The amount of rug options readily available is both a blessing and a curse. With so many colors, patterns, and materials to choose from, making a decision can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few key factors to keep in mind while shopping that will limit the confusion and allow you to be confident in your decision.

BEFORE YOU BUY, CONSIDER:

This should be the first thing you consider, as its placement usually dictates its purpose and the functional qualities it will need. The textile components of a rug sought for the bedroom to offer comfort, such as a vintage silk, would not be well suited to use under the dining room table with the intent of helping chairs slide in and out more easily.

We love a classic, neutral rug layer — a light seagrass rug as the base and an off-white wool rug draped over — but layered rugs can also be used to add color. When layering with colors stick with rugs in the same color family. And if you really want to mix it up, select rugs with colors complementary to one another.

Always refer back to the end goal for the space and what you are trying to communicate. Solids are timeless, patterns are eclectic and opposite textures add a subtle contrast. No matter the rug chosen, you never want it to compete with other items in the room, but to be a complementary accessory.