Your Perfect Area Rug

Finding your perfect area rug doesn't need to be daunting but it does require some focus and a measuring tape. "Perfect" means something different for everyone. You may have questions like, what size do I need? What materials are eco-friendly? What are the best rugs for homes with kids and pets? Is it budget friendly?

At Gild & Co. we've thought about these questions A LOT. Read further for more details to help find the perfect rug for you.

Material

Natural and renewable fibre rugs, like wool, sisal and jute are the nicest to our planet. Gild & Co. consciously carries only rugs made by reputable suppliers that are made of natural and renewable fibres or made from recycled materials, like PET rugs that are soft, like a natural fibre but made from recycled water bottles.

Durability

The best rugs for homes with kids and pets are of course rugs that you can clean. Stick with wool or indoor/outdoor rugs made from recycled materials. With sisal and jute rugs can be difficult to clean wet stains. However, if you love the look, they are excellent with dry staining like food or dirt and general wear. One of our bestselling sisal rug is a hybrid model. The Sisal Wave rug is almost 100% sisal with a small amount of polypropylene to amp up resistance to wet stains. Tip: avoid viscose or silk if you have pets and kids as they are the most difficult to clean. 

Budget

The "best" rugs can be an investment. Cost factors of rugs are the material it is made from and how it is constructed. Hand-knotted wool rugs are often the most beautiful rugs and will literally last decades (if not longer). However, they are made by highly skilled artisans and are a bigger investment. Handwoven or hand-tufted wool rugs are an excellent alternative as they often have the durability of hand-knotted wool without the higher price tag. Sisal and jute rugs are excellent quality natural fibre rugs with an economical price tag, and the added bonus is that when they are finished their lifecycle they will decompose. 

Size

Size will depend on your room. For living rooms, go as large as possible, getting as much of your furniture on the rug as possible or at least the front legs of the furniture in the room. Bigger is better with living room rugs. A too small rug will only make the room feel small and patchy. For runners in hallways and kitchen, bigger is better. Your hallway runner can be 3-6" from the side walls and approx. 8-12" from each end. Again a too small runner in a large hallway will look choppy. Kitchens have a little more flexibility and can look great with 3x5' or 4x6' carpet in front of a focal area like the sink. Foyers are often suited to a minimum a 3x5' or larger. A 2x3' in main foyer can look small (unless you are in a very small home and that is all that fits). 2x3' is a great size for back or side doors and smaller rooms like laundry or powder rooms. 

Want a deeper dive? Check out a good rug guide here and cleaning guide here.