Comfort and individuality: carpets for your living room
The living room is where you curl up on the sofa after a long day, catch up on an exciting series or spend time with friends and family. The heart of your home should be a place of wellbeing. With carpets, you can quickly create a warm atmosphere, complete your interior style or add a fresh touch. Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect carpets for your living room from the huge range on offer.
How to find the perfect carpet for your living room
If you are thinking of adding a carpet to your living room, there are a few things to consider. Our useful tips will help you make the right choice!
Natural or synthetic material?
Carpets are made from a variety of materials. A general distinction is made between synthetics and natural fibres. Synthetic materials include rayon, polypropylene and polyester. Synthetic fibres are particularly soft, durable and long-lasting. If you suffer from allergies, you should choose a synthetic carpet because it absorbs very little dust and does not provide a breeding ground for mites and fungi.
If you prefer natural materials that are just as durable, you can usually choose from wool, cotton and sisal. Wool carpets are dirt-resistant due to their natural fat content and add a cosy warmth to your living room. Cotton carpets have similar properties but are slightly cheaper and often washable (if they fit in your washing machine). The most durable are sisal rugs, which are one of the hottest trends, with a richly textured surface in natural colours such as beige. This material is particularly recommended if you have pets in your home. However, it is important to protect sisal carpets from moisture as they can become deformed.
When choosing a carpet, it is also worth looking at the underside: to prevent slipping on slippery floors, the underside of the carpet should be rubberised. But don’t worry, if you’ve found your dream carpet and it doesn’t have a non-slip backing, you can buy non-slip pads separately.
High or short pile?
Depending on the length of the fibres, there are short pile and high pile carpets. Short pile carpets have a maximum pile height of 1.5 centimetres, while high pile carpets can reach a height of 5 centimetres or more. High-pile carpets are much fluffier and warmer to the touch, and also have a sound-absorbing effect. Short-pile carpets, on the other hand, are less fragile and easier to clean, as it is harder for dust and dirt to settle. For this reason, you should choose a short pile carpet if you have allergies or pets.
The right size
In general, the carpet should be at least as wide as your sofa. As a rule of thumb, the carpet should be 20 to 30 centimetres wider than the sofa on either side. You should also consider the size of your living room: if you choose a carpet that is too small, it will get lost in the room and not be able to make its impact; if the rug is too large, it will overwhelm the room. A good way to find the right size is to mark the measurements on the floor with tape or newspaper. This way you can see how different sizes of carpet would look in your living room.
Shape: round or square?
Square, rectangular and round rugs are particularly suitable for the living room. Square rugs are the classic floor covering and always look elegant. The shape of the sofa also plays a role: a rectangular rug goes well with a long 2 or 3 seater, while a corner sofa is best complemented by a square rug.
Round carpets break up the straight lines in the living room, loosen up the look and are a refreshing alternative to rectangular rugs. They’re also right on trend! If you have a round coffee table, you can highlight it with a rug in the same shape. Place the sofa and armchair around it to create a balanced look.
Colour and pattern: subtle or striking?
Basically, the carpet should match the rest of your interior to create a harmony. So think about the colours of the walls, furniture, decorations and floor. If your interior tends towards neutral, light colours, you can choose a beige or grey carpet that matches the colour scheme. This will turn your living room into an oasis of calm and clarity. Light carpets also visually enlarge the room, making them a good choice for small spaces.
Alternatively, you can use bold colours such as red or blue to add character to your living room. To keep the contrast from being too harsh, the colour of the carpet should already be present in the decor, for example in the sofa cushions or wall paintings.
Rugs with eye-catching patterns make a stylish statement and spice up your living room. Graphic rugs with geometric patterns, for example, are one of the hottest trends. However, as they visually reduce the size of the room, they are more suited to spacious and minimalist interiors. Lightly patterned or mottled rugs are a more subtle choice. These are less susceptible to stains and are recommended if you have young children or pets.
Where to place a carpet?
The size of your living room will play a key role in the positioning of the carpet in relation to the furniture. If the room is small, you should only place the coffee table on it. In a small to medium-sized living room, it is advisable to also place the rug under the front edges of the seating furniture to create a visual unity. In a large living room, you can place the sofa, armchair and coffee table all on the carpet. To avoid the room looking crowded, leave enough space between the pieces of furniture. The carpet should also be large enough.
Carpet cleaning and maintenance
To prevent dust and dirt from settling, vacuum your carpet regularly. Further cleaning and stain removal depends on the material. You can remove light soiling from synthetic carpets with common cleaning agents such as liquid or ox-gall soap and water. Professional cleaning is recommended for stubborn stains.
Woollen carpets should be washed with clear water without soap to avoid damaging the natural grease layer. Cotton rugs can often be machine washed. Sisal rugs should never be wet-cleaned, as this can deform the delicate natural fibre. Instead, use dry, mechanical methods such as beating and brushing.
A living room to feel at home with KunstLoft
At KunstLoft you will find carpets in a variety of materials, colours, patterns, sizes and shapes – there is bound to be something to suit your living room! If you want to completely transform your living room, our magazine has even more inspiration for you:
Image credits: cover image: Michiel Annaert – Unsplash; image1 and image2: @KunstLoft; image3: Spacejoy – Unsplash; image 4: Yehleen Gaffney – Unsplash; image5, image 6, image 7, image 8: @KunstLoft