Consider it, if you will, artwork for your floor. But how to  choose one that is well balanced in terms of quality, size and pattern is a skill – a skill that luxury interior designer René Dekker can help you with.

Top  London  interior decorators such as René Dekker Design will know instinctively how a rug will affect a room, and will also know what shape, colour, and depth of pile to select. Many will use a rug as a starting point from which to choose paint shades and accessories for the rest of a room's scheme.

When making a selection, first consider where a rug is to be used. This will determine the amount of traffic in that area and the choice of fibre or pile. A hallway, for example, will need something durable, so a flat weave or organic fibre such as jute, coir or sisal is the most practical choice, although they won't give the same physical warmth as a woven variety.

Chelsea Pad Living Room - René Dekker

Many people like the luxury interior feel of toe-sinking, high-pile or shag gorgeousness, which works perfectly in a living room or bedroom. Natural fibres such as wool and cotton are the best choice, but for a lush, deep, pile, synthetic fibres can give you a similar feel.

As in many areas of life, size matters. So, when going to see a rug selection, always make sure you go armed with a tape measure, the dimensions of your room and those of the most important items in that space (the fireplace, bed, dining table etc). Consider how the rug will work in conjunction with your furnishings –  if you place your dining table and chairs on a rug for example you want it to define the space, not create a visual island. Thinking carefully about the size at the outset will ensure that when it's in situ, a rug won't overload the look and feel of a room.

As  a general rule of thumb, the rug area should be a minimum of six inches and no more than two feet away from the wall.   However, if for whatever reason, you can't find exactly the size you want, or you have an awkward space to accommodate, a carpet can be cut and bound to create a custom made, bespoke rug to meet your exact requirements. Just make sure that if you use a rug on a smooth floor for practical or aesthetic reasons, ensure that it's fixed in place properly.

To maintain your London interior design, it's worth looking after your rugs. They could be a costly and time consuming item to replace in the future. Medium to high-pile rugs should be cleaned once a year to remove dust, allergens and accumulated dirt that isn’t easily removed with a vacuum. Low-pile and flat-weaves provide fewer hiding spaces for undesirable guests (such as dust or carpet mites), but they still need a bi-annual, old-fashioned rug beating or possibly even a dry clean.

St Georges Hill Master Bedroom - René Dekker

For colour and pattern, the main tip here is that you want to choose a style that complements a space. It either needs to work with the tones and textures of the existing furnishings (it doesn't need to match the colours or the room perfectly, but it must complement at least two to three of the main shades), or it's a fabulous piece in its own right, and a focal point for your room.

In terms of style, some people will naturally gravitate towards new and contemporary, others to the beauty and romance of an antique pattern. But don't be lulled into a false sense of security. If someone tells you there are no rights or wrongs when choosing a rug, frankly, they're wrong! But fear not, that's where experienced residential  interior designers come in.