SHOULD I BUY THE FURNITURE OR THE RUG FIRST?

First decide where you want your main pattern in the room to be. If you want pattern in your sofa, it is a good idea to purchase that first. Bring in a pillow from your new sofa and our design staff will help you to find a secondary or light pattern to go with your most dominant pattern. If you know you want your rug to have the strongest pattern, come in and buy your rug first. We will then give you a cutting to take with you to color match as you begin to search for other pieces to complete your space.

HOW MUCH PATTERN/COLOR SHOULD MY RUG HAVE?

Dominant Pattern: Is the main pattern in the room. Usually you have one dominate pattern in a room.
Secondary Pattern: Is a light pattern able to work with the dominant pattern. Usually is a different scale and repeats some of the colors and/or elements of the dominant pattern.
Stand back and look at your room. How much pattern does you room have now? Often a rug doesn't need to add a multi colored pattern to a room but rather complement or bring together what is already there. Our large selection of secondary patterns, tone on tone patterns, and solid colors can be just what is needed to pull it all together. Does your room have too much solid color and need something to give it interest? A multi colored pattern that ties the colors of your room together will solve the problem. Our large collection of patterns sorted by color, as well as rug designs where each color can be chosen individually gives unlimited options. Simply select a pattern you like and let us know what size.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT RUG STYLE I NEED?

Come in and let our design staff help you! Bring in your color samples from home, (fabric, flooring, paint, etc.), and we will get started. We will work alongside you and ask questions that will help us determine what your room needs. Looking through our in-stock rugs and rug samples will give you an idea of what will work best in your space. Let our rug design staff make your shopping experience a fun and easy one.

WHAT SIZE/SHAPE SHOULD MY RUG BE?

At Area Rug Factory most of our rug designs can be made to the inch. In-stock rugs can be altered to fit your room needs. Use low adhesive blue painter's tape to outline the rug on your floor. This will help you to visualize where your rug should be. After you place the tape on the floor, walk around the rug area and look from all sides of the room, continue to move the tape until it looks right. Once you think you have it, write down the measurements and bring them in! Still unsure? Bring in pictures and we will help.

SHOULD THE FURNITURE BE HALF ON THE RUG, COMPLETELY ON THE RUG, OR NOT AT ALL?

The low adhesive blue painter's tape will give you the answer. In a sitting area, the furniture placed half on the rug can help prevent kicking or stepping on the rug edge. How far back under the furniture? What ever looks good, it is not an exact science. The furniture can be half on the rug, completely on the rug, or not on the rug at all. The blue tape will help you visualize what is right for your room. Area rugs can be larger and used to create a space in your room or be small and simply add interest under your coffee table.

I HAVE A TRAFFIC PATH ON ONE OF THE RUG CORNERS, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT WEAR ON THE EDGE?

Consider having one clipped or rounded corner on the rug. The rug will still be able to create a bigger space in the room, but not get in the way of the traffic path. Use the blue painter's tape on your floor to visualize how this could work in your room.

HOW BIG SHOULD THE RUG BE UNDER MY DINING ROOM TABLE?

One way is to measure the tabletop and add 4 feet. This allows 2 feet on each side of the table. However, your room size or furniture scale may require a larger or smaller rug. Using blue painters tape to outline the rug area will help you see what looks best. If possible, having a few inches behind the chair when it is pulled out is ideal. Our design staff is skilled in rug placement and we are happy to help!