Finding Great Area Rugs on a Budget

There’s nothing like a great area rug to sharpen up a room. But if you’re thinking about getting an area rug then you know about how much choice is out there. The designs seem endless, and what about fabric – and pricing? Thankfully there are some beautiful area rugs that can be found on a budget if you know what to look for.

Why Get an Area Rug?

Area rugs are perfect for putting over finished hardwood or tile floors. They bring a room together and make the floor more comfortable and suitable to sit on. In many cases, buying area rugs can be the perfect finishing touch to your home or apartment and make it more comfortable for you and your loved ones as well as welcoming for guests.

Area rugs come in many styles, from hand-stitched needlepoint and knotted traditional Scandinavian rya rugs to flat weave rugs, Oriental rugs and many more.¹

What to Look for in a Good Area Rug

The most important thing to look for in a good area rug is size, style, color and price. In terms of size a general guideline is to figure out how many chairs and couches or cabinets you want to put on the rug, or how big the dining table and chairs are or the bed and wardrobe that you want to on top of it are, for example, and then buy one size bigger so that everything you want to put on the rug fits on it.

If you just want the rug for a room without putting much on it, buy it so it is small enough to easily place in the available space. Round rugs are especially well-suited for putting in entrance areas and in hallways or to put a shoe or coat rack on, for example. A common mistake that people make is buying an area rug that’s too small and ends up looking awkward and shifting around constantly so – in general – buy on the bigger side.

In terms of color coordination, experts recommend following the 60, 30, 10 rule. What this means is that around 60 percent of the room should be the main color of the walls and furniture, 30 percent should be the second-most-dominant color (your area rug) and 10 percent makes up the smaller details like paintings, molding or flower vases.²

Knowing Your Rugs

Rugs are crafted in many ways, and understand the different methods and styles will ensure you get the right one for you. There are tufted rugs that are made from yarn (pile), hooked rugs that remain loops instead of sheered off like tufted, knotted rugs that are often handmade, braided rugs made of yarn, material or natural fiber, flat-woven rugs made (known as dhurries or khilim) that are made by machine, loom or by hand and light and usable on both sides including Persian, Kilim, or Moroccan designs that are really beautiful, and shag carpets which are tufted, knitted or woven with a larger amount of pile, making them more comfortable and thick.³

Natural vs. Synthetic

Natural and synthetic fibers have various advantages and disadvantages. Acrylic is very resistant to fading in the sun and stains, while cotton is soft and easy to wash as is jute – although jute tends to fade a lot in the sun and can get damaged by moisture. Nylon is very strong and resilient and is the optimal material for areas that will get lots of foot traffic like entrances, the same goes for polypropylene which is also very stain resistant and cheap.

Another natural fiber option is sisal which is the toughest natural material and will last a long time.²

How to Find the Best Area Rug Bargains

There are several effective ways to find the best deals on area rugs. One is to shop garage and estate sales in your neighborhood as well as auctions, where you can often snag incredible deals on area rugs.

Another great strategy is to shop online retailers when there is a large promotion or sale being held, at which time you can purchase a beautiful rug and have it delivered to you for much less than you might think.

In addition, always keep an eye out for clearance sections when you are in shops that sell rugs and make sure to talk to salespeople about special discounts or clearances they may be able to offer you.⁴

Where to Start Shopping for Area Rugs

There are a number of great area rug retailers online which regularly post great discounts, including Wayfair, West Elm, RugsUSA and more. However, searching online is a great way to reveal some of the best offers at the moment. Many rug retailers will advertise their top deals in order to entice consumers to pick them instead of their competition. This is also an easy way to find retailers that you may otherwise not have thought of.

At the end of the day, buying a great area rug can be a fun process that helps you redecorate and organize your living space. With some careful research, you should be in a great position to pick out the perfect new area rug for your home.