Rug Buying Guide

From choosing the perfect pattern, to finding the best size rug for your space, use our guide to add style and comfort to your home.

Whether you’re searching for the perfect rug for your living room, a durable option for high-traffic areas, or simply looking to refresh your space. To help you make the right rug choice for your home, here’s e-Rugs advice for buying the best area rugs online.

This guide will help you decide:

• The right sized rug for your space, with ideas about placement.
• The best material or construction type for your room.
• Which rooms different types of rugs work best in.
• How to properly care for and maintain your rug.

Basically, a rug is a perfect addition that can bring a room together or makes a statement. The choice of color to design or pattern and of course the durability. When you buy a handmade and ethical rug made of real wool and acrylic is fairly an important investment, so you should make sure the one you are going to buy serves its purpose for many years to come. Our range of rugs is made of latest designs using different skilled techniques. Rugs with rich fibers brought from various part of the world come in an array of colors. This buying guide aims at helping you pick the best rug for your beautiful home.

Choosing the right rug size

Consider the area

Now before you decide on a style of rugs, one of the more crucial things you have to consider is the condition of the room. Factors like humidity and foot traffic are essential aspects that will ultimately dictate the rug’s durability and suitability.

When measuring your space, consider the proportions of the room, your furniture layout, and the overall shape of the area. To visualise how the rug will look, use a tape measure and some masking tape to mark out the size and position on the floor. This simple trick lets you see how the rug fits from every angle and ensures it complements your furniture and layout.

 

Rug size matters

The general rule of thumb when it comes to choosing a quality rug is that the bigger is better and measure! Measuring your space and understanding the dimensions you need for the room is a necessary step in your carpet buying process to avoid creating the ‘floating’ rug look. As the name suggests, the floating rug look happens when carpets or rugs do not touch any furniture and are too small for the room.

Living Room

One of the most used rooms in the home, you’ll want your rug to anchor your seating arrangement and define the area. Positioning will depend on how large the room is and whether any of the furniture grouping is against a wall. 

How to Position

The rug plays a big role in both defining the layout and adding comfort. If the furniture (sofa, chairs, etc.) isn’t against a wall, you can go with a larger rug that all the main pieces of furniture sit entirely on. This is great for anchoring the seating area in open concept layouts.

In medium and smaller sized rooms, where the sofa is against a wall, and chairs/coffee table are in front. Place the rug so the front legs of the sofa sit on the rug to keep the space grounded.

Dining Room

Make a statement and keep all furniture on the rug in this space, don’t forget to allow room for the chairs to get pushed back and if account for extended length, if you table is expandable. Aim to leave around 45-60cm of rug around the table.

How to Position

The entire dining table and all chairs (even when pulled out) should sit fully on the rug. This prevents awkward edges and keeps chairs stable when pulled out. Leave enough rug around all sides of the table to allow chairs to be moved in and out easily.

If your table is extendable, measure its maximum extended length to choose the right rug size. This creates a defined zone for the dining area.

Bedroom

With the bed as the main focal point, a well-placed rug can elevate the entire room, making it feel balanced, warm, and complete. Rugs that frame your bed and night stands will create a co-ordinated look that pulls the room together.

How to Position

Large Rugs that sit under the entire bed and nightstands create a grand, cohesive look, especially in larger rooms. For a stylish but more budget friendly option, choose a slightly smaller rug that will sit in front of the nightstands and extend it past the foot of the bed. Runners on each side of the bed are great for smaller rooms or when using carpet-friendly layering.

Avoid rugs that are too small and “float” in the space and ensure the rug is centred with the bed, not just the room.

Unconventional shape rugs

While most would tend to opt for standard rectangular carpets and rugs, know that unconventionally shaped rugs may suit your space just as well. Consider buying unique shapes from the e-Rugs style collection for a bold yet understated appeal with its graphic, architectural form or match a large circular rug to an open-plan space to make an effortless styling choice.

