This post is about buying a rug.
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Buying a rug might seem simple until you're staring at hundreds of options, unsure about sizes, materials, or whether that bold pattern will work in your space. I’ve been there!
In this post, I’m breaking down the 5 essential things you need to know before you buy, sharing some of my favorite rugs, and giving you tips on where to shop and how to choose the perfect one for your home. Whether you’re decorating a cozy apartment or refreshing a big family room, we've got you covered.
This post is about buying a rug.
How Do I Pick The Right Rug?
I'm decoding some of the industry language around rugs to help make shopping easier on you. In each title below, the first word is the industry term (example: "Pile Height"). The second word (example: "Traffic") is what I want you to think instead! It sounds more complex than it is! Promise. 🙂
Pile Height = Traffic
Lower pile is more durable, but less cozy. Higher pile can be more dramatic, but not great for entryways. There are low, medium, high, and extra high pile rugs. We outlined which ones you should put in each room (for example, an extra high pile in a dining room would be a nightmare) in the chart below.
An insider tip: The higher the pile, the softer it feels - but the quicker it flattens. Each style has a trade off, so pick what makes the most sense for the room based on traffic!
Pile Type | Feel | Durability | Best For | Avoid In |
Low Pile (¼" or less) | Firm, smooth | Very durable, easy to clean | Entryways, dining rooms, high-traffic areas | Bedrooms or cozy living spaces (less plush) |
Medium Pile (¼"–½") | Soft yet practical | Good balance of comfort + maintenance | Living rooms, offices | Mudrooms or kitchens (can trap debris) |
High Pile (½"–1"+) | Luxurious, plush | Less durable, harder to clean | Bedrooms, low-traffic sitting areas | Entryways, dining rooms, hallways |
Shag or Extra-High Pile | Ultra-soft, cozy | Difficult to vacuum, shows wear | Reading nooks, low-use rooms | Anywhere with pets, food, or heavy traffic |
Size = Room Layout
Picking your size is determined by your room layout. For example: a living room requires all front legs of furniture to be on the rug, but ideally grounding all of the furniture legs on the rug looks best. Dining rooms, you'll want to consider how far chairs are pulled out, etc.
As a general rule of thumb bigger is often better, but not always. Most people are buying rugs that are too small for their room.
An insider tip: Use painters tape to outline your rug before purchasing! It’s helpful in visualizing the space appropriately.
Room | Ideal Rug Placement | Designer Rule | Common Mistake |
Living Room | Front legs of furniture on rug (or all legs if space allows) | Leave 6–18” of floor exposed around edges | Rug too small — makes the room feel smaller |
Dining Room | Extend rug 24” minimum beyond all table edges | Chairs should stay on rug when pulled out | Rug too small — chairs catch edges/scrape your floor |
Bedroom | Extend rug 18–24” beyond sides & foot of bed | Front legs of nightstands need to be on the rug - ideally the entire nightstand should fit on it | Rug that doesn’t extend beyond foot of bed - make room feel small |
Entryway / Hallway | Center rug with equal floor showing on all sides | Use runners for narrow areas | Rug too long or short — disrupts flow |
Office | Fully under chair + desk | Allow wheels to stay on rug | Rug too small — rolling chairs catch |
Material = Location
The material of a rug is oftentimes one of the more overwhelming sections of rug shopping for most people, but it’s super important. The location of your rug is going to help you pick the right material. For example: wool is one of my favorites. It’s soft and dense and naturally stain resistant + it ages well. That makes it great for a lot of different spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, etc.
Something like jute it tough for a kitchen because you can’t clean it easily. Take it from someone who’s made that mistake already...
An insider tip: Wool rugs shed. This is totally normal! Simply vacuum more frequently, without a beater bar, & it’ll eventually let up. It’s to be expected & nothing to worry about.
