12 Mistakes You Should Avoid When Buying Your Next Rug, According to Designers

Think you know everything to take into account when shopping for a rug? Think again. There are a number of common mistakes that you will want to be sure to avoid when selecting an area rug for any room of the home, and we've rounded them up so that you can avoid these 12 common pitfalls.

Choosing the Wrong Size

A major designer pet peeve is when a rug is either too large or too small for a space.

"A rug that doesn’t anchor the room properly not only disrupts the visual balance but can also make the room feel significantly smaller," says Jaime Zehner, founder of JZ Interiors.

In a living room, all furniture legs should be able to sit on the rug, she suggests as a basic rule. And when in doubt, go larger with your rug size—that will make a room appear bigger, too.

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Not Prioritizing Quality Material

When shopping for a rug, you will want to select a piece made from material that is known to stand the test of time.

Wool is an excellent choice in that regard: It is naturally durable, stain-resistant, and retains its beauty over time, making it worth the investment. There's no bad material to choose from, but try staying away from synthetic materials for durability.

Not Considering Placement

Before ordering a rug, double check exactly how it will fit in your space. It is especially important to think about what type of rug you're placing in a high-traffic area of the home.

Corners and edges that receive more foot traffic—like in hallways or doorways—will show wear faster and fray over time. Pulling rugs away from these areas will help them maintain their shape and youth for much longer.

Not Considering Secondhand Options

Don't be so quick to purchase a brand new rug when there are so many incredible vintage and antique options on the market.  

"They have already proven their durability over time," says Zehner, who likes to turn to rug dealers and websites including Etsy to source these types of pieces.

"These pieces often withstand heavy foot traffic, making them ideal for high-traffic areas while also adding a unique, timeless charm to your home," she says.

Not Choosing the Right Style

When sourcing a rug for your space, you'll want to choose one that complements whatever else is in the room, but you don't need to go so literal. Cat O'Brien, founder of interior design firm Cat O'Brien Collective, encourages people to use rugs as an opportunity to experiment with a new style.

"If you have a very and contemporary room with neutral colors and clean lines, try for a rug with a more traditional pattern to create some interest and comfort," she says.

Not Considering Custom Options

Actual custom rugs can cost a pretty penny, but there are ways to get a custom look for less, O'Brien explains.

If you can't find a premade piece that fits your space nicely, go to your local carpet store. "They can cut a carpet to any shape and size, add binding to the edges, and voila! You have a custom rug for a fraction of the price," she says.

Not Being Mindful of Size When Layering

Many people like to layer rugs, but there is still such thing as going to small when placing one rug on top of another, notes Liberty Riggs, founder of Morrison Gates Design.

She recommends making sure that the top rug still fits over at least 50 percent of the bottom rug. "Otherwise, it winds up looking like a postage stamp on a large envelope," Riggs says.

Placing a Rug in the Dining Room

A dining room rug simply isn't right for everyone. Riggs encourages her clients with young families to skip this step during the design process.

"No matter how washable or resilient a rug may be, there are few things that can truly withstand mealtimes with toddlers," she says.

Not Thinking to Cover Wall-to-Wall Carpet

If your home features wall-to-wall carpet, don't assume that you can't also decorate with rugs.

"Many people have caught on to the fact that putting a rug on top of wall-to-wall carpet can make a room look more finished and custom," Riggs says.

Not Using a Rug Pad

That said when placing an area rug on top of your carpeting, a rug pad is absolutely necessary, Riggs says. These don't have to cost too much money, and will make all the difference in keeping a rug in place.

Being Afraid to Add Color

Riggs says that sometimes, her clients are hesitant to bring a colorful rug into their home. However, she reminds rug shoppers that the visual impact of a design on a rug is diminished greatly once it's laying flat on the floor.

"It's a trick of the eye that if you don't keep in mind will have you wondering why the rug that looked so fabulous hanging in the showroom now looks so dull on your floor," she says.

So, don't be afraid to go a little vibrant, or a little more patterned than you would normally opt for; it'll even itself out once it's laying on your floor.

Using an Indoor/Outdoor Rug Inside

While indoor/outdoor rugs are marketed as being usable in both types of spaces, Riggs cautions against bringing one of these inside due to style and comfort.

"Nobody wants to feel like they're standing on a giant placemat when they're in your home," she says.