How to Choose the Best Rugs for Living Rooms

An area rug can really liven up a room and pull your décor together. But finding the best rugs for living rooms is challenging. Because a rug is such a focal point in a room, read up on some important questions you should ask yourself before selecting your rug of choice.

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We&#;ll guide you through some key considerations to make rug shopping simple and ensure you get the best option for making your home look great to create a comforting aesthetic for both you and your home&#;s visitors. 

Rug Material

Before you get too deep into designs, color palettes and size, consider the rug material that will work best for your space. 

The most important thing to consider when evaluating rug materials is the amount of traffic in the room where you&#;re placing the rug. Some areas get more traffic than others.

The best rugs for living rooms are durable rugs. While a living room doesn&#;t get the kind of traffic that a foyer or hallway get, it is a popular place in a home. You&#;ll spend tons of time in your living room during get-togethers and for quiet nights at home.

You&#;ll want to get a rug that withstands heavy traffic while still looking great. Generally, a wool or wool-blend rug is the best material for a living room. 

Wool tends to be stain resistant, which is important since many people eat and drink in their living room while watching television or socializing. While you&#;ll certainly be careful around your new rug, accidents will still happen. Keeping stain resistance in mind will help you keep the space looking great for many years.

Another factor in selecting rug material is how noisy a room is. A thicker rug with some shag will help dampen noise. Some split-level homes have unique arrangements in what&#;s below the living room. 

If you have another living space or bedroom below your living room and would like to dampen the sounds of movement in the room, a thicker rug will serve those purposes well. 

Just note that thicker rugs tend to not work as well for high-traffic areas. That&#;s because dirt and debris can get caught deep in the rug&#;s fibers and look worn quicker than a thinner rug with less shag.

Home Occupants

Pause for a moment and consider your home&#;s occupants. If you have anyone in your home with reduced mobility, be sure you select a low-pile rug.

Low-pile rugs reduce tripping hazards in your home. These are great for homes with young children too as they tend to run from place to place without considering tripping hazards or changes in the floor&#;s surface.

Homes with children are often best to outfit with a cotton rug. These rugs are easier to clean, soft and durable. If you&#;re really going for serious durability and simple cleaning, consider an indoor/outdoor polypropylene rug.

An indoor/outdoor rug repels water to prevent spills from soaking in. You can wipe off spills with a sponge or rag. And before you start to think that your living room rug will look like it belongs on your patio, rest assured that advances in design have enabled these rugs to still look great in any space.

Once your children grow up, you can always replace the rug with something a bit fancier or with a more intricate design. But while you&#;re worried about spills or tracking muddy feet indoors, go with the practical living room rug option of an indoor/outdoor rug.

We previously recommended the Revival Dawn Ombre Wool Rug as our best overall pick, but after six months of use it began to shed, and pet hair didn't vacuum out of it very easily. Our new best overall pick, the Rifle Paper Co. Provence Joliette Power-Loomed Rug , still looks the same after six months.

To date, we&#;ve tested 133 different area rugs to find the best for different needs, evaluating them on quality, texture, durability, value, and ease of cleaning. Yokota also weighed in with tips on choosing the right area rug as well as how to clean and for rugs so they last as long as possible.

Besides making a room feel more homey, area rugs can protect floors from damage, cover up problem spots, and provide cushioning to walk on. But since different rugs serve different purposes, it can be difficult to pick out the right one. From size, material, shape, cost, and other factors, there&#;s a lot to consider before purchasing an area rug . Weave is a good place to start&#;consider whether you want a flatwoven or low-pile rug for more high-traffic areas or a high-pile rug that will provide plush cushioning. &#;What makes a rug truly soft is the weave as much as the material,&#; says interior designer and author of Home Therapy, Anita Yokota . &#;The cut of a pile rug versus a tighter weave of a woven rug decides how soft it will be.&#;

Additionally, the rug comes with an anti-slip underlay that kept it firmly in place. We think this would make a durable addition to a patio, mudroom , or even a large entryway.

When we took a pet brush to it, no fibers came loose and the material looked the same, indicating it&#;s made to last through heavy wear and tear. The coffee grounds came up with a single pass of the vacuum, but we had some difficulty removing the chocolate stain. Some of the chocolate got stuck in the gaps in the weave, and we were not able to scrub it out using a paper towel.

This water-resistant rug has the look of natural fiber but is actually made from polypropylene, which makes it more durable for outdoor use. While other rugs have soft textures, this one has thin, tightly woven fibers that feels more like a fibrous mat than an area rug.

After about five seconds, we had to stop brushing the rug with the pet brush because the abraded area was visibly damaged. This makes us doubtful of how well it would hold up to pet claws, but all in all, this is a dense rug that provides ample cushion.

