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Area Rug Buying Guide

dark grey velvet sofa in a moody room

Rugs Offer Benefits Beyond Style

Area rugs can be that finishing touch for a room’s design and style. The perfect rug can tie the room together, bringing together all of the furniture and decor, while also making subtle colors of your room pop. But area rugs serve more purposes than just style: they can define separate spaces in your home, protect your glamorous wood floors and provide some sound absorption. And who doesn’t love sinking their toes into a plush rug? What does all of this amount to? A more comfortable, stylish, and personalized home.

Factors to Consider When Shopping for Rugs

  • What room is the rug for?

  • Is it a high traffic area?

  • Do you have pets or children in this area?

  • Will you be eating in this area?

  • Do you have furniture picked out for this area?

  • We reccomend measuring both your room and furniture before deciding what size rugs best suits your space.

Tips for Caring for Your Rug

  • Rotate your rug once a year.

  • Vacuum your rug with care, make sure your vacuum is set to the right height.

  • Use a rug pad to help with durability.

colorful rug

Define Space

cat laying on dark red rug

Protect Floors

someone standing on blue woven rug

Absorb Noise

plush white rug with dark grey diamond detail

Plush Underfoot

Common Rug Layouts

The Living Room

All Legs On

Living room layout with all furniture on the rug

For this look we recommend either a 9' x 12' or a 11' x 14' rug.

Two On, Two Off

Living room layout with the two front legs of the furniture on the rug

For this look we suggest a 6' x 9' or 8' x 10' rug.

All Legs Off

Living room layout with all furniture off of the rug except the coffee table

This look typically works best with a 4' x 6' or 5' x 7' rug.

The Bedroom

bedroom layout with the bed on the rug

For a bedroom with a Queen Bed we suggest a 8' x 10' rug while a King Bed likely requires a 9' x 12' rug.

The Dining Room

Dining room layout with the chairs and table fully on the rug

An 8' x 10' or 9' x 12' rug normally works best for this look though table leaves should also be considered.

Entryways and Hallways

Runner rug laid out next to a staircase

Rug runners are perfect for entryways and hallways. We also recommend considering rugs for any seating areas.

Common Rug Shapes

Runner rug

Runner

  • Perfect for entryways or hallways due to length

  • Brings personality and floor protection to hallways

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Rectangular rug

Rectangle

  • Good for living rooms or family rooms

  • Good for dining rooms if you have a rectangle table

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Square rug

Square

  • Good for living rooms or family rooms

  • Good for dining rooms if you have a square table

Browse Square Rugs >

Oval rug

Oval

  • Can work in dining room with a rectangle or oval table

Browse Oval Rugs >

Round rug

Round

  • Good for entryways or hallways

  • Good for seating areas

Browse Round Rugs >

Round rug

Octagon

  • Can work well in dining room with a round or octagonal dining table

Browse Octagon Rugs >

Types of Rug Construction

Woven Rugs

rug being woven

Available in a variety of materials. Durable and good for high traffic areas.

Braided

braided rug diagrambraided rug diagram

Mat-like without pile. No-backing making it reversible.

Knotted

knotted rug diagramknotted rug diagram

Higher quality and higher pricepoint. Heirloom quality durability.

Loomed

rug being loomed

Lower price point with consistent quality. Can feature elaborate patterns. Most made with synthetic fibers so they're stain resistent. Great for low traffic areas.

Hooked

hooked rug diagram

Less prone to shedding. Good quality and durability.

Tufted

tufted rug diagram

Created by cutting off tops of loops of yarn to create a flat, plush surface and attached to latex backing. Budget-friendly and available in a variety of styles. Prone to shedding and may require regular vacuuming.

Rug Materials

natural fibers rug material

Natural Fibers

  • Made from jute, sisal, bamboo, or sea grass

  • Used for flatweave or braided rugs

  • Eco-friendly and often more affordable rugs

Browse Natural Fiber Rugs >

leather rug material

Leather

  • Smooth and durable with cool underfoot feel

  • Stain resistant and can be easy to clean

  • Provides a rustic, western vibe to your home

Browse Leather Rugs >

silk rug material

Silk

  • Luxurious feel, but also expensive

  • Sheen and softness perfect for bedroom

  • Sensitive to moisture

Browse Silk Rugs >

cotton rug material

Cotton

  • Low maintenance, easy to clean, and less likely to shed

  • Works in any room

  • Can be easily dyed

Browse Cotton Rugs >

wool rug material

Wool

  • Both durable and affordable

  • Naturally stain resistent

  • Good insulator for cold floors and has soft feel

  • Can be prone to shedding

Browse Wool Rugs >

synthetic rug material

Synthetic

  • Sylish and low cost alternative to materials like silk

  • Easy to care for and won't fade

  • Not as luxurious as natural fiber

Browse Synthetic Rugs >


Peoria, IL

1215 W. Glen Ave.
Peoria, IL 61614

+1 (309) 691-4100

Serving: Dunlap, Morton, Washington, Pekin, IL and surrounding areas.

Normal, IL

300 Landmark Dr.
Normal, IL 61761

+1 (309) 454-7700

Serving: Bloomington, & Champaign, IL and surrounding areas.

Peru, IL

3333 Frontage Rd.
Peru, IL 61354

+1 (815) 223-6425

Serving: LaSalle, Ottawa, Oglesby, & Streator, IL and surrounding areas.

Peoria Heights, IL

1203 E. Marietta Avenue
Peoria Heights, IL 61616

+1 (309) 643-6011

Serving: Dunlap, Morton, Washington, & Pekin, IL and surrounding areas.

Sherman's features a great selection of appliances, mattress and furniture in the Peoria, Normal, and Peru, IL area. At Sherman's you will find a large selection of sofas, sectionals, recliners, chairs, leather furniture, beds, mattresses, dressers, nightstands, dining sets, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ranges, cooktops, ovens, washers, and dryers. Sherman's is proud to serve communities throughout the Central Illinois region. Stop by one of our area showrooms today or shop online.
Information Accuracy - We have taken great care to provide you with information that is accurate and useful. Please notify us if you find an error and we will do our best to correct it. We ask that you contact us directly to confirm information about pricing, color, features, dimensions, availability and lead times.