See Any Area Rug In Your Room Before You Buy It

Browse over 9000 area rugs and find the perfect match for your space! Use our free rug visualizer and quickly find the perfect rug size, shape and placement.

With our AR Rug tool and this informative guide area rug choosing process will be more convenient. Read below to learn how to choose the right size and color, find helpful tips on their placement within a room, and get to know how to care and clean area rugs.

What Are Area Rugs and Why Choose One?

Sometimes, it can be unclear when choosing the perfect rug for your home space. People often don't know where to start to look for the rugs, so naturally, they first look for any information on the internet. It's no secret that the rug world and market are huge, so to look for a perfect match can also be a challenge.

Area rugs range vastly in size, shape, texture and purpose. Typically smaller than wall-to-wall carpets, flexible area rugs allow you to layer colors, patterns and textures while defining spaces within a room. Common benefits include:

With myriad shapes, sizes and materials to choose from, area rugs offer endless possibilities to transform the aesthetic and function of your home.

To begin somewhere in this rather complicated rug world, you need to see the types of rugs. There are a lot of styles and sizes of rugs, here's a good article from Angela Rose on the topic.

Photo by Anthropologie

Since area rugs are quite popular among many homeowners, you can find a variety of materials and patterns on this kind of rug. An area rug is a fabric often much smaller than the room's dimensions. The thing is, with this kind of rugs, they can give you a carpet-like feeling. What do we mean by that?

Area rugs are often more prominent, for example, 8x10 or 9x12, and have enough to cover a lot of flooring. The main difference from wall-to-wall carpeting, the area rugs let you see the flooring and may give you a more wholesome look in your home space. Another thing that you need to consider before you purchase an area rug in your space, the space where you will put the rug should be a bit bigger than the rug itself so that the room won't look too crowded.

You can determine the sizing by measuring your room, or you can take a more straightforward route - use the AR tool. This tool lets you see an area rug in your space before purchasing. You can choose from different sizes, colors, and patterns; no app is needed; use your smartphone, select one of the categories from the list and try it out in your space, and make the decision easier:

Outdoor Area Rugs

One of the biggest worries that any rug owner has wondered whether they can leave their outdoor area rugs outside all year long. Some manufacturers say that you can go your outdoor area rug outside the winter season, and some say you store them properly and remove them altogether.

Photo by Hannah Westby

In this case, we are going to give you some of the arguments that why you can leave your outdoor area rugs in the winter outside:

Water-resistant material. Of course, everything depends on the climate where you live, but outdoor rugs are made that they can withstand any weather. Usually, outdoor rugs are made out of polypropylene or poly silk material. They are both water-resistant, so when you have them in the winter, the fabric won't let the snow loosen the fibers, and dampness won't let your rug wear down.

It cannot freeze up. Many people bring their rugs in storage when the harsh winter comes around to prevent damage. While this is an intelligent thing to do, you can also leave your area rug outside for the winter season. When looking for an outdoor area rug, look for the rug manufactured to prevent snow, freezing, and dampness damage.

Photo by Style Me Pretty

Resistant to mold and mildew. Mold and mildew can be problematic because an unpleasant smell can drive everyone away from the outdoor space. Outdoor rugs are made from materials that don't hold onto moisture. This way, your rug efficiently wick the water out, and the fibers can remain stronger.

If you need a new outdoor area rug, the most significant challenge will always be choosing one. First, you can always think of the color or pattern you want and then search for that rug. But what if that rug doesn't meet your expectations in real life. Well, we have a perfect solution - the AR tool.

This tool is designed to see the rug in your space from your smartphone before purchasing. You can quickly check if the color or pattern will fit your area, and hopefully, you will find the perfect rug that fits your outdoor space.

Large Area Rugs

Large area rugs can serve a great purpose, like insulation, softness, and reducing heating bills. Those are some of the main things you can get from using a large area rug. The tricky part comes when you need to choose the perfect rug's style, colors, or patterns for your space.

Photo by Sugar & Cloth

To help you out, we prepared a shortlist of simple ideas that you can consider while styling your home space with area rugs. Here are they:

Entryway or foyer. These types of rugs are a way to elevate this space. A white faux fur rug can give this luxurious feel to the room and look more inviting. If your entryway or foyer is relatively small, the white-colored rug will make it more spacious and give a more considerable room effect.

Decide the color scheme. The color scheme can be hard to choose, but one of the easiest ways to elevate the home space and add a bit of color is with a rug if you are remodeling the whole home space, for example, the living room. Before purchasing the furniture or paint for the walls, choose the area rug first.

It can sound crazy, but the thing is, sometimes, building around the rug can be more manageable than anything else. The rug color scheme will give you many great ideas, and you can find this easier to find complementing things that will create a cozy feeling in your space.

Decide the material. The rug's material is vital because it can complete the style and feel you are going for. For example, a great way to add texture is to place an area rug made from sisal or jute material. Those two materials are also a sustainable option for more environmentally friendly households.

