Find the perfect Area Rugs for your space
our collection will keep it cozy underfoot and add a luxurious feel to any room
Area Rugs are easy to move around and functional in defining space. You can choose from many designs, including modern and traditional, so you're sure to find an area rug to suit your tastes
Does an area rug suit your room and lifestyle?
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Before you buy
What to expect
Choosing an area rug.

We carry a great selection of Area Rugs and can custom order any of our carpet styles to make any  size, colour, border and binding for your area rug.  See in store for details.  Area rugs add warmth and beauty to any space and can instantly change the way a space feels.

Hand-knotted rugs are the top of the line as they are made by hand and are durable, have the finest detail, and are designed to be passed down from generation to generation. The more knots per square inch the better (can vary from 40 to 1200). Most of the cost of a hand knotted area rug is the labour involved and the materials used.

Hand-tufted rugs are the next best thing. These rugs are half man-made and half machine-made. When looking at a rug, view the underside and look for a pattern in reverse – this indicates it’s a hand-knotted piece. If you see a backing, it’s a hand-tufted area rug.

With hand knotted or hand-tufted rugs, look for the RugMark™ label, which tells you it was made without child labour.

Machine-made rugs are rugs have been designed to replicate hand-knotted rugs and are woven by a machine which makes them more affordable; they cost about a third less than hand-knotted rugs. Machine-made rugs are manufactured with materials including wool and synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, nylon, polyester, acrylic and artificial (art) silk. Machine-made rugs are an excellent way to decorate a room affordably.

Choosing an area rug.

We carry a great selection of Area Rugs and can custom order any of our carpet styles to make any  size, colour, border and binding for your area rug.  See in store for details.  Area rugs add warmth and beauty to any space and can instantly change the way a space feels.

Hand-knotted rugs are the top of the line as they are made by hand and are durable, have the finest detail, and are designed to be passed down from generation to generation. The more knots per square inch the better (can vary from 40 to 1200). Most of the cost of a hand knotted area rug is the labour involved and the materials used.

Hand-tufted rugs are the next best thing. These rugs are half man-made and half machine-made. When looking at a rug, view the underside and look for a pattern in reverse – this indicates it’s a hand-knotted piece. If you see a backing, it’s a hand-tufted area rug.

With hand knotted or hand-tufted rugs, look for the RugMark™ label, which tells you it was made without child labour.

Machine-made rugs are rugs have been designed to replicate hand-knotted rugs and are woven by a machine which makes them more affordable; they cost about a third less than hand-knotted rugs. Machine-made rugs are manufactured with materials including wool and synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, nylon, polyester, acrylic and artificial (art) silk. Machine-made rugs are an excellent way to decorate a room affordably.

Things to think about when buying an area rug.

What type of lifestyle do you lead? Do you have small children in the house? Do you have pets? A white or light coloured shag carpet is probably not a good idea in those instances.

Where will the rug be located, and what purpose will it serve in that space? Is it a focal point in a formal living room or a place people can sit on while playing board games in the family room?

What is your style?  Try to complement the style of the space.  The area rug should work with the tones of the furnishings.

Cleaning – An expensive carpet is going to have to be professionally cleaned every 12-18 months if placed in high-use rooms.

How does it feel underfoot? If you prefer a softer feel, then natural fibers such as wool and cotton would be your best choice. If you want a lush, deep, pile, synthetic fibers are best.  Organic fibers such as jute and sisal can be soft underfoot but they don’t provide the same warmth as a woven rug.

Cost – Spending a bit more on a high-quality area rug may be worth it in the long run rather than buying mediocre-quality area rugs. However, if you like to re-decorate, less-expensive area rugs are probably your best choice.

Entry Way – Entry rugs work best if they are flat weave or have a very low pile.  Because the entry is adjacent to the outdoors, rugs there usually need frequent cleaning. They can also be dangerous if not properly secured to the floor with either a nonslip rug pad or rug tape.

Living/Family Rooms – The rug should go at least under the front legs on sofas and chairs, in a seating arrangement, unifying the furniture, and should run the same width, or slightly longer, than the sofa. There should be approximately 18” of bare floor between the rug edge and the perimeter walls of the room. This works in rooms that are enclosed as opposed to open concepts. In a small room, use approximately 8”. But personal preference prevails – furniture that’s half-on, half-off the rug creates a casual look. Furniture entirely on or off the rug creates a more formal look.

