An area rug is a popular alternative to wall-to-wall carpeting, mainly because they offer so much more flexibility. While carpets are fixed to the floor, rugs can easily be moved around, whether it's within the same room or between rooms. Area rugs also come in a huge range of colours, shapes, sizes and fabrics, so it's much easier to redesign a room when the season changes or when your mood changes! Here's everything you need to know about area rugs.

What Is an Area Rug?

Area rugs are most often found in open-plan living areas to define the different zones, but they are also common in kitchen and living areas where they are used to secure lounges, tables and chairs. As well as their functional attributes, area rugs can also be decorative, helping to define a room and provide comfort and warmth.

Advantages of Using an Area Rug

If you like the feel of carpet underfoot, but don't want to invest in wall-to-wall carpeting (or simply don't want to commit to something so permanent), an area rug is the perfect design solution. Decorating hardwood floors with a rug (or multiple rugs in layers) has many advantages. Here are just a few.

Some of the advantages of areas rugs include:

• instantly create a focal point
• create a quieter room by harnessing the sound-dampening effects of a rug
• protect your floors from damage caused by pets, furniture and other sharp or heavy objects
• save money on power bills and create a cosier atmosphere by reducing draughts coming up through the floorboards
• choose a style to complement or contrast with your existing decor and mix up your looks as often as you want.

What Size Should an Area Rug Be?

Any size you want is the simple answer! However, most area rugs tend to be on the larger side so that they cover the majority of the floor. If you want to emphasise your furniture by framing it with a rug, you will also need to opt for a large or extra-large rug. Decorative rugs can be smaller, and you can also experiment more with colour and shape. Read more about choosing the right rug size.