Budget

As with any home project, the number one consideration is your budget. Floor coverings can be affordable, but there are some that come with a hefty price tag. You can do research online to learn more about the cost of area rugs, and then determine what you’re comfortable spending. You should use the other furniture in the room to determine the amount to spend.

Size

Once you’ve determined your budget, you can start thinking about the size you’d like to have. If you get one that is too big, it makes the room feel small and doesn’t look good with the furniture. On the other hand, if you get one that is too small, it makes the entire room feel out of balance. The guiding rule of thumb with size is that it should be two feet shorter than the smallest wall in the room. For example, in a standard 10×12 room, you should look at some that are no more than eight feet wide.

Personal Preference

It goes without saying that you should like the floor coverings you buy. They become the centerpiece of any room they are in, so you want them to match the decor of the room. This includes the patterns, the colors, and the shape. You also want to make sure that you will enjoy seeing them every day.

Opposite Dilemma

As an extra bonus, let’s say that you have excellent area rugs, but the new house you recently purchased has wall-to-wall carpeting that you don’t want to tear up. You could keep the rugs in storage, of course, but that’s an additional expense and you don’t get to enjoy them. Instead, consider hanging them on your walls. Many people try to lay them down over existing carpet, and unless the carpet is low pile, it just doesn’t work. It will be difficult to move furniture around, and the area rug bunches up. What may suit you better is to consider pulling up the carpet in at least one room so you can use them as intended.