Just bought my first house (yay) and I'm slowly decorating. I've never had this much space before, and my living and bedroom are in desperate need of some rugs lol. Where are you all shopping for them that doesn't break the bank. Is everyone just going online or are there any stores you like going to in person?

What brands make good quality area rugs these days? I bought a Waverly brand rug a few years ago and while I love the design it hasn’t worn well. We are getting ready for an addition and kitchen remodel and will be looking for new area rugs for the spaces. We have 2 golden retrievers and 2 cats so nothing precious!

As the title says, where is everyone getting good area rugs from? If you're buying used are you deep cleaning them or?

i have been trying to find a medium sized rug that is colorful and not too expensive. i have checked in places like target homegoods etc but all of them seem to be too big or a bit too small or doesn’t look good. i saw one on facebook market place from loloi that i loved but it seems very expensive. i also want to get a new one even though the one on facebook was a good deal because it seems hard to clean. any suggestions

Hi all!

I’m Having the hardest time finding and committing to a rug for the couch area in my living room. I’d love some advice!

I’m thinking I’ll need to get something that’s around 8 x 8 or so. One requirement is that it needs to be washable (I’ve had ruggable in the past and enjoyed those!).

Would love help/ideas on what might look good! I’ve included a few other photos of other rooms in my place to share an idea of the look I’m going for.

Thanks!

“Get a rug!”

You’ve probably heard this advice a million times on this subreddit, but with so many options out there, you know that’s easier said than done.

Persian, kilim, Oriental, ikat, dhurrie, shag, modern—the “Area Rug Universe” is a constellation of styles, textures, colors, and sizes, (not to mention prices) but a rug can make or break a room.

Here’s the good news: Not all of them are right for your lifestyle or your room’s look. While it might feel like you have an never-ending array of options, you actually don’t. Eliminating options helps making the right choice, the first time, even easier.

To help you narrow down your choices, I’ve made a handy “decision tree.”

1. Do you have kids or pets, and/or will this be in a high-traffic area?

[If no, go to #2.]

Avoid:

Light-colored rugs. The exception being if the rug has some anti-stain technology built in.

Shag rugs or any other rugs with long fibers. Longer fibers cling to dirt, dust and hair. Look for rugs that have “low pile” or “medium pile,” but avoid “long pile.”

Rugs with tassels or fringe. Again, they’ll collect dirt and hair like crazy, plus they have the added potential “bonus” of doubling as a chew toy for both pet and baby.

Rugs with glued-on backs. If a kid or a pet pees on a rug with a glued-on back, it can soak through the rug and into the glue. The smell will never leave, which means the whole rug is ruined. (Note: A rug mat is recommended for most rugs, to keep the rug in place and help it last longer, just make sure it’s not attached to the back of the rug.)

Look for:

Darker rugs, or rugs with darker colors in the pattern. These hide dirt stains better. If you have a pet with white/light-colored fur, consider tan or beige colors.

Wool rugs. Wool rugs can withstand heavy abuse and foot traffic, and when taken care of properly, can last a long time.

Nylon rugs. They’ll also stand up well against stains and other accidents, in addition to heavy traffic, and are often cheaper than wool rugs, too.

Rugs that can be easily washed or professionally cleaned. For your kitchen, it’s highly recommended that you get a rug that can be rolled up and thrown into the washing machine, as spills, crumbs and everyday dirt buildup will be more common in your kitchen than almost any other room in your home.

2. What shape of room do you have?

Square room

Get a square or round rug.

Rectangular room

Get a rectangular rug oriented in the same direction as the walls of the room.

3. Which room is it?

Bedroom

Typically, people either get runners for one or both sides of the bed, or one larger rug for under the bed.

For runners, either get a runner that’s the same length of your bed, or at least 2’x3’ for a smaller room, or 3’x5’ in a larger room.

For larger rugs, position the rug under your bed so that about 1/3rd of the rug lays underneath the bed, and 2/3rds of the rug sticks out from the foot and sides of the bed.

Also look for a rug where the sides stick out at least 3’ from the frame, while still remaining at least 5” away from the walls.

Living room

Leave at least 1’ between the edge of the rug and the walls.

Make sure that at least the front feet of the furniture—like couches and armchairs—are situated on the rug, if you can’t fit a rug that’s large enough for the furniture to fit on top of the rug.

Dining Room

Assuming the rug is situated under the dining room table, make sure that there is at least 2’-3’ on each side of the table, going from the edges of the table, so that chairs can be be comfortably pulled back without going off the rug. (Example.)

Tip: Trace the outline of the rug, with the exact dimensions, in the place you think you’re going to situate it, using painter’s tape. This will give you a preview of what the rug will look like in your space, and help you figure out the size you need.

4. What colors and textures do you already have in the room, and what “mood” do you want to set for the room?

Bedroom

For a more “serene” environment, opt for warm, neutral tones, like beige, grey, light blue, cream, off-white, white, and tans. Avoid using contrasting colors; for example, you wouldn’t pair your mostly light grey and off-white motif with a orange Persian rug, or something.

Living Room

Look at your current furniture. If you already have a ton of patterns, get a rug that has a more muted, subtle pattern, to allow all pieces to shine.

If your current furniture is mostly the same color and few patterns, you can go for a more bold, striking contrast with your rug.

A bold patterned rug + lots of heavily-patterned furniture will make the room look clogged and overdone.

Kitchen/Dining Room

These are higher-energy rooms! Even if you have dark wood chairs and grey walls for your dining room, for example, you can punch things up and throw in a more colorful rug.

