When choosing a rug that you’ll love to live with, two of the biggest factors to consider are one that suits your taste and lifestyle. According to Ali Inal, Founder of Designer Rug Warehouse, “Buying a rug is just like buying a piece of artwork. The first criterion is to trust your judgment, don’t be afraid to be bold and different. Buy something you will enjoy. And full enjoyment of your new rug means considering your taste, your lifestyle, and of course, your budget.” For a rug that’s going to last, you’ll want to make sure it can hold up to your lifestyle.

Don't Be Afraid of Color and Pattern When choosing an area rug, it’s essential to embrace color and pattern while shopping. You’ll want to choose a rug with colors and patterns that complement the existing walls, furniture, floor, and window treatments. Color powerfully sets the mood of a room, so choose carefully. Since buying a rug has a large impact on both your home and budget, it’s good practice to look through magazines and catalogs to get some ideas of what appeals to you. Then you can look for rugs that you know will suit your taste before you begin shopping. Your new rug will be most enjoyable when it pleases your taste, meets the needs of your home décor, and fits your budget. Think about it this way: An Oriental rug brings beauty and function into your home for a lifetime. There are many inexpensive options available, so if you decide you don’t like it after a couple of years, it’s easy to change. And keep in mind that a dark-colored patterned rug will hide stains or dirt in high-traffic areas.

The comfort and texture of a rug are important factors to consider when choosing a rug. A rug should feel good underfoot and provide warmth and coziness to a room. The texture of a rug can also affect the mood and atmosphere of a space, such as a soft and plush shag rug for a relaxing bedroom, a flat-weave, or an Oushak rug for a casual and rustic living room. 

The material of your rug depends on your personal preference, budget, and the function of the rug. Some common materials are wool, cotton, silk, natural fibers, and synthetic fibers. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages such as durability, softness, stain resistance, and price. When choosing a rug for a high-traffic area such as a hallway or family room or if you have young children or pets, you’ll want to go with a rug that’s durable and easy to clean. Wool, nylon, polyester, or a synthetic blend are great options. Natural fiber rugs like jute, sisal, or seagrass are durable but may be prone to water damage or staining. 

When choosing a rug, it’s important to make sure it’s large enough to accommodate the furniture and create a sense of balance and harmony. Many people make the mistake of choosing a rug that is too small for their space, which can make the room look disjointed and incomplete. Don’t skimp on size! Be sure to fully cover any heavily trafficked areas with your rug. Walking through, you shouldn't have one foot on the rug and one foot off. It's awkward, and uncomfortable, and can lead to unusual wear patterns on both the rug and your flooring.

• When selecting a rug for the living room, keep in mind that the rug should fit slightly under the front of the sofa and allow your guests to walk around your coffee table comfortably (typically, about 2’ to 3’ space around the coffee table works). When possible, all the furniture should be on top of the rug
• When selecting a rug for the bedroom, consider a significant enough rug to stand on when getting out of bed. In other words, you should be stepping onto a soft rug. The rug should extend beyond the sides of the bed at least 12 inches for a twin or double bed and at least 18 inches for a queen or king. You should also leave equal space on all sides of your rug. Give yourself anywhere from about eight to 24 inches on all sides. The main goal is to have the rug centered in the room.
• When selecting a rug for the dining room,  the rug should be large enough for the chairs that should be on the rug, even when they're pulled out from the table. As the rug widths are standard, you only need to measure the length of your dining table and the depth of an end chair (the distance from the front to the back leg). Then add both the table length and twice the depth of the end chair’s measurements to determine the minimum rug length for your dining room. Even though it is recommended to have your rug a few inches longer to scoot the seat out, likely, you may not have enough room for it, but it is expected in most cases.
• When selecting a runner rug for the hallway,  Measure the size of your hallway and subtract 12″ from the length and width. This will allow for a 6″ border of flooring to show all around.

To keep your rug looking fresh and clean, it’s important to vacuum it regularly. However, turn off the vacuum’s beater bar or raise the bar to the highest setting to avoid damaging the pile. You should also spot-clean any spills or stains as soon as possible. Food and drink stains can usually be cleaned with a mild detergent and cold water. Do not agitate/scrub or rub the pile surface. Blot spills gently with a clean undyed cloth. Professional rug cleaning is recommended for hard-to-remove stains.