Whether you’re building a room from scratch or re-invigorating an existing room in your home our recommendation is always to start with the rug!

The first step is to identify the rug that you LOVE! For many, an area rug is an afterthought, an add-on once the real decisions like furniture have been made. But by beginning with the rug, the focus is on making selections that build upon the color, style and feeling of the rug. Now, the furniture and accessory buying process is streamlined and the subsequent choices to be made are dramatically reduced.

If you’re building the room from scratch and have already selected the rug you just can’t live without, get a 1×1 sample for color reference and carry it everywhere! You just never know when you’ll find that perfect piece of furniture or accessory that speaks to you and a sample can also assist you when shopping for furniture.

Rug samples can also assist you when re-invigorating a room! You may already have the perfect sofa, neutral, worn in and so comfortable, but you want to make sure that the rug color is just right. Order a sample or two during the decision making process to color match and confirm your choice before ordering the full size rug.

The second step in building a room from scratch is to select the furniture. If you have chosen an area rug with a modern, oversized geometric design for the living room, it is safe to skip the checkered and floral designs when selecting your furniture fabrics. While you may have difficulty describing your personal style, the rug choice points in the modern direction. Likewise, if a pastel hooked rug pulls at your heart strings, chances are the sleek little loveseat covered in solid micro-fiber is not an option. Bring your rug sample or picture of your rug and allow the furniture sales associates to guide you through the process. Selecting a fabric that compliments, not competes, the rug is so important to the overall feeling of a room.

By effectively narrowing your options to only those that build on the rug you love, the process of building your room is given direction and ends with a complete and cohesive look. Don’t make the rug an afterthought, allow it to be your foundation and you’ll be thrilled with how the remaining pieces fall into place!

For more information about Clay & Cotton, visit www.clayandcotton.com.

Start with the rug! First, identify a rug that you love. The rug choice should provide the sales associate with the clues necessary to determine how you want your room to feel and this information is needed to help guide you through the furniture buying process. Whether your preference is warm and cozy, bright and playful or dramatic and edgy, the information is all there on the floor.

For many, an area rug is an afterthought, an add-on once the real decisions (i.e, furniture) have been made. But by beginning with the rug, the focus is on making selections that build upon the color, style and feeling of the rug. Now, the furniture buying process is streamlined, and the subsequent choices to be made are dramatically reduced.

For example, if you select an area rug with a modern, oversized geometric design for the living room, it is safe to skip the checkered and floral fabrics when designing your custom sofa. While you may have difficulty describing your personal style, the rug choice points in the modern direction. Likewise, if a pastel hooked pulls at your heart strings, chances are the sleek little loveseat covered in black micro-fiber is not an option.

By effectively narrowing your options to only those pieces that build on a rug you love, the process is given direction and the end result is a complete look. Rather than an afterthought, make the area rug the foundation of your transaction; you are sure to be impressed by how easy it is to create the look you want, but have difficulty explaining.

Here are some rug basics:
Hooked rugs are hand-made of wool. The wool yarn is looped and hooked repeatedly through the canvas or cotton backing to create a pattern. Available in various sizes, shapes and colors, hooked rugs are built to last; they are sturdy and complex, providing long-lasting beauty for high-traffic areas.

Wendy's Garden

Tufted rugs are hand-made of wool. The wool yarn is pulled through the backing to create a loop, which is then cut to create a plush, soft pile. (The loop is not cut in hooked rugs.) The pile height can differ depending on the quality of the rug. One of the most popular handcrafted styles, hand-tufted rugs are available in a variety of styles and colors, from contemporary to traditional and everything in between.

Kensington Cerulean with Kingston Spool Chair

Flat Weave rugs are typically made of cotton or wool. They are produced by tightly interweaving the strands of the fabric to create a flat surface with no pile. Flat weave rugs are typically made of wool or cotton and are reversible. This category includes Kilims and Dhurries.