Tip: Try to complement the dining room rug with the living room rug. Even if they’re separated by a wall, this will create continuity in the house.

For kitchens, runners have been very popular lately, and they’re an easy way to add in some personality to what can otherwise be a boring, utilitarian room.

For Any Room

When considering rug texture, (and keeping in mind everything we went over in #1 about kids and pets) consider the other textures in the room. You can create interesting contrasts with not only the rug’s color and pattern, but with its texture vis à vis the other furniture, too. Consider:

Leather furniture and shag rugs.

Velvet furniture with faux cowhides.

Wood furniture with jute or sisal rugs.

Creating contrast with texture can be another great way to bring in personality to the room.

5. Cool, so you’ve narrowed it down to a couple of rugs. How do you choose now?

These rugs fit your lifestyle and the room they’re in, they help you achieve the aesthetic you’re going for, and they all have interesting textures and colors that complement the room and its furniture. So how to choose?

If you’ve got several good options, consider one of these strategies:

Check the return policy

If you can swing it financially, try ordering all of the carpets at once, so you can try them all out in your home. Note that some companies reserve the right to refuse your returns, though, if they think you’re abusing their policy! So check and make sure you can return whichever rug(s) you decide not to keep. Many places include free shipping and returns, but double-check this before placing your order.

Get outside opinions

Sometimes your friends can point out concerns or shortfalls you never would have considered. Everyone is going to have a different opinion, and at the end of the day you need to go with what you will like, but you never know what good point a friend will contribute that can change your mind and help you narrow down your options.

Obviously, r/malelivingspace and r/DesignMyRoom can provide helpful feedback, too!

That's it for now, but any tips or tricks I missed?

I need a couple of area rugs for my home office and apartment, but I don't want to buy secondhand (bugs). I'd prefer to buy locally made, or at least Canadian-made. I know there are some great local home goods stores around here... any recommendations? Photos are images of a couple of styles I like. Thanks!

I like the clean look of just furniture on bare wood floor but also think it looks as if something is missing.

In the words of the dude, a rug does pull the room together but I’m conflicted because I hate clutter

What brands or stores or website to get the best quality rugs? I assume wool and/ or a wool cotton blend would be good materials to look for? How is RugsUSA? Also looking at Serena & Lilly. Ideally not looking to spend a fortune but willing to pay for better quality!

I haven't had much luck looking for large rugs on FB and eBay - even gave the old Craigslist a try.

Not looking for artisanal level Persian rug quality but struggling to find decent ones that aren't overly expensive.

Where is a good place to find decent large rugs these days?

Edit: Thank you everyone! We ended up ordering a couple of rugs from Bed bath and beyond / Overstock.

Hello!

I am looking to switch up my living room rug to something modern, abstract and lovely. Hoping this group has suggestions on where I could find a big rug, 12x12 or so at a reasonable price!

Thanks so much!

Edit: wow thank you all so much! This has been so helpful and such an informative journey!

I recently bought a fancy coffee table for my apartment. Problem is, it's on castors and I have a hardwood floor so it likes to wander around the room. I'm thinking of buying an area rug but have NO CLUE where to buy, what to look for when I'm buying, if I should get big or small, what materials are high quality, etc. etc.

I'm totally lost. I've been by Rona and Home Depot ( I am in Canada, if that helps you guys) and the prices on the rugs there are ridiculous. Like $1000+, I can't afford something like that.

I don't really want to buy from KIJIJI, as I'd be really afraid of getting bugs or something and I don't think there's a proper way to clean them? I could be wrong.

Anyways, I'm way out of my league here, so if anyone can help me out to get started here it'd be greatly appreciated.

Hello Frugal Army!

Any suggestions on where to purchase extra large area rugs for cheap and reasonable prices? I've shared a house with my sister for a while now, and I chose the basement as my half of the house (considering she has kids, it was the best decision). I'd love to make it feel warm and cozy. Any suggestions?

Looking for someone who might know where to find cheap area rugs. Looking for sizes around 8x8 foot. Thanks yall.

I've bought rugs from RUGSUSA and Ruggable, but the quality is hit or miss. Any other affordable options that have nice quality, area-sized rugs? Looking for a southwestern style, 9x12 rug for my living room. TIA!

I’d like to get a decent area rug for the bedroom. Any recommendations?

I’ve been looking for an 8x10 rug but I can’t find any for less than $200. Any tips for what kind of sales to check for or places to look for used ones? My FB Marketplace isn’t offering much help sadly, and I’m not sure where else to go. Do big box stores ever have mega rug sales lol? I’m looking for your standard red oriental rug, if that helps at all. Thank you for any advice!!

Going to be moving into a house with hardwood floors and I'd like to get some sizable area rugs (like 9x12 or bigger). Went to a local shop and they wanted $5,000 for ONE rug. Is this something that really will last forever? Is there a website that sells good quality rugs that aren't a crazy cost?

Does anyone have any recommendations on affordable, nice area rugs for homes? I’m looking for an 8x10 and struggling to find anything that isn’t $500+ or poorly made, or a combination of both. I’d love to hear where you purchased yours and how you’ve liked it so far!

edit- okay so I picked up a couple of washable rugs from Rugs Direct, tested one already with a wash and a rough weekend courtesy of the dog, and so far so good. no fraying or peeling

hey so I need a washable area rug that can survive real life. i’ve got a dog who thinks the living room is his personal playground, so washable is basically a must at this point. hoping for something that won't start fraying or peeling after a couple washes.

any rug/rug brand you can recommend that holds up long term? like something you can wash multiple times without it turning into fuzzy strings on the edges?