An area rug is not only beautiful, but it does the heavy lifting when it comes to defining a space, and really tying a room together. But as with all things home décor, there are some major dos and don'ts when it comes to selecting and placing your rug in your home.

 

DO 
cover high-traffic areas

Make sure that any heavily trafficked areas are fully covered by the rug you choose. When people are walking through, they shouldn't have one foot on the rug and one foot off. It's awkward, uncomfortable, and can lead to unusual wear patterns on both the rug and your flooring.

DON'T
place your best rugs in danger

While it's tempting to place your best rug in a focal point of the house, you might want to think twice about it. It's best to avoid placing expensive area rugs in areas where there are likely to be spills and accidents. Keep this in mind, especially if you have children and pets.

DO
leave equal space

Ideally, you should leave the same amount of floor space on all sides of your rug. Give yourself anywhere from about 8 to 24 inches on all sides. The main goal is to have the rug centered in the room.

DON'T 
be afraid to be bold

No matter your style, no color or pattern is too bold or bright when it comes to area rugs. The purpose of area rugs is to inject a little bit of personality into a room without having to redecorate. If the color or print doesn’t suit your fancy after a few years, you can always replace it.

 

DO
know how to clean it

Always make sure to check the cleaning instructions on any rug before you buy it.