Rugs are a great way to start any interior design project.  They make decorating easy and help to inform what steps need to be taken next.  When coordinating rugs, fabric patterns, and colors, the elements should be balanced just like in a painting. 

It’s so easy to tweak the other choices in the room to fit the rug, but finding a perfect rug after furniture, soft goods, and paint colors are set is going to take a lot more time.

A rug makes a room feel complete, providing a cohesiveness that is reassuring when things are just getting started. You can also use a rug to define or separate areas, such as seating or dining areas, and foyers. This is especially useful in studio apartments or larger rooms that need definition.

Leaving your rug until last is probably the biggest mistake people make when planning any room’s décor. They feel that the rug is an afterthought. The wonderful point about starting with the floor is it gives you a chance to build a space piece by piece, rather than getting overwhelmed with the rug, furniture, walls, and window treatments all at once.

Last, but not least, always use a rug pad to keep your rug from slipping or creeping. The rug pad should be appropriate for your floor type and be the right size to fully keep the rug from sliding. A rug pad dispels slipping, adds a layer of comfort underfoot, and increases the longevity of the rug.