How to choose a carpet for the floor?
Carpets in the living room or another room should be carefully selected not only by style. Here are 6 more points to pay attention to. You can choose a suitable carpet:
By color.
Carpets in the interior come in different shades and colors. Therefore, there are 2 main schemes:
- Contrast. The color of the carpet should differ significantly from the design of the room. Black on light, white on dark, bright on white, etc.
- Non-contrast. The color scheme of the carpet is as close as possible to the interior – it can be in the tone of the floor, furniture, walls. At the same time, merging cannot be allowed – let one thing be a couple of tones lighter or darker than the other.
When choosing a color, the issue of practicality is also important – snow-white or blue-black are some of the worst options for the floor. They show trash, dirt, animal hair. The most universal are beige, gray, pastel shades.
By size.
The main thing to remember before buying: no extremes. An excessively large rug across the entire room will look more like carpet and will visually reduce the space. A very small one will get lost in the room. 3 basic rules for choosing the size:
- The doors should not touch the rug.
- The smaller the rug in the interior in relation to the floor, the greater the contrast between the coverings should be.
- The feet of seated people should be on top of the rug.
By shape.
There are 3 main types:
- Rectangular. Most rooms in apartments have an incorrect aspect ratio, so such rugs are in great demand. Versatile, compatible with different styles and room sizes.
- Round. To prevent the carpet on the floor from looking like a black sheep, its shape should be repeated in other details. Round table, smooth outlines of the chair, aquarium, chandelier.
- Oval. A great option for highlighting a certain area – for example, a dining table with chairs or an armchair with a bookcase.
There are also carpets of irregular shapes. Among them, natural (flower, animal, star) and geometric (several figures in one, abstraction) motifs are popular. Such interior items are very active, so they should be used wisely: focus on the carpet, choose it exactly for your interior.
The photo shows a carpet in a modern design
By material.
Carpets are made from natural and artificial materials. The most popular:
- Wool. It is expensive, but practically does not fade in the sun, withstands mechanical stress, does not wrinkle. High-quality, comfortable and environmentally friendly decoration for your home and apartment.
- Silk. Durable and very beautiful, but the cost can reach 1,000,000 rubles.
- Viscose. The closest replacement for silk, considered a natural material, as it is made from cellulose. Due to the possibility of dyeing, there are no restrictions on the brightness of the color. In terms of durability, it is not inferior to wool.
- Acrylic. At first glance, it looks like natural wool. Acrylic flooring is easy to care for, affordable and durable. But it has one drawback – it accumulates static electricity and can “shock”. But this material is suitable for damp rooms (bathrooms, toilets), excluding the formation of mold.
The manufacturing method is also important: handwork is more expensive, but thanks to natural materials it will last longer. Factory models are cheaper and are usually made of synthetics.
By pile length.
Short pile (0-5 mm) is the most practical – it is easy to care for, durable and wear-resistant. Therefore, it is better to lay it in high-traffic rooms: hallway, living room. Long pile (15+ mm) requires special care, place such a carpet in the least active area – by the window, in the lounge area. Medium pile (5-15 mm) is more difficult to care for than short pile, but softer and more pleasant. Therefore, it is often used in children’s rooms and bedrooms.
Under furniture.
These two parts of the interior directly interact with each other, so carefully examine the furniture before buying.
- What shape is it? Choose a carpet that will repeat the outlines: rectangle or circle.
- What color is it? Choose a contrasting or non-contrasting palette of the carpet.
- How is it located? Carpets in the living room interior should accommodate a sofa, armchairs, and a coffee table. Therefore, the size of the rug depends on the layout.
The photo shows a bright geometric print on the rug
Where is it better to place it?
Carpets will look appropriate in a modern interior if they are placed correctly. General recommendations for placement are as follows:
- Push the rug under the furniture by 15-20 cm to avoid the effect of dividing the space.
- Push the carpet in the interior away from the wall by 10-20 cm.
- Lay rectangular and square models parallel to the load-bearing wall or a large object (door, sofa, fireplace).
