How to Choose a Rug for Your Child's Room
Cut loose and go for fun patterns, great colour combinations and textures when picking a rug for your kid's room
Your child’s room is more than just a place to sleep. It’s where they play, daydream, store toys, do their homework, and hang out with friends. As such, the space needs to balance practicality and comfort, and be fun and inviting for all who enter. Get their decorating scheme off on the right foot with a fabulous rug. The ideal design will not only add a hefty dose of style to the space, but cosiness and acoustic protection too. Here’s what to consider when making your selection.
Choose the right size
When it comes to rug size, it’s generally best to go as large as possible for the dimensions of the room, while leaving around 200-300 millimetres between the rug and the wall to reveal a hint of the flooring underneath. This allows the exposed flooring to frame the rug and helps anchor the furniture in the room.
Tip: If you’re unsure whether the size of rug you’ve got your eye on will work in your child’s room, mark it out on the floor with tape before you buy.
When it comes to rug size, it’s generally best to go as large as possible for the dimensions of the room, while leaving around 200-300 millimetres between the rug and the wall to reveal a hint of the flooring underneath. This allows the exposed flooring to frame the rug and helps anchor the furniture in the room.
Tip: If you’re unsure whether the size of rug you’ve got your eye on will work in your child’s room, mark it out on the floor with tape before you buy.
Get creative with shape
Think beyond standard rectangular and square styles, particularly if your child’s room is small. A round rug, for example, can have real presence in a compact room, without overwhelming the space. Round styles also look great in a nursery, placed next to or beneath the crib. And again, go as big as you can – you’ll find that a large rug will make a small space feel bigger than it actually is.
Six rooms that embrace the round rug
Think beyond standard rectangular and square styles, particularly if your child’s room is small. A round rug, for example, can have real presence in a compact room, without overwhelming the space. Round styles also look great in a nursery, placed next to or beneath the crib. And again, go as big as you can – you’ll find that a large rug will make a small space feel bigger than it actually is.
Six rooms that embrace the round rug
Embrace sumptuous textures
Wool is incredibly inviting to little feet. Not only does it soften over time, it is durable and, importantly, a natural fibre. Woollen rugs come in a variety of weaves, including flat weave, cut pile, shag pile, and loop pile.
What you choose will depend on your child’s bedroom style and the way in which they use the space. If, for example, pushing cars along the floor is your little one’s favourite pastime, it’s best to avoid long cut or shag piles, which have a tendency to swallow up playthings. However, if your child likes to relax on the floor with a couple of cushions and read, a cosy, luxurious pile might be just the ticket.
Tip: Test for softness with your feet rather than your hands.
Design a nursery to tickle baby’s senses
Wool is incredibly inviting to little feet. Not only does it soften over time, it is durable and, importantly, a natural fibre. Woollen rugs come in a variety of weaves, including flat weave, cut pile, shag pile, and loop pile.
What you choose will depend on your child’s bedroom style and the way in which they use the space. If, for example, pushing cars along the floor is your little one’s favourite pastime, it’s best to avoid long cut or shag piles, which have a tendency to swallow up playthings. However, if your child likes to relax on the floor with a couple of cushions and read, a cosy, luxurious pile might be just the ticket.
Tip: Test for softness with your feet rather than your hands.
Design a nursery to tickle baby’s senses
Another option to consider is hemp. Hemp is natural, hardy enough to withstand the rigours of children’s play, and will soften over time.
Tip: Adding a rug pad will prolong the life of your child’s rug, and will ensure that it doesn’t slip – this is particularly important with wooden floors.
Tip: Adding a rug pad will prolong the life of your child’s rug, and will ensure that it doesn’t slip – this is particularly important with wooden floors.
Layer up
Don’t be afraid to layer a rug over carpet. It can, in fact, be a very useful styling tool, adding another layer of colour and texture to the space, while providing a visual anchor that draws the eye.
Contrasts are key when layering up different flooring types. Look to mix contrasting textures and patterns; so, if you have a low-pile carpet, consider pairing it with a luxurious shag pile or richly textured rug; or mix plain carpet with a bold or patterned design.
Don’t be afraid to layer a rug over carpet. It can, in fact, be a very useful styling tool, adding another layer of colour and texture to the space, while providing a visual anchor that draws the eye.
Contrasts are key when layering up different flooring types. Look to mix contrasting textures and patterns; so, if you have a low-pile carpet, consider pairing it with a luxurious shag pile or richly textured rug; or mix plain carpet with a bold or patterned design.
Run with a theme
Some children love nothing more than a theme, which can send chills up the spine of the person decorating their room. Fortunately, children’s decor has come a long way in recent years, and a themed look no longer has to mean decking out the floor, bed and walls of your child’s bedroom with garish cartoon characters. As illustrated in this room, it’s now possible to find groovy and stylish decor themes in contemporary hues that are sure to please both child and parent alike.
Tip: If your child’s rug is positioned near a window, turn it around from time to time to prevent fading on one side.
Some children love nothing more than a theme, which can send chills up the spine of the person decorating their room. Fortunately, children’s decor has come a long way in recent years, and a themed look no longer has to mean decking out the floor, bed and walls of your child’s bedroom with garish cartoon characters. As illustrated in this room, it’s now possible to find groovy and stylish decor themes in contemporary hues that are sure to please both child and parent alike.
Tip: If your child’s rug is positioned near a window, turn it around from time to time to prevent fading on one side.
Use rugs to divide a space
In shared bedrooms, marking one’s territory can be an important aspect of defining areas and keeping the peace. One of the best ways to do this is with a rug, placed strategically to identify personal space.
In shared bedrooms, marking one’s territory can be an important aspect of defining areas and keeping the peace. One of the best ways to do this is with a rug, placed strategically to identify personal space.
Alternatively, place a rug between two beds to visually connect them and create a shared play space.
Consider care and maintenance
Because little people can be robust and a rug can be an expensive investment, consider using a protective treatment to keep it looking its best.
Because little people can be robust and a rug can be an expensive investment, consider using a protective treatment to keep it looking its best.
TELL US
Are you planning to redecorate your child’s room? What flooring have you got your eye on? Tell us in the Comments section below.
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Browse more gorgeous children’s bedrooms
Are you planning to redecorate your child’s room? What flooring have you got your eye on? Tell us in the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse more gorgeous children’s bedrooms
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While there’s no rule that says you have to match flooring to the the other elements in your child’s room, such as bedlinen and artwork, having a common thread running through them, whether it’s colour or pattern, will create a cohesive feel.
Tip: If you are adding a rug to an existing scheme and you’re finding it hard to source the perfect colour or pattern, don’t despair – companies now offer a custom design service where you can have one made to order to your exact specifications.