Rug Decor: Choosing Rugs for each Room

Rug Decor: Choosing Rugs for each Room

Special English and French designed rugs are made to order and will be found at the retailers varying in price from the very moderate to the very expensive.

In judging any rug, its value, apart from the added value as an antique, depends upon the quality of wool used, the number of knots per inch, the intricacy of design and color changes and the general trade selling standard when completed.

For most purposes plain tone rugs and carpets are advisable. Carpets with designs of cabbage roses tied with turquoise blue bow-knots have had their day of glory and passed into "scrap woven" rugs of service. Banded borders in deeper tones give the rug more character, and set it off better on the floor.

Domestic rugs may be woven any width up to 31 feet, as that is the widest loom. Imported rugs may be woven as wide as 36 feet, and any length may be had. Or a rug may be made up from carpet strip and sewed together, with or without an extra border, as one prefers.

As a rule, carpeting comes 27 inches wide; stair carpeting comes 30 inches. Axminister, Saxony, velvet, velvet Wilton, Aberdeenall these have a cut pile like velvet. Brussels has a loop weave which is left uncut. Smyrnas are reversible with a high pile. They give good service, are inexpensive, come in excellent colors, and are particularly suited for bedrooms. There are many rugs of flat tapestry weave that are less expensive and thinner than the pile rugs. Matting, grass, fibre, jute and rush rugs come in various weaves and under various trade names.

Considering the kind of rug for the kind of room, we find that there is a great variety of choice. Although each room must be judged according to its individual needs, I am making a few general suggestions that may help to a choice.

Oriental rugs are suitable for a library as they have the same decorative quality that the bindings of books have. Also they are adapted to halls since they do not show dirt and are highly decorative.

In the living-room we may have a one tone rug with an Oriental laid over it, or the foundation rug may be left uncovered.

A Chinese or small figured rug is best for the dining-room. A special pattern rug with a plain center and French or English designed border suits the drawing-room.

For the bedrooms use one tone rugs. Large rugs are inadvisable as they do not permit of being easily taken up and being cleaned. Besides, a bedroom should not be carpeted unless one has a vacuum cleaner in constant use. Flat rugs of tapestry weave make good bedroom rugs. They are well made, heavy enough not to shift and are reversible. Scotch rugs, American art rugs and countless varieties with special trade names are to be found. They are infinitely superior to the rag rug of Colonial bedroom fame. Rag rugs slip, turn up, soil readily and wear out quickly. They always look as cheap as they are.

In fitting a carpet or rug to a floor, a 15 inch or 18 inch border should be left. This will accommodate the legs of most furniture, permit-ting them to stand level. With a parquet floor the lines of the border should be followed.

Both in selecting and placing rugs, care should be taken to see that the sizes bear some relation to each other. Do not place a large rug beside a tiny one; the proportion should be harmonious. The rugs should be somewhat of the same area, but of varied proportions, except when a small rug is placed before a piece of furniture to accent it, or before a door to serve a distinct purpose. The rugs should also conform to the proportion of the room and lie parallel with the edges of the floor. In a large room a great variety of small rugs makes the floor spotty, unrestful and lacking in dignity.

Three rugs are better than two, as the natural grouping is generally in the center of the room, before a fireplace or a large table; and the center rug serves as a basis for the group. It is a good idea to have rugs nearly equal in size so that they may be interchangeable, thus shifting the wear. Rugs should be placed in such close juxtaposition as to create a feeling of unity, instead of producing distinct spots. Choose harmonizing, closely-related colors, and leave a narrow space between the rugs. Attention may be drawn to a favorite piece of furniture by placing a rug before it. This is noticeable where a fur rug is used before a sofa or chaise longue.

The dominating field color of a rug should match the dominating color of a room to produce a quiet, harmonious effect. A rug with a color complementary to the color of the room or with a light neutral background is enlivening and sometimes forms a cheerier room. For if we start with a light floor covering and keep to the rule of walls, etc., being lighter, we will have a delicate, light tone room upon completion.

Finally a general rule: keep the floors, rugs and ^carpeting unobtrusive except where they serve as a rich harmonizing foil for furniture and hangings.

Next Page: Ceiling Colors & Painting Ideas.