While the rug&#;s quality remained the same after six months, it&#;s possible for dirt stains to appear over time. The rug stayed mostly flat when we laid it out, although there was some curling at the edges. We were able to vacuum the coffee grounds up and remove the chocolate stain, although it did require repeated applications of the stain remover.

This rug comes in seven different colorways, each with a dotted trellis pattern that&#;s perfect for a nursery. The tufted wool fibers feel dense and thick underfoot, though not plush. In fact, footprints and vacuum marks did not show up against the dense fibers.

One problem that we did run into was trying to make the rug stay flat. We&#;d recommend placing it under a piece of furniture to start to keep the edges from curling up.

The rug has a flat, ripped texture, and while it lacks a fluffy appearance, it does feel soft. However, its low pile height made cleanup a breeze&#;we were able to pick up 98% of the coffee grounds with one pass of the vacuum on low and the chocolate sauce stain came up with little effort. And should you need to roll up the rug for storage or cleaning, it&#;s easy to do so.

If you&#;re looking for a rug that your pet won&#;t ruin, feast your eyes on the Safavieh Crystal Collection Rug. Our pet brush didn&#;t disrupt the rug&#;s texture or leave any noticeable marks behind. While the rug was located near a kids&#; playroom , it never lost its beautiful colors (even after six months of use).

It was difficult to vacuum out the coffee grounds from the dense fibers, and while it was easier to remove the chocolate stain, it still took us a while to do so. We also found that without a non-skid mat underneath, the rug will slide around. We like this rug for the living room or bedroom, but would recommend against placing it in the kitchen or dining room because it can hold onto stains and debris.

After having the rug in our apartment for six months, its appearance did not change. Plus, after running a pet brush over the rug, none of the fibers were removed, but they did appear more fuzzy. And after repeatedly walking on the rug, the pile appeared to be squished down, although this is somewhat expected of a rug with this pile height.

The AllModern Walker Performance Rug is a great choice for anyone who loves retro-themed decor. The high-pile fibers are tightly packed, giving the rug a uniformly soft and snuggly texture. This texture helps to prevent the rug from wearing out.

We did have to hold it down on one end as we vacuumed the other, but this is certainly a small trade-off to make for its price point. Using the stain remover, we were able to get rid of a large majority of the chocolate stain. However, this rug is machine washable, which certainly aids in removing major stains and spills. Choose from numerous sizes and color options to suit any space.

It laid perfectly flat and the non-slip backing stayed firmly put, even when we attempted to scoot across the floor on it. After using it for six months, the quality remained the same. When we ran our hand over the fibers, there was no shedding. When it came time to vacuum the coffee grounds out of the rug, we were prepared for the worst. However, this rug completely exceeded our expectations; we were able to vacuum out all of the grounds using the highest setting of our vacuum.

If you like the look of a sheepskin rug but without the upkeep or price point, then this faux fur rug is an excellent choice. Like most faux fur rugs, it has an extremely high pile that your feet sink right into. Plus, with its unique appearance, it&#;s a great way to elevate your bedroom .

The natural material did curl a bit along the edges. And, as is to be expected with jute, it&#;s not soft to walk on with bare feet. But it&#;s a quality jute rug if you&#;re looking for a hardy option that can be used indoors or outdoors.

We think this would make a great choice for a patio or front porch, thanks to its naturally distressed appearance. And when used with the matching rug pad, it stayed put the whole time we used it.

The Hart Jute Rug is perfect for those who tend to favor simple, rustic decor. The natural, braided jute is extremely durable and disguises wear and tear (although there was very little after six months of use). After running a pet brush over it, we noticed some change to the texture, but it wasn&#;t obvious. It has even held up against cat claws after being used a makeshift scratcher. Just be prepared to sweep up any loose fibers every so often.

We did have a hard time vacuuming up all of the coffee grounds from the high pile, and though most of the chocolate sauce stain came out, there was still a small amount of it left on the rug. Fortunately for us, the rug was brown, so it was able to hide some of the stain. On the other hand, if you were to purchase a different color, stains may be more visible. This rug is available in multiple colors and nearly three dozen sizes, so you can easily find one that works with your space.

Now and then, a shag rug is what you need to make a living room or bedroom feel more cozy . This rug is very plush and has a high pile, yet it lays completely flat with no curling along the edges. And after brushing the rug with a pet brush, walking on it, and lying on top of it, there was no change in its quality or appearance. Even though this rug has a thick, durable texture, it still feels soft to the touch.

We did notice a few ripples towards the middle of the rug, which prevented it from laying completely flat. Our concern with this is that someone could trip over the rug. But despite this flaw, we were impressed with the look, feel, and durability of this rug for the price.

Even after six months of use, this rug still has its fluffy texture. But despite its substantial pile, it withstood scratching from a pet brush without sustaining any damage, so we feel confident it will hold up to homes with pets. What&#;s more, since dirt and debris aren&#;t absorbed by the rug, coffee grounds were easy to vacuum out of the fibers, and we were able to remove 100% of the chocolate sauce stain we applied.

