By Laura LathamPublished: 09:59 GMT, 18 November 2014 | Updated: 09:59 GMT, 18 November 2014Rugs can...

1. Winning runners and wildly colourful rugs will bring warmth
and cheer to your home in the cold winter months
By Laura Latham
Published: 09:59 GMT, 18 November 2014 | Updated: 09:59 GMT, 18 November 2014
Rugs can pull a look together -- and in winter they offer warmth, sound insulation and, crucially,
cosiness. These days there is such a wide variety of textiles, designs and sizes, it's difficult to know
where to start. But before you splash out, focus on the space you are looking to fill.
Floor with more: The Fifty leaves adds texture as well as jaunty tones, £450 from Habitat.co.uk
It might sound obvious, but take the exact measurements and bear in mind that a large rug will
make a stylish statement. Bright colours or complicated patterns could overpower some rooms.
Small rugs, on the other hand, can get lost in a large space and you might want two or three for real
texture and warmth.
When choosing the fibre and pile of your rug, think about where it will be. Deeper piles or fluffy
sheepskins work well in bedrooms, where you want a softer feel underfoot. Shorter piles or flat
weaves are better suited to living rooms or halls, where the rug will suffer more wear.
Different rugs for different spaces: Soft piles suit bedrooms and more hardy fibres should be used in
hallways
Wool is a good option, as it's a natural fibre, durable and easy to clean. It can be more expensive
than synthetic fibres, but it's possible to buy simple pure wool rugs for under £100.
John Lewis's Perth rugs cost from £50 (johnlewis.com) and Next has a good range starting from £40
(www.next.co.uk).
Synthetic fibres, such as polyester and nylon, are a good option for those with wool allergies. The
designs can be more intricate because the product is machine made. 'Synthetic textiles have come a
long way in terms of design and quality,' says Olivia Harvey, a rug buyer for John Lewis.
Certainly, they can be a good choice if you want a low-cost, fun flash of colour -- prices start at about
£10. Flatweave cotton rugs or runners cost around the same and are a cheap way to brighten up a
room or corridor.
For splashes of colour in smaller rooms or children's bedrooms, go for something cheap and cheerful
such as Ikea's circular Virring mats, from £10, or Dunelm Mill's novelty rugs, plenty of which cost
aroung £29.99 (www.dunelm-mill.com).

2. Pink and perky: Small, inexpensive rugs like this one by Dunelm Mill, top right, add colour and
texture
If you have the space, intricate patterns work better on a larger size rug, says Harvey, because there
is room to see the detail, and a beautifully designed product can become a statement piece.
Vertical stripes work better in narrow spaces, like stairs and hallways, because they lead the eye
into the distance, while horizontal stripes widen a room.
When it comes to keeping your rug in good condition, you should turn it regularly to ensure it fades
and wears evenly.
All it should need in terms of cleaning is a regular light vacuum but, Harvey says, it doesn't hurt to
give a deep pile rug a good shake or beating to plump it up.
Along with the hall, the stairs are often the first sight people have of your home, so an attractive
stair runner or carpet will help to make an impression.
Stairs are a high-traffic area and need carpeting that will be durable and easy to clean. Standard
carpet needs to be cut to fit the staircase, while stair runners cover the centre of each step. Jane
Armstrong, showroom manager at Roger Oates (www.rogeroates.com), a firm specialising in stair
carpets, says this is a product that should be professionally fitted.

3. Seeing stripes: Vertical stripes work well in hallways and on stairs, where they lead the eye into the
distance, while horizontal stripes can make a room look wider
When ordering, the supplier needs the exact width of your staircase as well as the size of the risers
(the back panels between each step or tread) and of any winders (the steps that turn the staircase),
which must be measured to their deepest point. 'Stairs are more complex than most people think,'
Armstrong says. 'Whether you're buying a carpet or runner, it's crucial you get the measurements
right.'
Carpeting stairs is not cheap. For a start, you need a hardwearing textile that can cope with feet
constantly running up and down. Wool is a sensible option for stairs, as it usually ages better than
synthetic fibres. Roger Oates sells pure-wool runners in a range of traditional and funky patterns
and colours from £115 per linear metre.
You can buy blends of 80 per cent wool/20 per cent synthetic from about £25 per sq m, or 100 per
cent synthetic fibres from as little as £4.99 per sq m.
Look for short-pile or flat-weave carpet labelled suitable for heavy domestic use. Anything with a
deep pile will flatten quickly with heavy footfall and this may also make it slippery in places.
Brintons (www.brintons.co.uk) has a wide selection of designs, or try Fun on the Floor
(www.funonthefloor.com) or the Carpet Foundation (www.carpet foundation.com) for suppliers.
Armstrong says quality underlay is also important. 'It provides a good surface for your carpet, which
will help maintain its appearance and resistance to wear.'
Get it right, and you can pack up your slippers this winter.
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