There are 2 popular ways to get your hands on custom area rugs in Singapore: looking for a ready-made piece online or at the mall or hiring a rug designer to conceptualise one from scratch
Either way, custom rugs are expensive investments that have a massive effect on how your space looks and feels. The right area rug will breathe life into your home for decades, while the wrong one will serve as a constant reminder of your mistake.
Choosing a bespoke rug can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. To help you avoid this costly mistake, here are our tips on how to find the best custom rug for your home in Singapore.
1. Get one (or more)
There’s no steadfast rule that there should only be a single rug in your home. Truth be told, interior designers often recommend using multiple rugs in bigger rooms to define the areas.
However, how do you know what’s enough for a room?
A single large rug would be apt for studio apartments or small spaces with enclosed walls and doorways. It creates the illusion that the room is wider and more airy than it actually is.
On the other hand, sprawling, massive spaces would benefit from having multiple area rugs, which can be used to demarcate different areas in lieu of walls.
2. Know your style
It makes sense to have a bespoke rug made according to your personal tastes.
Before deciding on the rug style, take the time to know about the different area rug styles and think about the vibe that you want your space to have.
Area rugs are no longer limited to classic European styles and traditional Oriental rugs. Now, there are rugs with more modern and experimental prints, which would be great for a contemporary home.
Keep in mind that area rugs don’t have to blend well with everything in the room, but they should complement the tones and textures of existing furnishings.
3. Know your measurements
We can’t stress how important it is to work around the arrangement of your room before getting an area rug. Fortunately, it’s easier to deal with size when you’re getting a bespoke rug.
As with any furnishing, it’s always good to start with the practical aspect before stressing over the aesthetics. Take note of details such as whether there are doorways and door swings to consider.
Failing to consider the obstructions inside your home may mean ending up with an expensive custom rug that’s of the wrong size.
There’s nothing worse than having to walk around the perimeter of your area rug. The key is to choose a size that either entirely covers the walkway or leaves enough of the floors exposed when people pass by.
A common way to choose a rug size is to ensure that all four feet of the furniture are covered.
For average-sized rooms, the rule is to have at least 30 to 50 centimetres of bare floor between the walls of the room and the edges of the rug
When it comes to open-concept spaces, layer rugs could work. Use a large plain rug on the bottom to cover most of the floor and a smaller decorative rug on top of it.
4. Check the materials
Area rugs aren’t only made of wool, cotton, or linen. They come in various materials, including silk, mohair, sisal, jute, allo, and even synthetic ones like nylon.
In fact, there are also non-woven rugs constructed from patched-up materials like cowhide. Each material offers a different look and vibe, which can make finding the right rug more difficult.
In terms of affordability, area rugs made from plant-based materials tend to lean on the cheaper side. It’s worth noting that cotton and linen age fairly quickly though, which means you might have to replace the rug sooner than you think.
Wool is one of the more popular materials which is quite flexible when it comes to design. It’s more durable than rugs made from plant-based materials.
5. Think about maintenance
When getting a custom rug, consider your lifestyle, gauge yourself about how much work you’re willing to put in to maintain it.
Almost all area rugs need to be rotated and vacuumed regularly, so check in with yourself if you’re game to do these.
Flat-weave rugs are easy to vacuum, but you can try the old-fashioned way of taking them outside and beating them. Meanwhile, high-pile rugs are more complicated to clean, so you might want to ask for help from professional area rug cleaners.
If you have kids and pets running around at home, then you might want to settle with an area rug that’s easier to clean. Chances are, you’re probably going to be cleaning it more often.
Whatever rug type you settle with, make sure the rug pad is compatible with the rug material and the flooring below. This is another way to take care of your bespoke rug.
Decorating with area rugs
Area rugs can add a splash of character to any space, but finding the right one is easier said than done.
It’s more than just having personal preferences, it’s also about knowing the structure of your room and which material would provide the vibe you’re going for.
If you’re interested in having an area in your home, feel free to get in touch! We can design and make your own custom rug for your home… and even give you more decor tips along the way!
