If you’re one of the many workplaces that have hopped aboard the hard-surface flooring trend by installing LVT, tile, or hardwood in your office, you’ve probably found yourself in need of a rug.
Quality rugs play an important role in softening a room to make employees feel more comfortable — and that comfort has been linked with a rise in productivity. Here’s a list of questions you should ask yourself to help pick the perfect rug for your unique office space.
Questions to determine your rug size
- How big is the room where you’re putting the rug?
If you want your new rug to cover most or all of a particular room, a good rule of thumb is to pick a size that’s one or two feet shorter than the room’s shortest wall. This will help create a balanced look — a too-big rug can be surprisingly off-putting. - How big is the furniture near the rug?
If you’re using your new rug to frame a particular work area without tangible boundaries, you should look for a size that complements your furniture. For example, are you putting your new rug in front of a couch? Pick a length that’s a little bit longer than the sofa itself. It’s usually better to err on the side of too big versus too small here so you can guarantee that your rug isn’t dwarfed by your seating arrangement. - Do you want to make the room look bigger or cozier?
Are you intentionally trying to make a small room look bigger or add an element of coziness to a larger space? The size of your rug can help with that. Smaller rugs, especially circular ones, can make a crowded area feel bigger, while you can use multiple medium-sized new rugs to section an expansive space into smaller work stations.
Questions to determine your rug shape
- Do you have any circular furniture?
If you have round tables or chairs, a circular rug might be just the thing for your space! We don’t see circular rugs as often as their rectangular counterparts because they can be difficult to pull off in most office designs, but they work well alongside other rounded edges. Another great option to complement circular furniture is a perfectly square rug that creates a feeling of symmetry and balance. - Are you going for a blocky feel?
Square rugs also lend themselves well to spaces with hard lines and blocky edges. If they’re paired with rectangular furniture, they can feel a little strange — but sometimes that’s exactly the visual interest you’re going for! If you’d rather play it safe with a rug that will work with any type of furniture you throw at it, we recommend sticking with a traditional rectangular shape.
Questions to determine your rug material
- How much traffic will the rug get?
Wool rugs are popular because they’re both soft and durable. Small amounts of water actually bead right off their surfaces, and they hold up well in high-traffic areas. If your new rug is going in a walkway or your most popular conference room, we recommend exploring wool options — after all, it’s one of the most versatile rug, carpet, and clothing materials for a reason. - Do you have specific texture preferences for the rug?
While wool and silk are both soft natural fibers, silk is particularly prized for its delicate shimmer. A silk rug can add a beautiful, elegant touch to any room — but it comes at the price of increased fragility. Because it wears out more easily and needs to be professionally cleaned, we don’t recommend silk for high-traffic spaces.
Questions to determine your rug pattern
- Are the walls or furniture around the rug patterned?
If you’re putting your new rug in an already “busy” area, it’s a good idea to stick with a solid neutral color or subtle pattern so that the space doesn’t become too much for employees. On the other hand, a striking, bold rug can be the perfect way to add visual interest to a room that’s currently a little on the bland side. - How dirty do you think the rug will get?
If you expect your new rug to experience a lot of foot traffic or coffee spills, picking an irregular pattern — and avoiding white or light cream — is in your best interest. Solid colors will show stains easily, but even a subtle pattern can help hide undesirable traces of dirt, muddy footprints, and more.
Now that you have an idea what you’re looking for, it’s time for the fun part: shopping! We have a wide selection of on-demand wool and silk rugs here at Endless Knot that are ready to ship, and we can also create a fully custom hand-knotted rug to your exact design specifications. Don’t hesitate to drop us a line!
