6 Questions to Ask When Choosing a New Living Room Area Rug

We live for living rooms. They’re called living rooms for a reason, after all: we live a lot of our lives in them. Sitting on the couch, reading in the chair, entertaining, playing games on the coffee table, rolling around on the floor, having dance parties in front of the TV. Whatever you’re doing in your living room, it’s an important and integral part of your home and it deserves to be treated that way.

Long story short: our living rooms are important. That makes the furniture and decor we put in them important, too. 

If you’re in the market for some new living room decor and are wondering how to choose the right rug for such an integral part of your home, then you’re in the right place. To make the purchasing process easier, we’ve broken down what we consider to be the six most important questions to ask yourself before committing to any new living room rug purchase.

What is the function of my living room?

The first question you need to ask yourself during this process is the most important: how does my living room function? Is your living room a showplace where you want to focus on luxury and appearance over function?

Alternately, is your living room a hub for your home featuring a lot of seating, tables, and regular use? Do you plan on entertaining in this space? Do you plan on letting your children have free reign?

Determine how you want your living room to function first so then you’re able to answer the other questions in this post (and find your ideal area rug) far more easily. The way you live your life will guide you to the best rug for your space.

How busy is my living room? 

Not all living rooms are built the same. Like we mentioned in the previous question, some living rooms are used as showplaces while others are home hubs. How busy your living room is will determine how much foot traffic any rug you choose will have to stand up to.

Do you have a lot of children running in and out of the room at random? The busier your living room, the more durable you’re going to want the fibers of the rug you’re choosing to be. 

For example, if you have an especially busy lifestyle, we recommend focusing your search on sisal rugs. They have strong fibers and are free from chemical processing, both of which are good for families. Wool is also durable and long-lasting, but at a higher price point for its exceptional softness and luxury.

What is my design aesthetic? 

Determining your design aesthetic can be hard work. Taking time to learn and know what you like before purchasing new home furniture or decor can save you a lot of hassle. It’ll help you avoid purchasing things you don’t use and only spending your money on the stuff you love.

How can you figure out what your unique design aesthetic is? Try these things:

• Read interior design blogs and save images or posts that speak to you. 
• Create mood boards where you add some of these images and start to curate a collection of visual elements that you like most. You can do this easily online using a website like Pinterest.
• Speak to professional interior designers or salespeople at the places selling things you like. There’s nothing like expertise coming directly from the expert.

What size rug am I looking for?

The existing size and shape of your living room will both play a role in exactly which rug size you choose. The most frequent non-custom rug sizes for living rooms are 5 foot by 8 foot, 8 foot by 10 foot, and 9 foot by 12 foot. Measure your space and choose accordingly, but don't forget that there are many rug retailers, Sisal Rugs Direct included, that offer custom sizing options. 

How will I keep this rug looking new?

If you're putting this much effort into finding the perfect area rug for your living room, you're going to want to make sure the rug you choose lasts. By knowing how you'll care for your rug before you've even purchased it, you're already miles ahead of the average rug-purchaser.

Here are a couple things to keep in mind for anyone wanting to prolong the life of their rugs, new or otherwise:

• Always use rug pads to add cushioning and stability to any rug you're using. They’ll help less direct wear affect your rug, extending both its life and it’s usability. Plus, they make any rug they’re beneath cushier and who doesn’t like that?
• Make sure to have spot cleaner on hand before big spills happen instead of after. We have plenty of rug fiber-specific cleaning guides you can find listed here for easy reference.

Do I have any unique needs to consider?

You’re you, and nobody knows you better than you do. That said: there might be something we haven’t mentioned here that’s unique to you, but still important when it comes to choosing a new rug.

If you have sensory processing problems, look for companies that can send samples in the mail that allow you to feel and experience a rug fiber before making a purchase. If you are an avid drinker of red wine, you might want to look for rug materials that are the most stain resistant and easy to wash. Be true to yourself and your needs when purchasing and you’ll always end up with a product that makes you joyful.

Now that you know what to look for, here comes the fun part: browsing our online selection of natural fiber rugs to find the perfect one for your needs, your budget, and your unique living room.