You have always dreamed of a home with hardwood floors. And now that your dream has come true and your house is furnished, the rooms seem to be missing something – a little splash of color that would bring everything together and turn your beautiful house into a warm, welcoming home. One of the best ways to bring that little splash of color and warmth into your home is an area rug.

There are many types and styles of area rugs to choose from – from brightly, woven colors to your favorites sports team – perfect for your husband’s den – to your child’s favorite character. Area rugs come in all shapes and sizes – for the elegant look in your formal dining room to the “let’s just kick back and be a family” look in your living room. There is a style for everyone!

Elegant Dining Room
You have decorated your dining room with an antique table, complete with sideboard and china cabinet. The antique wood of the dining table looks splendid in front of the open fireplace – the table set and ready for guests. The perfect addition would be an oriental area rug underneath the table. When choosing an area rug to fit underneath the table, you should choose one that is wide enough for guests to get to and from the table without scraping the legs of the chair on the hardwood floor beneath. In order to find the perfect size area rug, you should measure both the width and the length of the table and add at least four inches. This gives your guests the freedom to move around without the need to be conscious of scraping your beautifully finished floor. You should find an area rug that complements the décor of the room without standing out on its own but don't only consider a rectangle rug, also think about an oval area rug.

Living Room/Den
Whether your living room and den are a combined room or whether you have a formal living room and an informal den, an area rug can add just the touch you need to make the room cozy and welcoming to your guests. You will want one that is sturdy such as hand-knotted area rug,  wool-blend rug or even a bamboo area rug if your rug will be placed in the path of heavy traffic. This rug should also use dark colors that will accent the room, but will not show signs of foot traffic.

If your space is large, you can use two rugs to accent different areas of the room. Each rug can be a different style or pattern, but the colors should be the same so that each area in the room complements the others. An example of this would be a large room with a fireplace – you want to accent the fireplace, but you also want to make the area around the sofa soft, comforting, and inviting. You could choose rugs of different styles, shapes, and patterns – but you want the color scheme to match throughout the room. The object is to bring a large room together for a more intimate feel.

If you have a separate den, you will want an area rug that creates a welcoming feeling for the entire family – one that the kids will not be afraid to walk on. The family den should be a place for your family to relax and unwind together – and so the rug should be comfortable enough for little ones to stretch out on or roll around on during play. And, on those special occasions when the “guys” come over to watch the big game, it is simple to replace the area rug with one that displays your guy’s favorite team – so that even the “guys” feel welcome.

Bedrooms
The bedroom should be a reflection of the person who occupies it. Area rugs make this an easy feat to accomplish – and can be changed as the tastes of the person changes over the years. Small children are fascinated with bright colors. A great idea for a child’s room is to place a brightly colored kids area rug over the play area.

For little boys, you could choose a rug with roads and highways that could lead to years of driving fun – both for him and you. Create a castle for your little princess with an area rug designed in the colors and style of her favorite princess character – complete with a small table just right for tea parties. As your child grows, you can easily change the rugs to fit their interests and their tastes – always giving them a haven from the world.

There are so many possibilities when using area rugs to accent your home’s décor – colors, styles, and shapes to make your home bright, cozy, and inviting. With so many choices available, you have the freedom to make your home an expression of yourself!