bacova-tibetan-stripe-accent-rugsIn the Colonial days when cottages had dirt floors, housewives would sometimes spend an hour or more finishing up their housekeeping by brushing a pattern into the floor with a twig broom. Even then, the floor underfoot was a design accent!

If you wander through some of the small cottages in the restored village at the Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts, you’ll find floors that have ‘area rugs’ patterned into them. And even back then, with only the dirt to work with, women used a different pattern or designs to accent a small area around a table or in front of the hearth.

The accent and area rugs available today would bring tears to the eyes of a Colonial bride. There’s a style and size to suit any use you can imagine, in colors to match or accent any decor. From a narrow floor runner to gleam against the polished wood or tile of an entry hall to a full size oval, to a wedge shaped hearth or kitchen rug, the choices are nearly unlimited. The right rug can perk up the atmosphere of any room, making it warmer or brighter, cooler and more stylish or add a touch of whimsy in an otherwise severe design.

Designers often use area rugs to define separate areas in a larger room, bringing the entire design together through the use of similar colors in different patterns. They know that one of the easiest and quickest ways to change the look of a room is to add a few accent rugs in strategic places. Place a round flower-patterned area rug beneath an accent table in the corner, for instance, and you’ve created a setting for it against the rest of the room. Define the perimeter of a conversation corner with a thick area rug beneath the furniture. Layer a few oval accent rugs over a larger area rug, or toss one over the arm of a chair.

floral-accent-rugArea accent rugs can serve both a functional and a decorative purpose. A thick, fluffy rug at your bedside will serve as a buffer between your feet and a cold floor on a winter morning. To help ease tired feet, place a colorful rug at work areas like the kitchen sink or counters. Use a bright play rug in a child’s room or playroom to add play value. What child wouldn’t love a rug patterned with city streets for building blocks or driving their cars over?

One of the nicer things about using area rugs as decorative accents is that it’s so easy to change the look of your room. Just pick up the rug and put down another one. With the variety of styles and designs available, you can decorate with area accent rugs anywhere in your home.

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  3. Brighten up Kitchen Areas with Bold Kitchen Area Rugs
  4. Warm Up to the Fire With A Hearth Rug
  5. A Guide to Round Area Rugs

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