Decide patterns. The most exciting part for us while talking about the rugs is patterns. There are a lot of area rugs that have exciting ways that can live up the space. From bold stripes, various circles, or intricate designs to flower patterns, every pattern can bring out the best features to the space in the room you put the rug.

We talked about the color scheme. Well, the patterns and colors go together because you can also have a lot of options, and you can go with a monochromatic look or choose a more colorful option. Either way, this way you will create a fantastic character in your home space.

Learn more about the large area rugs here.

9x12 Area Rugs

When it comes to area rug placement, you need to focus on the size of the area rug and then the room you want to place that rug in. By far, one most popular sizes of an area rug is 9x12.

Photo by The Nordroom

These size area rugs are the ones that can make it or break the space. What do we mean by that? Proper furniture placement on the 9x12 area rug can make the room feel larger cozier and pull everything together.

First of all, a traditional approach to carpet installation involves fixing furniture. Therefore, consider placing the front legs of your sofa and chairs on the carpet to create a seamless and harmonious seating area that radiates an inviting and comfortable ambiance.

Also, if you want to create an intimate and comfortable seating area in a larger room, we recommend using a smaller rug. By placing two chairs and a small table on the rug, you can create a pleasant and inviting conversation space that effectively divides a large room into smaller, more intimate residential areas.

Define a Path: For a more daring approach, use a runner rug to define the path in a room such as a hallway or two rooms. This creates a unique visual connection and gives the space an explosive character.

Layer Your Rugs: Consider layering rugs for a more dynamic and textured look. Place a smaller rug on top of a larger rug to add texture and color to the space and leave your guests in awe.

Consider the Shape of the Room: The shape of the room should also affect the placement of your carpet. Center the rug in the center of the space in a square room. In a rectangular room, place the rug perpendicular to the longest wall. These unusual installations will wow your guests.

Consider Traffic Flow: Finally, when deciding where to place your area rug, consider the traffic flow in the room. Avoid placing it in a place where it will be constantly worn or difficult to clean, otherwise you will get confused. Leave some space around the edges of the rug to create a visual boundary, but the space you leave will depend on the size of the room and the furniture arrangement. Trust your intuition to create a balanced and harmonious look in the space, leaving your guests in a state of blast.

Learn more about the 9x12 area rugs here.

8x10 Area Rugs

In this part we'll speak about the cleaning, but if you want to learn more about 8x10 area rug in general, follow the link.

Photo by Planete Deco

Cleaning your area rugs in size 8x10 can be a bit of a challenge. For instance, the everyday or regular cleaning process is one of the best ways to keep your rugs in shape. All the steps are relatively simple and don't take much time, for example, vacuuming. Vacuuming helps you remove the dust, food crumbs, and other dirt; it elongates your rug's life.

Sometimes regular cleaning is not enough, so people look for professional cleaners. Of course, professional cleaners will know how to clean the rug perfectly and give you fantastic advice on the care of the rug, but let's face this type of service can be pretty expensive.

To help you make it more manageable, we have prepared a shortlist close to what professionals do for deep cleaning the rug. It not only help you stay on the budget but will elongate your rugs life. The deep cleaning you need to do only once a year. So, here are simple DIY cleaning steps:

1. Vacuum Regularly: Don't slack on your vacuuming game! Regular vacuuming is the best way to keep your area rug clean. Vacuum at least once a week, or more often in high-traffic areas. Make sure to use a vacuum with adjustable settings so you can avoid damaging the delicate rug fibers.
2. Spot Clean: When it comes to spills and stains, time is of the essence. Act fast! Blot up the spill with a clean cloth, and then use a gentle cleaning solution to remove any remaining residue. Abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals are big no-nos, as they can ruin the delicate rug fibers.
3. Professional Cleaning: Depending on the type of rug and the amount of foot traffic it receives, you may want to have it professionally cleaned once a year or every few years. Professional cleaners have the necessary equipment and expertise to deep clean and restore your rug without causing any damage. Mind-blowing, right?
4. Rotate Regularly: To prevent uneven wear and tear, rotate your area rug every few months. This will help distribute the foot traffic and sunlight exposure more evenly across the rug. Who knew rotating a rug could be so exciting?
5. Protect from Sunlight: Direct sunlight can cause fading and damage to your area rug over time. To protect your rug, consider using window treatments or UV-blocking film to reduce the amount of sunlight that enters the room. Can you even handle this level of excitement?
6. Avoid Heavy Foot Traffic: Finally, avoid placing your area rug in areas with heavy foot traffic, as this can cause the rug fibers to wear down more quickly. Consider using a runner rug or other protective measures in these high-traffic areas. This is such a thrilling and mind-boggling concept! By following these simple yet challenging tips, you can help ensure that your area rug stays clean and stunning.