Material | Feel | Maintenance | Best For | Avoid In |
Wool | Soft, dense, luxe | Naturally stain-resistant, ages beautifully | Living rooms, bedrooms, anywhere high-traffic | None — universally great |
Cotton | Lightweight, casual | Machine washable, affordable | Kitchens, kids’ rooms, layering | Heavy-traffic spaces (wears fast) |
Jute / Sisal | Textured, organic | Vacuum only, can shed a lot | Coastal or traditional styles, filler space | Kitchens - hard to clean properly |
Polypropylene / Polyester | Soft synthetic | Easy to clean, budget-friendly | Outdoor spaces, busy homes with kids/pets | Rooms needing high-end texture or drama |
Silk / Viscose / Bamboo Silk | Silky sheen | Delicate, spot-clean only | Formal living or bedrooms | High-traffic or pet or kid-friendly areas |
Performance Fibers (e.g. PET, indoor/outdoor blends) | Smooth, resilient | Stain-resistant, UV-protected | Dining rooms, mudrooms, patios | N/A — very versatile |
Color/Print = Longevity
When shopping for rugs, color & print are going to impact the longevity or relevance of your rug. Plainly speaking, you don’t want to go TOO crazy on print & color in a space that’s super large & a big investment. (Unless you’re sure of course.) Take risks with color & print in smaller rooms & with more affordable rugs. It saves you the cost of replacing those expensive ones more frequently.
An insider tip: Certain patters & colors will never go out of style. For example: a plaid, strip, antique/vintage fade, or solid are always safe options. Don’t play it too safe, but do consider the investment you’re making.
Rug Style | Visual Impact | Aging | Best Use | Watch Out For |
Neutral Solids (beige, gray, ivory) | Timeless, versatile, ages well | Hide light wear but can show stains | Long-term investment rooms | Too matchy with walls or floors |
Subtle Patterns (tonal, vintage fade) | Adds depth without overpowering | Hide dirt + wear beautifully | High-traffic rooms | Styles that are too trendy/current |
Bold Patterns (geometrics, florals) | Strong statement | Can date quickly | Accent or personality spaces (smaller is easier to swap out) | Buying it based on the online show room not YOUR room |
Dark Colors (navy, rust, black) | Grounding, moody | Conceal stains well | Cozy or high-use areas | Show lint and dust |
Light Colors (cream, pastel) | Airy, open feel | Show dirt easily | Bedrooms, low-traffic | Lifestyle (family/pets) & not enough contrast with your floors |
Technique/Weave = Price
Technique/weave is one of the big contributions to price in a rug. Everything makes up the price, but I would argue the way it’s made makes the biggest impact. Don’t freak out though, you can get a super high quality piece for a reasonable price!
Something like a hand-knotted rug takes many meticulous hours, so they're VERY expensive... but they can last 50+ years. A hand tufted rug is what I buy the most often & they last a very long time, but still are within an average budget.
An insider tip: This is one of the best ways to tell if a rug is priced fairly or if you’re getting scammed. Always pay attention to the way it’s made!
Hand-knotted: $$$$ (luxury, investment) (lasts 50+ years)
Hand-tufted: $$ (midrange, nice quality for cost) (Lasts 5-10 years) - MY FAV!
Flatweave: $–$$ (casual, versatile) (Lasts 5-10 years)
Power-loomed / Machine-made: $ (budget, easy-care) (lasts 5+ years)
Weave Type | Feel | Estimated Durability | Cost | Design Use |
Hand-knotted | Dense, luxe | 50+ years | $$$$ | Statement or heirloom pieces |
Hand-tufted | Plush | 5-10 years | $$ | Bedrooms, living rooms, low-traffic |
Flatweave | Thin, casual | 5-10 years | $$ | Kitchens, layering |
Machine-made | Varies | 5+ years | $ | Rentals, kitchens |
Where To Buy Good Rugs:
A good functional home should have a mix of budget pieces & heirloom rugs. It’s worth investing in high quality rugs, but you don’t need every rug in your house to be super expensive to look beautiful! Here are my fav stores to shop at for rugs:
- Wayfair (Search: Loloi Rugs -- I love the Chris Loves Julia x Loloi rugs!)
- Lulu & Georgia
- Crate & Barrel
- Rugs USA
- Ruggable
- Home Goods
Tips & Tricks Before You "Add To Cart"
- Tape out your rug size before buying!
- If you can’t afford the rug you want, buy it in a smaller size & layering a cheaper solid rug underneath!
- If you buy a thin cheaper rug, definitely add a rug pad to make it feel elevated.
- Consider adding rugs to unconventional places. It can add tons of warmth!
- Tread lightly around trends. If something is super popular now, it might not age well. (Always exceptions to this, though!)
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