Design Dilemma: Rugs Over Carpet

I received a note from Kathryn, a mother of two small children. She’s moving into Navy housing, with wall-to-wall carpeting in the dining room, which she can’t change. The carpet is a slate/clay gray.

Kathryn is concerned about keeping the carpeting clean with two little ones at the table. Her idea is to buy a bullet-proof area rug to place over the wall-to-wall. However, she’s concerned that the weight of the dining table and chairs will keep the rug from laying properly. Also, she asks, “Is it tacky to put down a large outdoor rug under the table that can be easily cleaned?”

The answer is - of course not! It all depends on scale and style.

Kathryn’s been shopping on-line and likes the Sunbrella Framed Outdoor carpet from Restoration Hardware. It’s only available on-line, so she can’t see it in person. It comes in several sizes and colors. A 9′ x 12′ sells for $800, plus $80 for shipping.

The Restoration Hardware rug is made of Olefin, a perfect material for indoor/outdoor use, as it can be washed down with a hose. The only issue is that, depending on the type of dye used, it can sometimes lose its color when washed.

Scale
The dining room is 9′ x 11′ and her dining table is 60″ x 40″ wide. It’s important to choose a rug that’s large enough to fit the chairs underneath. An 8′ x 10′ rug would fit perfectly in the room and allow for plenty of room for both the table and chairs. That size is standard. Chances are Kathryn will be able to use the rug again when she moves.

Restoration Hardware’s Outdoor Rug

Style
A sisal-style rug is a nice option that works with any style - especially when placed over a wall-to-wall carpet. Plus, since Navy personnel move a lot, a neutral style is a smart choice. As for color, I recommend that Kathryn look for a warm-toned neutral. That’s because the existing carpet is a warm gray. Warm tones looks better with other warm tones. Same thing with cool tones.

Shopping
No doubt the Restoration Hardware carpet is nice and their quality is great, in my experience. However, for this project spending $880 is about $300 too much. And for something that is guaranteed to take a lot of spills, that’s a lot of money.

RH’s rug costs $11 per square foot. Remember, that price includes an expensive binding. Nevertheless, she’ll be able to find a similar product for $3.50 - $5.50 per square foot if she goes to a regular carpet store (and I don’t mean Discount Carpet Barn). Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to shop - there’ll be sales galore. Don’t be afraid to haggle. I do it all the time.

Any carpet can be made into an area rug. Carpet stores offer various choices of binding - from tape, to a poly binding. Kathryn can find the perfect choice for her, with lots of colors to choose from, that she can see in person by taking this route. Keep this in mind, carpeting is usually woven in 12′ widths. If you want a 10′x 8′ area rug, you still have to pay for the 12′ width. Even so, this is still a less expensive option.

One last thing regards how the carpet will lay over the existing wall-to-wall. Kathryn is right in thinking that it will pucker if she uses it alone. Carpet shops sell mats and pads that are designed specifically for this purpose. They help the rug to lay properly and protect the carpet underneath from damage.

Kathryn, I hope this helps you out. Send me a photo of your final choice and I’ll help you choose the fabric for the dining room chairs.

Oh, and the first person to send me a photo of their finished products gets a free Design Hole T-shirt. I keep asking, now I’m resorting to bribes! :)

• Posted by Jennifer at 1:44 pm
• Tagged: Carpet, Rugs & Flooring, Design Dilemma