If your house needs a fresh new look, you could start with a new rug or two. Not too long ago I found a wool area rug I loved at Home Goods on clearance for $88! Since it was such a steal, I was able to spread out my decorating budget. The rug served as a focal point for a family room decorating project. From here I was able to select paint colors, furniture, window treatments, and other décor.

Not only are area rugs a great way to introduce color to a space and enhance the overall décor, they are also highly functional. They create warmth when installed on hard surfaces such as tile or hardwood floors. When staging, I often use area rugs to break up busy tile flooring patterns. I also use them to define large spaces or open floorplans.  Larger size rugs can define dining areas and smaller rugs can be used to create intimate seating areas.

When decorating with area rugs, here are a few tips:

Avoid layering area rugs on top of carpeting. Over time the carpeting will discolor from sun fading and unevenly wear the more permanent carpeting underneath. When it comes time to sell your house, you most likely will need to replace carpeting in this room.

If you have new hardwood floors or recently refinished hardwood floors, you need to let the floors cure for an appropriate amount of time before placing rugs to avoid discoloration of the flooring underneath. Shift your rugs slightly every few months to avoid long term discoloration.

If  you have several area rugs in your home, you want to avoid rugs with busy and competing patterns or styles.  For example, you shouldn’t have an oriental style area rug in your formal dining room and a modern geometric style area rug in the adjacent great room. Instead it is best to have rugs that complement each other such as a pattern rug in one room and a solid color area rug of a similar color scheme in an adjacent space. Too many rugs can also create a cluttered look throughout the home.

Lastly, consider using rugs of varying sizes or shapes such as a larger or round rug in your dining room and a smaller rug in your living room (for example, a 5×7’ area rug underneath your cocktail table).

Refresh your home by rolling out the rugs in your living space. By following these tips, you can introduce a rug (or two) to spruce up your home, and give it a fresh, stylish new look.

Jamie McNeilis is an Accredited Staging Professional and owner of Centerpiece Home Staging in Cornelius. Email Jamie at Jamie.McNeilis@CenterpieceHomeStaging.com for home decorating and improvement topics you would like covered in Home Decor.

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