If you&#;re looking for a beautiful rug that will add a little flair to your living room or bedroom, you can&#;t go wrong with this vintage-style rug from IKEA. In addition to the striking design, this is a thick, plush rug that feels soft underfoot.

Another benefit of the thin design is that it can be easily rolled up and moved to other areas within your home. And despite its thin construction, it still felt fairly soft underfoot. However, we do wish that it came with a rug pad underneath to prevent slipping and provide some extra cushion. Overall, this is a great low-pile rug for anyone looking to avoid constant vacuuming, but it leaves more to be desired in terms of plushness. Sizes: 2 | Material: Viscose, synthetic | Pile Height: 0.13 inch

Not only does this rug come with a beautiful Southwestern-inspired pattern, but it&#;s also extremely easy to keep clean no matter how much foot traffic it gets. We have been keeping it in a high-traffic area for six months, and it never appears dirty or misshapen&#;only one area was frayed by our cat&#;s claws. This is one of the thinnest rugs we tested at just 0.13 inches, which means it traps less pet hair and dirt. Coffee grounds were vacuumed up with ease, and after we ran a pet brush over it, there was very minimal fiber loss.

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The rug comes with a cushioned, non-slip pad that connects together like a puzzle and tucks into the rug&#;s corner pockets. Once the pad was inserted, there was no slipping on this rug, and it added just the right amount of cushion. This is a very flat, smooth rug with a dense (almost nonexistent) pile and a soft finish, making it great for high-traffic areas.

Need a rug that your kids and pets won&#;t ruin? Look no further, because this washable rug is your best option. When we spilled wine and coffee on it, the rug didn&#;t absorb the liquids; instead, they just sat on top of the fibers so that we could quickly wipe them up with a paper towel. But should you need to give it a deeper clean, washing the rug in cold water on the gentle cycle was easy enough. And after multiple washings over two months of use, the quality has remained the same.

Area rugs aren&#;t always easy to vacuum, but this one gave us no trouble. As our vacuum glided across it, dirt was immediately suctioned up. After two months, the quality and texture remained the same. We even found that the rug&#;s colors mask dirt and other residue. Eventually, we moved it to our powder room&#;and this rug still exceeded our expectations. After six months, no loose fibers or snagged areas were visible. This area rug made such a lasting impression on us that we intend to purchase another one for our office. Keep in mind that this is a low-pile rug, so it may not provide tons of cushion, although it&#;s great for high-traffic areas. Sizes: 11 sizes | Material: Polyester | Pile Height: 0.13

Whether you place it in your bedroom or powder room, this rug is sure to elevate any environment. It made our bedroom feel instantly more inviting and cozy, and provided a soft landing for our feet each morning.

After two months, the quality and texture remained the same. We never found any discoloration, wear and tear, or stain buildup. For six months, no damage or loose threads were found post-wash, and the rug's appearance still looked as good as the day we bought it. If we were to change anything about this rug, we would add a rug pad underneath. We found it easy to slip on no matter what surface we placed it on. But overall, this is a great purchase for anyone looking for a rug that&#;s stylish and requires low maintenance and care. Sizes: 9 sizes | Material: 83% polypropylene, 17% polyester | Pile Height: 0.13 inches

Behold the Rifle Paper Co. Provence Joliette Power-Loomed Rug, your new favorite area rug. Not only does it add an inviting feel to any room, but it&#;s also easy to vacuum. We used both a robot vacuum and regular vacuum to clean it, but found that the rug didn&#;t collect dirt or cat hair nearly as much as other area rugs.

The Bottom Line

After thoroughly testing each rug, our best overall pick is the Rifle Paper Co. Provence Joliette Power-Loomed Rug because it was easy to vacuum, and the appearance remained the same for the whole time we used it. For more of a value option, the Chris Loves Julia x Loloi Jules Oriental Natural/ Ocean Area Rug is our favorite. It has a low pile that&#;s great for high-traffic areas, and after six months there was no visible wear and tear. We also liked how soft the rug was, and that it was easy to clean.

Our Testing Process

To date we&#;ve tested 133 different rugs, including traditional area rugs, washable rugs, and indoor/outdoor rugs, evaluating each based on quality, texture, durability, ease of cleaning, and value.

In the lab testing of traditional area rugs, we observed the pile height and density of each rug and noted whether any part of the rug curled up. We also analyzed the consistency of the texture. To test each rug&#;s ability to stand up to daily wear and tear, such as foot traffic or pet claws, we walked across the rug multiple times and ran a pet brush over the fibers. 

We also conducted two cleaning tests: First, we poured coffee grounds on the rug and vacuumed them up, and then we added chocolate sauce to the rug and used a paper towel and stain remover to get rid of the stain.

