Should I get an area rug or install carpet?

You’re looking for the perfect way to break up that open floor plan, warm up a dining room, or place an eye-catching accent underneath the coffee table. But just when you spot a gorgeous area rug with the right pop of color, you wonder – should I buy an area rug or just carpet the whole room?

Nothing provides a soft, cozy feel for your home like plush carpet. But carpet is being replaced in the living and bedrooms of homes by tile or hardwood, bringing more and more area rugs into trendy houses across the country. So which is it – should you use area rugs to warm up your space or transform a room with wall-to-wall carpet? Let’s weigh the pros and cons and explore when to turn to which solution.

Pros and Cons of Area Rugs

Pros

Place and Replace: Area rugs can be placed under tables, at the foot of beds, and in transitional spaces to give a pop of color and warmth on cold tile floors. They’re easy to move around and trade out to suit changing styles and seasons.
Breathable and Washable: Area rugs allow for some airflow between the rug and the floor itself, helping to prevent mold or mildew from forming and can be washed or cleaned without a whole-room treatment.
Variety of Textures: A faux-fur rug for the foot of the bed, a Persian look for the living room, and a woven mat for the hallway – area rugs come in a wide variety of looks and feels that allow you to choose for style and function.

Cons

Trip Hazards: Loose edges on area rugs can present a trip and fall hazard, especially in homes with elderly residents or in high-traffic areas.
Style Doesn’t Always Fit: Area rugs aren’t made to match your home, and finding the right rug and the right place for it can be tricky.
Finite Sizes: Area rugs can only cover so much flooring; larger spaces will either require multiple rugs carefully staged or wall-to-wall carpet.

Pros and Cons of Carpet

Pros

Unified Style: Carpet can match any style, fitting into the color palette of your home and providing a clean, unified look throughout your home.
Secure and Stable: Carpet adheres to the floor and gives your home a firm foundation, preventing trips and falls from unsecured rugs and floor covers.
Warm and Cozy: Carpet helps insulate your home, keeping the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Cons

Vulnerable to Humidity: Carpet shouldn’t be used in rooms where high humidity or a lot of moisture is present, like bathrooms and utility rooms.
Cleaning Can Be Costly: Deep-cleaning carpets means cleaning a whole room at a time, renting equipment or hiring a professional cleaner.
Can Damage Any Underlying Hardwood: Carpet tacks and adhesives can damage the finish on hardwood and could be harmful to the hardwood itself.

When to Use an Area Rug

So which is it? When should we use area rugs? Generally speaking, use an area rug in high-humidity areas like bathrooms and kitchens or under dining room tables where carpet wouldn’t be the best choice for whole-floor covering. In these spots, area rugs can provide warmth and a homey feel on top of hard tile floors.

When to Install Carpet

When you want to improve the insulation and bring a cozy family feel to your home, carpet is the right choice. If you’re looking to cover large spaces of floor in your living spaces and bedrooms to match and unify the look of your home, let us help you choose the right flooring solution. Wall-to-wall carpet can match any paint and provide comfortable spaces for your family and guests.

Create a Cozy Whole-Home Look with The Carpet Center

When it’s time to create a cozy whole-home look, trust the professionals to help you find the perfect flooring solution. We can help you outfit one room, run flooring from the living areas down the hallways, or design every floor in your home to meet your family’s needs. Contact us today for tips on how to redesign your home with a fresh new look or for a free quote on new flooring.