My popular Splurge vs. Save feature is back, and today I’m discussing area rugs. From bedrooms and playrooms to family rooms and home offices, there’s practically no room in a home that wouldn’t benefit from a chic, stylish and cozy area rug. But to splurge or to save on this home essential? My answer might surprise you. Read on to learn more!

Wall-to-wall carpeting is much less popular and prevalent than it used to be (although many believe that wall-to-wall carpeting is making a comeback). Clean, bare wood floors have been the major trend in recent years, and they have tons of benefits – they’re sleek, gorgeous, classic and easy to clean. But they can lack warmth, and that’s where area rugs come in. 

Area rugs bring a lot to the table (ahem, the floor). They add style, colour, texture, depth and that coveted cozy factor to a space. They offer a soft surface that’s great for kids and pets, and they also help to muffle noise, creating more sound-proof homes. And since they come in such a wide variety of colours, shades, patterns and designs, they can make a big impact on a room’s design.

The big question of the day is: to SPLURGE or to SAVE when it comes to area rugs?

My answer: it depends.

💰 There are areas and times when you want to save on area rugs, for example:

• Kids’ bedrooms (replace as they age)
• Kids’ playrooms
• Home offices

💸 And there are areas where you want to splurge on area rugs, for example:

• Dining rooms
• Family rooms
• Master bedrooms

It all depends on how much use a room gets and how much the area rug will impact the room’s overall style and vibe. For kids’ areas, an area rug will get a lot of wear and tear and will need to be replaced more regularly, so it’s worth going with cost-friendly options. An area rug in a dining room is a whole different story, and you’ll want the area rug here to really shine.

So there’s no black and white answer for the question of whether to splurge or save on area rugs. Whether you go bright and colourful, geometric, animal print, layered, woven jute or vintage, save or invest smartly so you’ll be snug as a bug (in a rug).