Does Your Room Have "Sole"?

While I was sitting on my living room floor, a thought came over me. Designing a space is like putting together an outfit. Now I know that might sound odd but think about it. Outfits have basics, like pants and a shirt, while living rooms have basics like tables and sofas. Outfits also require shoes to be considered complete, which ties the look together. Without proper shoes, the outfit can look drab. The same applies to a living room without a rug: It feels like it’s missing something.

That pair of shoes has a huge impact on that outfit, even if it’s not considered a necessary addition. Those shoes serve many purposes, such as coordinating with other parts of the outfit, making a statement, or for functionality such as protecting your feet. The choice of shoe can completely change the overall purpose and aesthetic of an outfit, and so can a rug for your space.

Many people don’t understand the impact of a rug and how it can effortlessly transform their space, just like shoes transform an outfit. Rugs help connect spaces, zone areas, create interest and so much more. Rugs have a functional purpose as well, just like shoes. They can protect your hardwood floors and help reduce sound.

In open concept homes, rugs can act as a platform to layout your furniture and designate an area for a specific use. You can design an entire outfit around a pair of shoes and how those shoes are going to be of use. Dining rooms and great rooms are a few key areas for rug placement.

Putting a rug in a great room creates an inviting atmosphere. Furniture can be arranged around the rug which is helping to ground your eyes when there are no walls to define an area. The Rug acts as a border for conversation, promoting that space for communication. For example, incorporating a rug in a dining room makes the space feel more intimate. Rugs in this area tend to be centered around the table and chairs. This allows people utilizing this space to feel closer in an open area.

Shoes can help accentuate different areas and compose the style. They have the ability to showcase your personality and alter a whole outfit. A business casual outfit can turn into a night out look just by swapping some flats to a pair of heels. Updating your interior can be just as simple. Incorporating a rug is a simple and inexpensive way to update your space. Just like shoes, rugs can showcase your personality. They can be a statement or unify the design.

Rugs come in a variety of shapes, colors, textures and patterns. This diversity allows for an individual's aesthetic to shine. Our home should reflect our personality. Rugs can bring in colors and textures from other parts of the house, maybe the pattern in the rug imitates the backsplash in the kitchen. When designing, all spaces should be seen as a single entity. When coordinating spaces, something as simple as bridging the wall colors of the dining room into the rug located into the living room helps to mend these spaces together.

It’s important to remember that rugs are not just decorations, they also serve a purpose. Rugs protect flooring, promoting longevity, but also help to absorb some of the sound that travels around in these open spaces. High ceilings and solid surfaces such as hardwood floors, cabinetry and walls allow sound to reverberate. In open concepts, ambient noises can amplify becoming aggravating and overwhelming if the space is being used for multiple purposes. In apartments without carpeting, it can sound like you’re talking inside a box. Rugs trap some of the energy from sound waves, stopping the noise from traveling. If you have an area that tends to be louder, picking a more textured or thicker rug will alleviate these issues

Rugs are a fun and easy way to pull together a room, connect spaces, and express your personality. So, the next time you’re sitting on your floor thinking of ways to liven your space or thinking what pair of shoes you should wear I hope you think about this simile; Rugs are like shoes.