Color Co-Ordination

These days, striking colors are the trend in the world of rugs. In terms of hue, there’s bright and zingy, deep and earthy and even pale and plain. To buy rugs that are uniquely yours, consider your tonal preference and where it sits as it will likely become the main focal point. Showcase your personality with bold patterns and colors or blend in beautifully with rugs in light hues.

Think of the aftercare

Depending on the type and materials used, some rugs are easy to care for, while others require high-maintenance and upkeep. For starters, flatweave rugs and low pile handmade rugs need simple maintenance, whereas deep or high pile are the opposite. Take the time to consider all aspects and be honest because you’ll need to commit to the aftercare to make the rug last for years to come.

Always you get this question while buying rug the right rug material?

How to decide the right rug material?

Rugs are perfect anchors to the design of your living space for the most part – between figuring out the right sizes, colors, and styles – textures are often overlooked, but this feature holds the key to create a modern, liveable space.

Where Will You Place Your Rug?

Your selection may have a lot to do. Where you will be placing the rug? Will the rug be placed in an entry hallway, or will it be placed in a corner of the living room? Will it be displayed on a wall? Where you place your rug will determine how much use in terms of foot traffic it is going to get that decides the lifetime a rug.

Placing a very expensive wool or delicate silk rug in the entry might not be a good idea, however, these will add a very luxurious look to a protected part of the living room or the bedroom. Bamboo rugs, while they don't offer a very soft feel underfoot will last a long time in high traffic areas such as entries. To help you decide on the best rugs for your home, here are the many different materials in the world of e-Rugs and when to use it.

Looking after your rug

Vacuuming:
It is completely normal for your new rugs to shed fluff at first, this is caused by excess fibres that attach during the spinning process. Once the rug has been vacuumed a few times this will lessen and eventually stop. Regular vacuuming will help to keep your rug looking new for longer and prevent dirt that is on the surface of the rug getting embedded and making it much harder to clean. We would recommend the use of a suction vacuum cleaner to ensure that the pile of the rug isn’t damaged. It is always useful to rotate your rug on a regular basis to even out the wear of the rug or fade if it is in natural sunlight.

Spills and Stains:

• To prevent permanent stains on your rug any spills must be dealt with as soon as they happen. The best way to treat them is as follows:
• Blot up excess with a clean white cloth or paper towel, NB. never rub as this can spread the spill
• Working from the outer edge of the stain to the centre, apply appropriate carpet cleaner with a clean cloth
• Pat with a paper towel and leave to dry
• Vacuum the rug
• If stain is still visible repeat the process until the stain is completely removed
• If trying to remove the stain yourself doesn’t work contact a professional carpet/rug cleaning company

 

Material	Why we love …	Things to consider …	Best for …	Care
Wool (Natural Fibre)	Cosy under foot, wool rugs are strong, excellent insulators and have good stain and water repellency. They are long lasting and retain vibrancy of colour and pattern over time.	As a natural fibre, some shedding may occur but this should lesson over time.	Any living area (Living rooms, dining rooms, high traffic areas …)	Take Special Care May be carefully cleaned with a hand brush or nozzle attachment on your vacuum. Visit … to find out more
Polyester & Acrylic (Synthetic/Man-made)	Easy to clean, highly durable and well suited to high traffic areas in the home.	Acrylic blended rugs have a different feel than natural fibres - still soft but less dense. Polyester shaggy rugs can flatten over time.	All rooms	Easy care Can be brushed or vacuumed.  Visit … to find out more
Viscose (Semi-Synthetic)	Super soft with a beautiful sheen and a silk-like feel.	Susceptible to water/moisture damage so not suitable in high traffic areas.	Living rooms and bedrooms	Take Special Care May be carefully cleaned with a hand brush or nozzle attachment on your vacuum. Visit … to find out more
Nylon (Synthetic/Man-made)	Very durable, easy to clean and often with a latex non-slip backing.	Feels more lightweight than natural materials.	Ideal for bedrooms and playrooms	Easy care Can be brushed or vacuumed.  Visit … to find out more
Polypropylene (Synthetic/Man-made)	Hardwearing, practical with minimal shedding and the most stain resistant material.	May not be the preferred choice of choice if you prefer natural fibres.	Ideal for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and hallways	Easy care Can be brushed or vacuumed.  Visit … to find out more
Natural Fibres (jute, sisal, seagrass, kanaf)	Strong and durable, natural fibres are made from eco-friendly plants and grasses	Feels harder and flatter than a rug with a deeper pile	Suitable for kitchens, dining rooms, hallways and conservatories	Easy care Can be brushed or vacuumed.  Visit … to find out more
Chenille (Can be made from cotton or synthetic fibres)	Designed to mimic silk, chenille rugs have a luxurious pile with a soft scrumptious feel	Due to the softness of chenille, it’s not suitable for high traffic areas.	Ideal for living rooms and bedrooms	Take Special Care May be carefully cleaned with a hand brush or nozzle attachment on your vacuum. Visit … to find out more
Cotton	Frequently used to make flat weave rugs, cotton rugs are usually thinner in appearance but soft to touch and don’t shed as much as other materials	Not as longlasting  than other materials, meant to be replaced from time to time	Kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms	Easy care Can be brushed or vacuumed.  Visit … to find out more

