An area rug is one of those items that can be more then a little difficult to define. How big are they? Where in your home do they go exactly? Let's first take a look inside what is generally the largest room in the house: the living room.

Often times, your living room will be large enough that it may need something to "break it up" a little bit. A good way to do this is to find an area rug with a color that contrasts the color of your living room carpet (or floor). This often has the result of setting off the open area and tkaing the focus off of the vastness of the room.

Area rugs are also a great option for a home with hardwood floors. Not only can they help your home from an aesthetic viewpoint, they can also make the house feel warmer (both literally and emotionally) and can reduce echoing in smaller rooms. A good quality rug with an anti-skid backing will also make your home safer - less slippage on those hardwood or Pergo floors!

Bathrooms might be where the area rug reigns supreme. With most bathrooms being covered in cold tile or linoleum, these small rugs are the perfect compliment to this small area. Best of all they are inexpensive enough, that they can easily be replaced with something completely different if they wear out, or even if you just get bored with a particular style or color.

If you are not a homeowner, and are currently renting, area rugs are a fantastic way to personalize your living space without jeopardizing your security deposit, or other cleaning fees after you leave. And when you do leave, you get to take your rugs with you to your next home!

Whether you are renting, or own your home, there is no denying the benefits of using area rugs in a child's room. At 1/10th the cost of the carpet in the room, you can often prevent juices, crayons, and other hazards from ever reaching the far more expensive carpeting.

Perhaps the greatest strength of the area rug lies in the ambiguity of its description. As the "jack of all trades" rug, you can find a near limitless number of sizes, colors, materials, textures and more to choose from. There is something out there for every room in your home - no matter what the design, colors, or theme is in each.

Mike Long is the author of SeagrassRugs.net

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