I USE AREA RUGS FOR 3 SPECIFIC PURPOSES:
1. To define a particular space such a conversation area, entry, or walkway.
2. To add softness, texture, and or warmth to a space, such as a bed surround, a fireside area, or a bathroom.
3. To create unity by tying all the units of a space together by either being included on or touching the area rug, so that it all becomes one unit, rather than several units floating around disconnected.
Therefore, what I am trying to achieve drives the rug size rather than limited stock sizes driving my decision.
Culry Tibetan Wool Rug - Guest Bedroom
A trick I use a lot: Seaming together 2 stock rugs, especially when it involves a long nap or shag such as in the leather shag rug, or in a Tibetan curly lamb, or Flotkoti wool where the seam will not be visible. These rugs can be bought inexpensively, joined together and even cut off if need be. This is a lot less expensive than custom ordering and with a shorter lead time. This way I can get the exact size to the inch.
Custom area rug made with black & white carpet squares that were cut to created stripes.
Another trick: I often use carpet squares to create area rugs in places where easy care is required, such as, kids rooms, kitchens, and lately in the sitting room of an equestrian center. The squares offer great options for creating any size rug I want with all kinds of possibilities in pattern. Love using black and white, and having the squares cut in strips to create a striped rug as in the picture (left), or cut on the diagonal to create a windmill design as in the rug for the equestrian center. http://www.flor.com/
Carpet Squares - Equestion Center
Carpet squares that look like cowhide - Kids room
I love to use: Custom cowhide rugs as they are very flat, easy to walk on, easy to maintain, and provide a myriad of possibilities in designs, colors, and textures.
Custom patch cowhide rug enhanced with silver paint.
Cowhide Rug
AROUND A BED -I like the bed to sit on the area rug with enough exposed on each side to step out on a soft surface from the bed. This should usually line up with or just inside the night stands. How much to extend beyond the end of the bed depends on the shape of the room and what else is going on. Again I will be designing this to be exactly the size I want rather than depending on stock sizes.
Curly Tibetan Wool Rug
Custom hand-woven Tibetan area rug by Stark Carpet
CONVERSATION AREA - In general conversation areas are most comfortable if they do not exceed a 12’x12’ area. Beyond that, it needs to be broken up into smaller conversation groups. Stock size rugs of 9x12 or 10x14 will work nicely in these groupings if stock size must be used. The most important is to unify the grouping. This does not mean the rug has to go beneath and or beyond all furniture. In fact, I often do not want it to go to the extents of the grouping as it creates awkward corner trip hazards. A round rug can help alleviate that issue as well. The rug needs only to touch all units to bind them together as one.
Custom Round Wool & Silk Area Rug
DINING ROOM - I prefer not to use an area rug in the dining room if possible, as the table itself creates the unity needed with the chairs. But when I do, I want it to extend beyond the table far enough to be able to pull the chair out totally on the rug, which usually means 36’’ minimum past the table, 48’’ if possible. Trying to make stock size rugs work in dining rooms is not recommended by me