Dining Room – Centre the furniture over the rug and choose a rug that fits the shape of your table. Extend the rug at least 24” around the table, allowing you to move the chairs without tripping over the rug, (ie allow 6 more inches for a chair that’s pushed back from the table). Choose a weave or short pile rug to allow for ease of cleaning any spills and to allow chairs to move.

Try to match the rug shape to the shape of your room to bring a pleasing feeling of order to the space.  For example:

  • Square dining table = square area rug
  • Rectangular or oval dining table = rectangular area rug
  • Round dining table = round or square area rug

Bedroom – For an area rug to look balanced under a bed, it should be large enough to extend beyond the sides of the bed by approximately 18” – 36” for a queen/king bed and approximately 12” for a twin bed.  If placing an area rug at the foot of a bed, the rug width should extend beyond the width of the bed to achieve a balanced look.

Hallways – Are popular places for an area rug or runner. There is flexibility in how long it should be but allow the width to show a bit of floor on each side. A typical runner is 2′ x 8′, but can be custom made to any size.

Invest in a good rug pad – A quality rug pad ensures no one will slip from a rug moving or trip from wrinkles and protects the rug and floor from damage. A rug pad holds the rug flat against the floor to prevent movement. Buy a rug pad that is 1-2” smaller than your rug. Some rug pads are made specifically for hardwood floors while others work better on carpet. PREVENT FLOOR DAMAGE – the wrong pad can damage your floor.   Work with your flooring consultant to choose the best rug pad for your rug.

Area rug pros and cons.

Pros of area rugs

  • Area rugs don’t need to be installed and give instant decorative impact.
  • Wool area rugs are made of a sturdy pile and are stain resistant and durable. A good choice for a high traffic area.
  • Cotton area rugs are made of soft/strong fibres and are inexpensive. They are generally found in a flat weave and are a popular choice for kitchens because most smaller sizes can be easily washed.
  • Silk area rugs are one of the most durable fibers and accept dye better than any other fiber. Silk is also the softest surface. Silk rugs are woven in many countries besides the Middle East, you see many from China, India, and Turkey as well. Their construction is fine, thin, and very colourful.
  • Jute area rugs are strong and durable, and are the softest of the natural fibers.
  • Sisal area rugs are very durable and anti-static – good choice for high traffic areas.
  • Seagrass area rugs are stain-resistant and durable – good choice for high traffic areas.
  • Nylon area rugs are stain/soil resistant, clean easily and tend to be more inexpensive.
  • Olefin area rugs are inexpensive and are water/stain resistant.

Cons of area rugs

  • Natural fiber rugs (sisal, jute and seagrass) can be tricky to clean due to the texture of the rug – ie nubby natural fibers. These rugs may not be the best choice near an eating area.
  • Avoid light hues – probably a good idea to avoid white/light coloured rugs in dining rooms as any pale hue will show dirt and spots sooner than darker colours.
  • Area rugs are not fastened or tacked down, and can slip or curl up at the edges making them a safety hazard.
  • Area rugs don’t cover the entire floor, you’ll have two surfaces to clean and maintain.
  • Wool area rugs are expensive.
  • Cotton area rugs tend to wear out sooner and attract dirt easily.
  • Silk area rug fibers do not have a springy characteristic. You’ll want to avoid areas of high traffic.
  • Jute area rugs are coarse and are prone to stains and as they are the softest of the natural fibers, it is the least durable. Good for low to medium traffic areas.
  • Sisal area rugs are coarse and are not as comfortable to sit on. It can be difficult to clean stains.
  • Nylon area rugs don’t hold value as well as natural fiber area rugs.
  • Olefin area rugs require more cleaning, show wear sooner than other rugs, and the fibers crush easily.

The area rug buying process.

When visiting our showroom to view our selection of area rugs, we suggest you bring the following:

  • Your room dimensions
  • Samples of your floor type, furniture fabrics and colours (paint, wallpaper)
  • Pictures of your room

Did you know you can custom order any of our carpet styles to make any size, colour, border and binding for your area rug? See in store for details.

Area rug care.

Don’t let your area rug get too dirty; vacuum regularly once a week. Deep-clean your area rug every 3-5 years (professional cleaners do the best job). Download our Area Rug Floor Care Guide for tips on how to maintain your area rug and clean up spills.