Once you have a kid, they become your priority. In addition to making your home safe for them, you will also invest a lot in their room to make it as interesting and cozy as possible. Besides a comfy bed, plenty of toys and enough storage space, you will also have to think about the carpet that you will put in their room. This might seem like a minor detail but this is something you should put a lot of thought into it. While finding the right rug for your child’s room can be difficult, the guide below should help you find the perfect one.
Carpet or rug?
While it might be tempting to install a wall-to-wall carpet in your kids’ room, that might not be the best idea. Sure, this seems warm, soft and safe but it actually traps a lot of dust and dirt, which can be quite hard to clean. A much better option would be getting a rug for a certain area of the room and leaving the rest of the hardwood floors exposed. This will make the space much easier to maintain and the kids will still have a warm place where they can crawl or play on the floor.
Where to place it?
Where you will place the rug depends on many factors. First of all, what will be its purpose? Will it be used to divide the room into several areas? Will it define the play area of the room? Is it supposed to be a focal piece and add an accent to the room? Answering these questions will help when deciding where to place the rug. For defining a play area, you can put it in a corner where all the toys are – that way, your child will recognize this zone as the activity area. Then, you can put it in the center to highlight the furniture around it. Also, for safety, it’s best for some sturdier pieces of furniture to overlap with the rug’s edges.
What material and texture to look for?
When it comes to the type of materials, the selection of quality rugs online is huge. First of all, you need to look for something safe, durable and easy to maintain. Start by getting a rug pad that you can put under the rug as that will keep it in place as well as protect the floor. Now, you can look through a variety of materials and textures until you find something that suits your needs. For example, an affordable option is cotton dhurries. They are a bit thinner than other alternatives but very easy to clean. Then, soft wool rugs are great insulators and they can repel stains and water. They do shed a bit in the beginning but it decreases over time. One durable option to consider is jute rugs although they can be a bit harsh on the skin. Finally, synthetic rugs can take a lot of abuse and are easy to clean.
How big should it be?
Now that you know where you will place it and what type of material you need, you can measure the area in question and decide how big it should be and think about the shape you want. For instance, for an elegant touch, you can get a small circular rug for your child’s room. On the other hand, if you want to cover a big part of the room, a large rectangular one will work wonders. Finally, you can also look for some interestingly shaped ones that your kids will love, maybe something in the shape of a flower or car or whatever their interests are.
What color to choose?
Choosing the color and pattern of the rug can be a challenge. On the one hand, you don’t want it to simply blend into the background but, on the other, you don’t want it to not fit in and stick out. Therefore, if the room is full of patterns and very colorful, you should go for something a bit subdued, in a solid color. Alternatively, if the room is made up of neutral colors, you can add a pop of color by finding a dynamic, patterned rug. You can also opt for some educational models with playful shapes. Finally, to hide any stains and dirty spots, you can get a marbled, medium-toned rug that will make these imperfections a bit less noticeable.
Sure, buying a rug for your child’s room doesn’t seem hard but you have to keep in mind that there are many aspects you have to consider before you make a purchase. Keep its purpose, placing, material, size and color in mind when doing so and you should find the perfect rug for the room.
About the Author
Ron Wolf is a freelance writer, hobby designer and DIY enthusiast.