Laying a neutral area rug is such an easy way to transform your interior. Especially if you are renting your property, a rug can hide a multitude of sins such as stains on carpets and can improve the aesthetic appeal of the room. It’s also an item that you can easily roll up and take with you when you move. The high street and online options for area rugs have improved drastically over the past few years, previously the offerings were mostly made from synthetic fibres with dated designs but now there is a plethora of trendy rugs available.
See our selection of neutral area rugs below along with our buyers tips.
1. Style of Rug:
There are many different styles of rugs available such as flat-weave, tufted, shaggy and jute rugs to name a few and even if you aren't planning to spend a lot, you are still investing in an interior item that will last a long time so be sure to choose one that suits your personal taste.
By choosing a neutral area rug, it will act as timeless backdrop to your interior.
2. The Size of the Rug:
When considering how large of an neutral area rug to buy, start by measuring the size of the rug in the area that you want to lay it and mark it out with masking tape to help create a visual impression of how much space the rug will cover.
Read our Rug Size Guide to select the right sized rug for your area, remember in spaces such as the dining room, you will want to ensure that the rug is big enough to house the chairs even when they are pulled out.
3. Composition of a Rug:
What the neutral area rug is made from is very important as it will dictate how it holds up against house hold traffic and spills.
Sisal and jute is particularly hardwearing and is great for entrance halls and stair runners, whereas wool is soft and hardwearing so makes for a foolproof choice for living areas and bedrooms.
Jute/Sisal/Hemp are very durable but not the softest option so they are best used for entrance halls and formal areas, natural fibre rugs don't offer the best insulation but do add great texture to an area.
Synthetic is durable, inexpensive and easy to clean, the one drawback is that it doesn't have a natural feeling such as wool and jute.
Wool is probably the most popular as it is warm, soft and easy to maintain, it is slightly more expensive than synthetic options but has a much longer lifespan.
Cotton is an affordable option and a popular choice for rugs and is very easy to clean but not as durable as its wool and synthetic counterparts.
4. Rug Patterns:
Consider what pattern or design you would on your neutral area rug, do you prefer plain pieces in one colour, an abstract design or perhaps a contemporary rug to complement your living room.
There are also vintage rug options on the market, these are new rugs that are treated to look aged and worn and these type of designs often have traditional patterns paired with modern colours to create colourful area rugs
5. Natural Fibre Rugs:
Rugs made from natural fibres such as jute and sisal rugs may vary in colour from the image displayed on the website and this is down to the natural variation of the product and is part of the beauty of buying a naturally made item.
POSTS RELATED TO NEUTRAL AREA RUGS:
6. Returns Agreement:
It's important to read the returns agreement from the retailer, so that in the event you are not happy with rug you can return it and get a refund, usually retailers will offer this, however you may face transport fees and rugs can be difficult to send back to an online retailer, so ensure that you measure your area and that you are buying a rug in a material that you know and like.
Underlay for Rugs:
We strongly recommend buying underlay to put under the rug to stop it slipping out of place, especially when laying an area rug over a hardwood or tiled floor, without a non-slip underlay you will be realigning it on a daily basis.
Most retailers will offer underlay but you can also buy very good underlay from amazon.
Underlay Recommendations
Foxi Underlay. Carpet fitters that I have worked with use this underlay when installing flat-weave stair runners to keep them in place.
It’s sticky on both sides but will not cause damage to the flooring it’s laid on.
Rug & Stuff Underlay. Which is 100% latex, made of natural rubber, so it's plastic-free and environmentally friendly. Latex rug underlay is also perfect for stopping larger carpets from sliding out of place or puckering.
Caring for your New Rug:
New rugs tend to shed in the beginning, don’t be alarmed by this, it’s simply a new product that is ‘settling’.
Vacuum your rug regularly in the same direction, not back and forth as you do on wall to wall carpet.
Rotate the area rug every few months to avoid uneven fading and wear.
Sometimes, especially with wool rugs, there might be a slight smell when you unpack it, this usually fades in a short space of time.
Be careful when placing furniture on your rug that there are no sharp edges which may cause damage to the neutral area rug.
You can find furniture protection pads that can be adhered to your furniture legs to help protect your area rug, these are handy for wood floors too.
In an ideal world, try to get a sample of the neutral area rug you are buying or view it in person before buying, by seeing and touching the product you will be able to tell if you like it and if it's a well produced area rug.