After lab testing was complete, we brought the rugs home and used them daily for up to six months, during which we took note of how much traffic the rugs received, cleaning, quality, and texture. At the end of the testing period we checked to see if the quality changed or not and if the rug held up to our initial impression.

Tips For Choosing The Right Area Rug

Size

Before you choose an area rug, it&#;s important to consider the size of the room, the furniture, and how it will make the room look overall. When it comes to your living room, the rug needs to be large enough to support the front legs of your couch and about 6 to 12 inches wider than your seating area.

For the dining room, you&#;ll need to make sure it&#;s large enough to accommodate your table and pulled-out dining chairs. As a rule of thumb, measure your table and add 4 feet to both its length and width. And for the bedroom, you&#;ll want a large rug that fits underneath your bed and nightstand with room on the sides and at the foot of the bed that you can step on in the morning, at least 2 feet on each side. 

Material

When it comes to material, first consider whether you want a natural or synthetic fiber rug. If you want an eco-friendly and long-lasting rug, then you should go with a rug made with natural fibers, such as cotton, wool, silk, jute, and sisal. Each of these materials have their own benefits and drawbacks. For example, wool rugs have great insulation and are flame-resistant. Silk rugs tend to have more detailed designs and patterns than other natural fiber rugs, and cotton rugs are comfortable and add great texture to any space.

On the other hand, cotton rugs are prone to break down faster while wool and jute rugs will absorb moisture from their environment. Sisal rugs can be uncomfortable to walk on and are also easy to slip on.

Rugs made with acrylic, polyester, and polypropylene are considered synthetic rugs. These types of rugs are more affordable and stain resistant, which makes them a great choice for families with pets or children. However, they can begin to show more wear overtime than their natural counterparts. Yokota says, &#;I&#;m a fan of natural fibers. I find that with the right level of vacuuming and spot cleaning, they wear better and often last far longer than their synthetic counterparts.&#;

Pile Height

Pile height refers to the thickness of a rug measured from its surface to its backing. Low-pile rugs have fibers less than ¼ inch high, which makes them easier to clean and more durable, so they are better suited for high-traffic areas such as your kitchen or hallway. (Our pick for high-traffic areas, the AllModern Ovid Oriental Machine Woven Area Rug, is the thinnest on our list.)

On the other hand, high-pile rugs measure over ½ inch high, so they are more comfortable and also provide better insulation than low-pile rugs. This makes them the perfect rugs to place in your bedroom or living room. But it&#;s easier for dirt to become trapped in these rugs, so you must regularly clean them.

Medium-pile rugs measure between ¼ and ½ inch and offer a nice middleground&#;they still have a soft underfoot but are less likely to hold onto debris than high-pile rugs. Finally, flatwoven rugs have no pile whatsoever. These rugs are highly durable and well suited for high-traffic areas and can even make great outdoor rugs, like the IKEA Lydersholm Rug. 

Style

Like other pieces of furniture, area rugs are meant to add style to your space. Since we spend a lot of time in our homes, Yokota mentions that it&#;s important to make them as invigorating as possible. While you can choose rugs that match the color scheme, Yokota says that you also shouldn&#;t be afraid to make a bold choice either. It may even help to visualize your room so that you can get an idea of how the rug will look when placed inside it. 

More Area Rugs To Consider

Project 62 Eyelash Woven Shag Rug: We loved the softness, density, and color of the rug, but it frayed a lot and even lost some color when we took a pet brush to it. However, it&#;s still held up well to more gentle use over a six-month period.   

Questions and Answers

Which types of rugs are the easiest to keep clean? 

While synthetic rugs can be more stain resistant, they are also more prone to damage from everyday wear and tear, so they will need to be replaced more often. Washable rugs, like the Tumble Washable Rug & Cushioned Rug Pad, are the easiest to clean in the event of a major spill or stain. And rugs with a low pile height tend to hold onto less debris than high-pile rugs, so they&#;ll require less frequent vacuuming. 

How much should you expect to spend on an area rug?

We found that area rugs will run you anywhere from $30 to $400, and it only goes up if you&#;re looking for a custom rug. While you may have to spend a little more, you want an area rug that will last a long time. Yokota explains, &#;Like everything in our homes, we can isolate a certain price lane and stay within it but sometimes the right price doesn&#;t give us the right outcome. By that I mean, it might be on sale but the material choice won&#;t last as long as we like.&#; 

Why Trust Southern Living

This article was written by Moriah Mason, a commerce writer for Southern Living. To create this list, we&#;ve tested 133 area rugs to date, evaluating them on quality, texture, durability, value, and ease of cleaning. Moriah also reached out to interior designer and author of Home Therapy, Anita Yokota, to get her professional expertise on the factors to consider before purchasing an area rug.

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