When it is time to change the look of your home, one of the quickest and easiest changes that can have a dramatic effect is to change or add a rug. Rugs can be used to add beautiful designs and color to almost any room. They can become the focal point of the room or can define one area of a multi-room combination. A rug can add warmth and comfort to hard surface floors. It can offer protection to hardwood floors or carpets. Rugs can easily be changed by season and be packed and taken with you as you move.

Color is one of the most important factors in decorating any home. Thus, color should top your list in requirements for a new rug. Choose a rug that is neutral in color and subtle in design for rooms that have a lot of bright colors and appear busy. Rooms that are filled with soft neutral colors will benefit from a rug that offers a splash of color and patterns. A rug can also be used to enhance the color scheme of any room by repeating those accent colors. For rooms that have not yet been decorated try choosing the rug first and then decorating around the rug.

Be sure that the pattern of the rug does not clash with any other patterns that are found in the room. This includes window coverings, cushions, wallpaper or any fabric that is found in the room. While a dark rug will add warmth to a room, a light one will give it a more spacious feel. Traffic patterns may also influence your choice in rugs. Dark colored rugs or those with intricate patterns hide dirt better than lighter solid colored rugs. This may influence your choice in homes that have children or pets.

If you plan to use a rug in a bathroom, then it should be able to withstand the additional moisture that will be present in the room. Rugs designed so they do not show dirt are better for the bath, hall and kitchen.

Choose a rug that will fit centered in the room if possible. Rooms that are irregularly shaped should have rugs that are centered between two parallel walls.

Rugs that are able to extend under the front legs of the furniture will tie a room together and unify a conversation area. In the bedroom, the rug does not have to be centered, but equal amounts of floor should show on two to three sides.

In the dinging room the rug should extend 1 1/2 to 2 feet on all sides of the table. This gives room for chairs to sit evenly on the rug.

If you are choosing a rug for the living room, it should be an eight by ten. The four by six or six by nine rug will work if under a coffee table as long as you sit all furniture an even distance from the rug.

A rug that has a center medallion work well as the focal point of a room. Many oriental rugs follow this type of pattern. Rugs that would have the medallion hidden under furniture should have more of the details along the border.