The photo shows a light carpet in a classic hall
There are also rules on the ground for each room:
- in the hall on the carpet should the main furniture fits in, so it is placed in the center, completely or partially tucked under the soft corner;
- in the bedroom, the main thing is that the edges protrude beyond the bed by 50-70 cm, otherwise it will be almost invisible;
- in the kitchen, small paths are placed along a straight or corner kitchen set, but the coating must be non-slip – to avoid injuries during cooking.
How do they look in different styles?
Carpets are selected for the interior not only by shape and color, but also by style. It is important that they do not stand out from the decor, but complement it.
- Classic style. Pastel or dusty shades, decor – symmetrical ornament. Woolen models with long pile, which are emphasized, are suitable.
- High-tech. The ideal choice is a single-color model in cold colors. If you need patterns, choose geometry – lines, diamonds, squares, circles.
- Loft. To avoid mistakes, pay attention to single-color monochrome rugs. Gray, milky, black will fit into the industrial design. To accentuate, play with texture: a semblance of a mat will be the best.
- Modern. Don’t be afraid of bright colors and unusual patterns. It would be great if it were handmade embroidery.
The photo shows a carpet with a long pile under a bright sofa
- Scandinavian. A rug or runner with pile along the edges in a monochrome color scheme would be most suitable. The pattern is geometric or a whimsical northern ornament. Choose a cozy carpet based on the same characteristics.
- Ethnic. This is where your imagination can run wild — pay attention to colorful colors and abstract or floral compositions. Bright, vibrant colors are welcome – red, blue, green, purple.
- Rustic. Natural shades, repeating geometric patterns and designs. Somewhat similar to Scandinavian, but colorful.
- English style. Size matters – according to the standard, the covering occupies almost the entire floor area. Choose expensive options made of natural wool. Color scheme – red, brown, milky.
The photo shows a bedroom in ethnic style
How looks in the interior of the rooms?
The same carpet is rarely laid in different rooms, so the model should be selected especially carefully.
Carpets in the interior of the living room
Most often, soft flooring is laid on the floor in the living room. After all, this room is the center of the house, the whole family and guests often gather here, children play. The carpet is placed in two ways: under the furniture, covering almost the entire floor area. Or under a coffee table, highlighting the central area.
In the photo, a light carpet on a wooden floor
A carpet for the living room is selected in accordance with the style, but should be a kind of accent – a bright color, a rich pattern or an unusual combination of textures will help you.
In the photo, a carpet in the style of patchwork
Photos of carpets in the kitchen
Many people underestimate the importance of rugs and carpets in the kitchen, but it is textiles that can add home comfort to this room. It is especially important to lay the covering along the work area on a cold tiled floor, so you can cook even barefoot. If a long rug is not necessary, throw a round rug near the sink to make the process of washing dishes more pleasant.
Lay an oval or rectangular rug under the table – this way you will zone the room and highlight the dining area.
The photo shows the dining area with a rug
Bedroom interior with a rug
Getting out of a warm bed onto a cold floor is unpleasant, a rug will help to fix the situation. Usually they lay one large rug, pushing it under the bed. But you can get by with two small rugs on either side.
Choose the most pleasant texture – long pile, soft fur, pleasant wool.
Examples of use in the hallway
The hallway is probably the most stressful area for floor coverings. It is dirty in spring and autumn, wet in winter, and dusty in summer. Plus, household members constantly walk along the hallway from room to room. Therefore, the carpet in the interior of the entrance group must withstand the load. Synthetic models (acrylic, polyester) with a short pile are suitable.
However, you should not cover the entire area with soft textiles – you often have to wash the floors in the hallway, and the rug will interfere with this.
Photos of carpets in a child’s room
The brightest and most unusual colors can be afforded right here – in the child’s room! But first, evaluate the safety of the carpet: first of all, it should be hypoallergenic, which means only synthetic threads will do. Another requirement is easy cleaning. And synthetics are also appropriate here.
The picture depicts cartoon characters, animals, plants. The carpet is often used as a playground, so it can imitate a football field, a lawn, city roads.
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