How to choose a sisal rug for your dining room
Seagrass, hemp and sisal rugs are great choices for dining rooms. Their natural bold textures and neutral colors add interior design interest and aesthetic appeal without overpowering your decor. Further, the consistent pattern of a natural fiber rug works well with large furniture as ornate patterns on rugs tend to get lost under the table and chairs, and distract your eye.
Choosing your new dining room rug is not an exact science. What looks good to the eye of one person may not to another. In the end, your instincts are often your best guide. The following suggestions may help in your decision.
1) Size of your new rug:
There are several factors that come into play when determining the size of your new sisal rug. Your new rug needs to work well with the dining table, the chairs and any servers, sideboards or cupboards in the room. In addition, the rug has to fit the room itself.
a) Consider the size of your table and chairs:
The following graphic is a scaled drawing of a typical large dining table and chairs on a dining room rug. The dining table measures 42" by 84", and the chairs are 19" wide by 20" deep. Guests to your table should be able to pull their chairs back a comfortable distance and sit down. The legs of their chair should not go over the edge of the rug or over the rug binding on sisal, seagrass or hemp rugs. Generally a chair should be able to travel back 5" to 6" to allow your guest to sit comfortably.
An 8' by 10' rug is usually the place to begin with a dining room rug. In this case, there is a larger table, and a 9' by 12' rug would
be more appropriate. Width would be calculated by adding the width of the table (42") plus the depth of the two chairs (40" or 20" each)
and the desired travel room for the two chairs (12" or 6" each) for a total of 8'-10". We would calculate the length of the rug in
the same manner (84"+20"+20"+6"+6") for a total of 11'-4". This rug should work well with a 1"-2" binding.
Note: If your table has extra leaves, make sure you consider those in your calculations as well.
b) Consider the other furniture in your dining room
If you have other dining room furniture, for instance a server or a sideboard, it is best to consider these items as well. Where the front of the piece lies in relation to the rug is a matter of personal taste. However, if the front feet of your furniture rest on the new dining room rug, then the back legs will need to be shimmed to ensure the piece is level. In addition, heavy furniture will crush the fibers of even seagrass, hemp and sisal rugs over time. This will make it difficult to rearrange your dining room at a later time.
c) Consider the overall size of your dining room and any mechanical issues
A border of floor between the rug and the wall will serve to showcase the rug, and will make the room appear larger. We generally suggest a rug size
that is approximately 80% of the size of the room so a 10' by 12' room would carry a 8' by 10' rug, and a 12' by 15' room would carry a 9' by 12' rug
You should also give consideration to any floor registers, radiators and other items that the rug should not abut.
Keep in mind that rugs can be custom made to fit your room. The additional cost of a non-standard size is often not that much, and it will make you
happier in the long run to have a rug that fits your needs.
2) Shape of your new rug:
Rugs can be crafted in just about any shape to fit your needs. In the picture on the left below, the rug is cut to the shape of the room. In the picture on the right, the rug is cut to mirror the shape of the dining table. Again, this is a matter of personal taste, but give consideration to both the elements in the room and the room itself when deciding the shape of your new rug.
3) Weave direction of your new dining room rug:
Consider carefully the weave structure of your new rug. A dining table has chairs that must travel both across the width and length of the rug as diners get in and out of their seats. Chair legs will produce less damage when they move with the grain of the rug fibers. It is important, therefore, to think of who will be sitting at your table.
In most cases, the diners at the head of the table will be more conscious of damaging the rug underneath then the guests or children at the side chairs. The people at the head of the table paid for the rug, and have a vested interest in keeping it in new condition. Therefore, we generally suggest that the grain of the fibers run across the width of the rug to minimize damage caused by the side chairs. Make sure you get a sample of the rug material before you purchase the rug, and confirm the weave direction.
Remember choosing your new sisal, seagrass, or hemp rug for your dining room is not an exact science. Look at your surroundings, and don't be afraid to ask for a custom rug if your situation requires it.
*Free shipping for a limited time, and applies to orders greater than $100 shipped within the contiguous United States only
Policies | The Company | FAQ | privacy policy|links |email: CustomerService@EcoRug.com
Articles:Dining room rugs | Sisal as a rug fiber |Sisal Usability
EcoRug Sisal Rugs, P.O. Box 25, Greenland, NH 03840 PH:(603)206-6220
Copyright © 2010 EcoRug.com