6 Small Area Rug Ideas for Your Home
Mar 31st 2023
Everyone wants to make small improvements to their home without breaking the bank, but finding just the right project to take on can be difficult. If you’re looking for something quick and easy that is relatively inexpensive... look no further than accent rugs! Adding a couple of carefully arranged small area rugs can instantly transform the look and feel of any space. However, just because this is an easy improvement doesn’t mean that it is a mindless one. Choosing a small area rug as a focal point or an accent area involves a number of factors to make sure that it works well and flows with the rest of your decor. Keep reading, and we'll go over some of the most important things to think about when searching for a rug so that you can find the perfect one for your home.
Define an Area
Small area rugs are a great way to visually separate spaces within larger rooms. For instance, the rug in a living room can serve as a visual barrier between the seating area and the rest of the room. As a result, the space will feel more functional and well-organized. In the same way, small area rugs for bedrooms can serve as a functional and attractive divider between the living room and the bedroom.
Smaller rugs can also be used to define a completely new area of any room – an accent space. In a living room, this could be a corner nook or a media center, while in a bedroom this could be a window seat, a dressing area, or makeup vanity.
Choose the Right Shape
One of the most important factors in choosing an area rug is the shape and whether it will match the shape of your space. No matter how big or small the rug is, its shape will have a major impact on the room's overall look. Ovals, circles, squares, and octagons are just some of the shapes available in small area rugs. The shape of the rug should complement the decor of the room it will be placed in. While a round rug is perfect for softening the corners of a square room, a rectangular rug is ideal for defining a long, narrow space. Take a long look at your room and imagine which shape would be best suited for your specific needs; if you need to experiment, tape out a few different shapes on the floor to help put the pieces together!
Do Your Research on Material
It's also extremely important to think about the rug's material. A wide variety of materials, including wool, cotton, silk, and synthetic fibers, are used to create small area rugs. It is crucial to select a material that suits your specific needs because each material has its own set of characteristics. Examples of rugs that are well-suited for heavy foot traffic include those made of wool because of their durability and softness, or washable rugs that can be easily maintained. If your main priority is comfort, however, you could choose a smaller shag rug for your space. Take a look at your daily activities and how much traffic the rug’s area will have before making any final decisions.
Look Into Colors and Patterns
This is the most obvious out of all of the things to consider: what color rug you’re going to buy. You can find small area rugs in a wide range of styles and colors, from bright and bold to soft and neutral. When choosing a rug, keep the room's existing decor in mind to ensure that it looks good underfoot and alongside other furniture. When a room has too many different patterns, a solid-color area rug can help bring some much-needed harmony to the space. However, a patterned rug is a great way to spice up a dull room or add an extra layer of depth.
Durability Matters
Think about how long your small area rug will last before purchasing. You should consider the amount of foot traffic, spills, and other forms of wear and tear the rug will experience in its intended location. Try to find durable rugs that don't require much effort to clean. If you have kids or pets, you may want to choose a rug that can handle a little more mess, like a machine-washable option. If it will be in an area without a lot of foot traffic, or one that isn’t at risk of any spills, then durability might not be your top focus – either way, you want to purchase a rug that will last.
Make Sure It’s Worth the Price
Last but certainly not least, pay attention to price. There is a wide range of prices for smaller area rugs, from low-priced alternatives to high-priced designer rugs. Before you start looking, set a budget and stick to it! Only consider rugs that fit within that range. It's important to keep in mind that a higher price tag isn't always indicative of higher quality before making a purchase. As a result, it is essential that you investigate and read feedback. Do your research!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you cut an area rug to make it smaller?
A: If you want to downsize your area rug, you can do so, but you should do so with caution and be aware of the potential consequences. Before beginning any cutting, make sure you have an accurate measurement of the rug's dimensions to prevent wasting time or damaging the rug. Nothing gets cut without a straight edge, a sharp tool, and a cutting mat to keep things from flying everywhere.
There are some clear pros and cons to cutting a rug yourself, and you need to keep all of them in mind. Pro, you don’t have to buy your own smaller rug. Con, you can easily end up damaging the threading in the process and the rug won’t last very long after it has been cut, and will eventually unravel. If your rug has any sort of border or fringe, cutting it also would not work due to the lack of border on the side that you cut it from. Keep all of this in mind if you’re going to jump into any DIY’s rather than choosing to buy.
Q: Do area rugs make a room look smaller?
A: If placed incorrectly, area rugs certainly have the potential to make rooms feel smaller or more crowded, though usually the opposite is true! Depending on their dimensions and placement, area rugs can make a room feel cozier or more open. A small rug placed in the center of a room has the effect of making the whole area feel more intimate. Generally speaking, a small rug in the middle of a room can make the space appear smaller by forming a visual "island" there. By contrast, a larger rug that encompasses the entire seating area creates the illusion of more space because it unifies the space and makes it look more put together.
The rug's color and design can also alter the space's look. For example, spaces with dark, busy patterns can feel closed in and congested, while those with lighter, simpler patterns can make the space seem more open and airy.It is important to consider the size and arrangement of the room's furnishings before making a final decision on an area rug. A well-chosen rug can make a room look larger, but a rug that doesn't fit correctly can certainly give the illusion of shrinking your space.
Q: Can you wash small area rugs?
A: Small area rugs can indeed be washed. However, the type of rug and its cleaning recommendations will determine the washing procedure. You should abide by the recommendations given on the rug's care label, if one is present. If the label indicates that it is a machine washable rug, use a mild detergent and a gentle cycle to wash it. Before attempting to wash the rug, be sure to check the weight capacity of your washing machine.
If the rug cannot be machine washed, you can hand-clean it with water and a mild detergent. Vacuum the rug first to get rid of any loose dirt and debris. After that, use a solution of water and mild detergent to spot-clean any stains. Finally, thoroughly rinse the rug with clean water before drying it on a hanger.
Smaller area rugs area a budget-friendly way to add some spice to your current decor with low effort and low difficulty. They can be used as accent pieces or to frame central furniture, and come in an abundance of different colors and patterns to mesh with any current decor you might already have. Smaller area rugs are relatively inexpensive and can make a great impact on your style and design, as long as you follow these tips and tricks on how to choose the perfect one for you.
If you're looking for a new area rug to add to your space, smaller or larger, be sure to take a look at the listings on Decorsify.com first! We have plenty of shapes and styles to choose from, so you're sure to find something that works for you. We have rugs of all different sizes, so you can start with the smaller-size rugs and then work from there!