Defined as: “Dancing well and with energy”. If one dances a lot, she WILL wear out or “cut a rug”. We each have a bit of the show person inside- it just manifests itself in different ways. I love to entertain- Partly because I enjoy cooking and I like to show off my place.
It’s easy to get stuck decorating a home. I recently learned from my friend Amy Emery, Intrepid Decorator- that people often get bogged down by rug selection and sizing. (I don’t have that problem. Since re-doing our house, we haven’t bought a single rug.) I KNOW I’m stuck.
She suggests you begin by deciding what size you need, so you won’t fall in love with a rug that’s completely the wrong size. (Been there, bought that) Get out the tape measure and record all the dimensions of your space-including walls and furnishings. Take into account your major pathways. You don’t want to trip over a rug or wear out one corner by constantly stepping on it. (Put the info on your phone so it’s always with you)
I’ve found that connecting with someone who understands basic standards really helps. Consider these tips courtesy of Amy:
Dining Room rugs should be the dimensions of your dining room table, plus an additional 48-54 inches. This allows room on each side for the chairs to comfortably slide out from the table without getting stuck on the edge of the rug.
Living Room rugs are generally positioned in the middle of a furniture arrangement to create a focal point or define a seating area, so measure the area surrounding your living room furniture. For a cozy feel, subtract 24 inches- this keeps the focal point to a smaller space. For larger rooms, add about 2’ so that all of the furniture fits on the rug and the focal point is in scale to the room.
Entryways/Foyers – Open the front door open to the widest point then measure the floor from there so that the door clears the rug or buy a rug that’s thin enough the door can open onto it without any problem. Take into account floor registers so you don’t cover them.
Bedrooms – Measure the bed and then add 24″ to each side of the bed so there’s room for stepping onto the rug. In general, a 9×12 works well with a King Size bed and an 8×11 for a Queen Size.
Hall Rugs – Take the measurement of the hallway and subtract 1 foot from the length and width that will allow for a 6″ border around the rug. This will allow the most protection for a heavily traveled area but enough border to look balanced.
Layering Rugs– Let’s say you have a rug you love but it’s just too small for your space. Consider layering the rug over another more solid and textured one that is the right size. I love using natural rugs like sisals or sea grass under a patterned hand-knotted rug. It adds such interest and still accomplishes the rug’s goal: to define a space.
Custom Options– So many rooms are of an odd shape or size where the standard off the rack rug sizes just won’t work. Don’t be afraid of custom rugs. Almost any carpet store has hundreds of options of carpet in all price ranges that can be cut and bound to your exact specifications. This can also help in getting a floor covering that works more functionally for you- for instance if you need something indoor outdoor or pet-proof. Nylon has come a long way and is a durable material for high-wear areas.
Most of us aren’t trained dancers and once we buy a rug we probably won’t be cutting it- at least maybe not on a stage. Here’s some great mood music you can enjoy anytime. Hank Mobley was a stand out jazz tenor sax player. Sickly as a child, he was confined to home at age 16 for several months. His uncle got him a saxophone to occupy his time and he began to play. In three years, he was jamming with others and began performing with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Miles Davis. http://youtu.be/YmtHdBPzi_w
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