Material

1. Wool:

The most common type of material used for making rugs is wool. It is durable and soft too. Other features are:

• Strong, stain free and water repellent, cozy underfoot and excellent insulating benefits
• With a tight woven pile, our most wool rugs are either hand tufted or woven
• Wool can add that extra warmth because it is a natural product
• Our wool rugs are suitable for your living area
• Initially they may shed as they are made of natural fibre source 

2. Jute & Natural Fibre

Jute and natural fibre are basically plants and grasses like jute and seagrass.

• They are hard under your foot still strong and durable
• It provides an organic look and feel to your room
• They are the best choice for hallways and kitchens
• Easy to clean by brushing or vacuum it 

3. Polyester and Acrylic

Polyester and acrylic range of rugs comes in a variety of pile heights. Some are hand-carved to give a 3D effect to them.

• Polyester and acrylic yarns offer warmth and softness to handle
• They come in rich and vibrant colours with intricate design which make them the style statement piece of rugs for your living space.
• Durable and ideal for high-traffic areas of your house 

4. Polypropylene

Polypropylene is actually a synthetic fibre made by man. It is hardwearing, durable and practical made of modern technology is extremely soft and gives a warm feeling.

• Machine loomed rugs are made by skilled machine handlers
• The fibres used are renowned to shed minimal that make it ideal for those of high traffic areas
• Such rugs come in ranges of dense pile or soft shaggy pile
• Excellent and vibrant colour combination with intricate design
• Its edges are thread bound means whipping means create a neat finishing to the design
• Durability makes it an ideal choice for any location

5. Nylon

Nylon is called manufactured fibre, which can transform into a variety of colour combinations.

• Nylons rugs are non-slippery and washable
• Such rugs are said to be the best in durability
• Easy to care, wiping and wash clean
• Lightweight and fashionable material rugs come in brightly printed and no shedding
• Ideal choice for playrooms, kitchen conservatories and heavy traffic area of your house

Room Type

A rug for a living room, for example, will differ from one for a kitchen. Both need to be hard wearing, but in different materials to suit the living style. Our shaggy range offers deep pile rugs that add softness to a room and dampens sound. Our plain range contains beautiful wool rugs for warmth and style. Kitchens favour a flat woven rug for simplicity in being easy to clean. This is the reason flat-woven also work for home offices wheeled chairs can easily move over their smooth surfaces. Flatweave designs give strength and durability and can be wiped clean easily.

Design

The design of the rug you choose is of course entirely up to you. We offer everything from plains to Handcarved florals, shaggy warmth to hardwearing polypropylene and durable flatweave designs. It is worth considering other pattern and colour within the room’s decor before you make your selection. If your pictures or textiles are busy, a neutrally- patterned or block coloured rug will sit better among them. For rooms that are minimalistic in look, or plainer and more pared back in their design details, texture, pattern and a mixed palette can add interest.

Click here to shop from our rug collections.