114 // Choosing an area rug - how do you know if it’s too small? Arm yourself with knowledge so you can choose confidently and with less overwhelm

Know BEFORE You Go A new Quick Tip Tuesday series that addresses ALL the things you need to know about a product before you pull out your credit card. This week's Know BEFORE You Go...Area Rugs! 1. MEASURE: This should go without saying, but measuring before selecting an area rug is critical. Not only should you measure the size of rug you're anticipating purchasing, go a step further - place a marker where those measurements will be: socks, scarves, jumprope, blue tape. It doesn't matter what it is, so long as you do it. Laying it down will give you a visual for how big the rug will actually be. 2. ANCHOR: An area rug serves as an anchor for the furniture that sits atop it, keeping it from floating. The anchor will help define the sitting area and elevate the look of the room. 3. SEATING AREA: Look at where your seating area is before purchasing a rug. Are all the pieces pushed back against the wall making it impossible to fit an area rug that won't be too small? Try moving the furniture away from the wall to define the seating area - then anchor it all together with the rug. 4. FRONT LEGS: General Rule of Thumb: the front legs of all the furniture within the seating area should sit atop the area rug. A little more than the front legs is fine, but a little less is NOT. 5. COLOR: Be careful that the color of the rug is too similar in tone with the furniture of the room. Too dark and it will be too heavy for the space. Contrast can be a good thing. 6. INSPIRATION PIECE: Your rug is an opportunity for not only anchoring the furniture to the room, but anchoring the design to the overall space. Are there colors in the rug that can be repeated throughout the rest of the room allowing for repletion and cohesiveness? 7. COST: Are rugs don't have to cost a lot and it's OK if they land on your "I want to spend less on this item list." If you have children, pets or wear shoes in the house, your rug is going to get a lot of wear and tear and will likely need to be replaced more often than you'd like. // Links mentioned in show: // Email: figandfarmathome@gmail.com Facebook Community: https://bit.ly/design101group Website: www.figandfarmathome.com Happy Styling! xo, dani