Keeping up with interior design trends can be tough, and it seems like there are a lot of people out there trying (and failing) to give you advice about how to handle having an area rug. Your best friend may tell you to stick to big round pops of color for a modern living room, and your sister may insist you decorate with traditional floral rectangular rugs that look like they’ve come out of the past. You may find that your tastes run in an entirely different direction than either of these, and if so, that’s okay! Just remember that there’s some truly bad advice about rugs out there. In this article, we’ll walk you through five of the most common pieces of bad rug advice you should ignore if anyone says it to you.
Rugs don’t have to be cleaned.
You may have heard someone tell you that your area rug doesn’t need to be cleaned unless it gets a stain. You may have also heard that there are some types of rugs that can hold up to wear and tear without ever being vacuumed or otherwise tended to at all. While this would be great, it’s simply not true, and you should ignore it if someone says something like this to you. Unfortunately, some people simply do not understand what it takes to keep up with an area rug, and some people don’t realize what a difference a good cleaning can make in extending the life of your rug, either.
Whether you’re cleaning a square area rug or something different altogether, your rug needs to be cleaned. It doesn’t matter what type of material it’s made out of; there is no type of rug that can go forever without being cleaned. With that said, however, it’s pretty common for rug owners to only give their rugs a thorough deep cleaning once or twice a year, and this is generally okay unless something happens to make your rug need more attention sooner than that. Just remember to keep up with regular vacuuming and brushing as needed in between these cleaning sessions.
Rugs don’t have to be turned.
Some people may believe rugs can be put in place and left there indefinitely, and you may be advised that you don’t have to worry about turning your area rugs. However, this is simply not true. 8×8 area rugs and larger may be harder to turn, but you still need to try to turn them at least a couple of times a year. This may mean moving all the furniture off the top of them and enlisting the help of a friend or family member (or more than one, if the rug is very large), but it’s something that will make a big difference in the life of your rug.
Rugs tend to become worn down in the areas that are most exposed to foot traffic, and they may be more prone to spills, stains, and ground-in food in these spots, too. Even the sunlight shining in the windows and landing on one corner of your area rug may end up fading or wearing out the fibers in that one spot more than the rest of the rug. For this reason, it’s very important to keep your rugs turned and ensure they age evenly rather than one area at a time.
Rugs can only work with one style.
Many potential rug owners stay away from ever going shopping for an area rug because they feel the rug may only end up working with one type of style. They may not want to invest in a rug that won’t end up being useful if they try to redecorate their interiors in the near future. But this just isn’t the case! Rugs are very versatile and can work well in all sorts of spaces, depending on your needs.
Of course, traditional area rugs look great in traditional rooms, but did you know they can also be used in transitional spaces? If you choose to decorate your floor with an old-fashioned oriental-style floral rug in a couple of jewel tones, for example, you may want to decorate the rest of the room with furnishings that are much more modern in design. Try to match one or two of the colors in the rug and stick to a mostly modern design surrounding it. You’ll have a great transitional space you’ll want to show off to all your friends and family in no time.
Rugs never work in homes with pets or kids.
You may be worried that your bright floral rug will become too easily damaged by your kids or pets, but as long as you set up boundaries, you don’t have to fret about this. Some people may tell you to stay way from buying that red and turquoise area rug you’ve had your eye on while your children are still toddlers or while you insist on having a dog, but it can be done. Be clear with your kids about rug boundaries, keep your pets shut out of rooms with very expensive rugs, or choose rugs that are lower in cost and made of durable fibers that can hold up to a lot of cleaning. These are all great options for preventing your rugs from becoming too damaged by exposure to your kids or pets.
Rugs go out of fashion too quickly.
Have you ever been advised to stay away from area rugs altogether because they’re just going to go out of fashion soon? Some people tend to believe area rugs don’t stay fashionable for very long and that, therefore, they should be left out of interior decorating. This is simply misinformed advise. It’s very common for rugs to stay fashionable for a long while, and even if a specific type of rug goes out of fashion, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t use it in your home with the right interior decor to go along with it until it comes back into style once again.
You may think something like purple area rugs have only been popular in modern years, but purple is actually a color that goes way back to the rugs of nobility in ancient times. Even square rugs, which may seem more modern and forward-thinking than rectangular rugs, have actually been around for a long time and have simply come back into fashion again. There are many different styles, colors, and patterns of rugs that come and go in terms of fashionability, and there are also many shapes and sizes that never really stopped being fashionable in the first place.
Did you learn a little something about area rugs? Understanding what constitutes bad rug advice is a great first step toward ensuring you have the best possible experience with your area rugs in the future. Ignoring well-meaning “advice” like those statements listed above can even help you choose the right rug for your home if you still haven’t been able to go shopping, too. In no time, you’ll have the perfect rug to suit your needs.