College Dorm Room Area Rugs
Choosing the Right Carpet for Your Dormitory Floor
One of the simplest things college students can do to decorate a dorm room is to purchase an area rug. Most dorm rooms have two unfortunate problems: (1) they have cold, institutional tile floors and (2) they have little color. A colorful area rug takes care of both of these problems. However, be careful not to spend too much money on this purchase, and never buy something that can get damaged easily. A dorm room is not the place for a fabulous oriental rug! Here's a buying guide to help you choose the right rug for your room.
Dorm Room Area Rug Materials
Rugs come in an assortment of materials. It's important to find a rug with material that can be cleaned easily with a vacuum or with spot cleaner. In addition, be sure to choose material that's relatively durable. After all, your rug is going to get quite a bit of traffic since it covers most of your living space. Here are the pros and cons of the most common kinds of fabrics used in rugs.
- Cotton. Cotton rugs tend to be inexpensive and easy to clean. They're usually not as durable as wool rugs, so you may want to look for a cotton wool blend.
- Wool. Wool rugs can be fairly expensive, but they're also very durable and not too difficult to clean.
- Synthetic rugs. These are made of materials such as nylon, polyester, or polypropylene. These tend to be inexpensive and easy to clean, but can vary quite a bit in quality. Some tend to lose their shape easily.
- Silk. Silk is an expensive material used in luxury rugs, so this is probably a poor choice for your dorm room.
Dorm Room Area Rug Color
If you (and your roommate) like bold colors and complicated patterns, go ahead and choose a colorful area rug. Since dorm rooms are so bland, it's often a good idea to choice colors that are bolder than you would for a more formal space. Keep in mind, however, that you'll probably want to use this rug again in a future dorm room or other space, so you might not want to choice something that's too odd. To make your room more homey, choose colors that are warm and a little bit bright. Try a rug with shades of red, yellow, orange, or salmon, or choose a bight pastel shade of pink or green.
Dorm Room Area Rug Size
First of all, it's always a good idea to measure before purchasing a rug! Generally, most students choose area rugs that are big enough to cover a significant amount of the floor. Smaller area rugs are typically used to delineate separate spaces in a larger room, so unless your dorm room is very large (lucky you), one big one will do the trick.
Dorm Room Area Rug Cost
Resist the temptation to make an expensive rug purchase! Your dorm room rug will get lots of wear, especially if you and your roommate have lots of guests, so it's bound to get worn out. And since it's in your only living space, it's going to take the brunt of any spills and messes.
In most cases, you should avoid purchasing a rug in a furniture store, as these can be very costly. Carpet stores can also be costly, but they do sell carpet remnants (leftovers from larger amounts of carpet) that can be very reasonably priced. Be sure to check out discount stores--especially during the summer and right before school, because you'll often find sales. EBay and other online auction sites can be good sources of bargains as well. Of course, if your parents have a rug they don't need that doesn't look like it's from 1973, snatch it up.
A cozy rug can go a long way towards making your dorm room feel more like a home. Spend a little time (and not more than a little money) choosing a colorful rug, and you'll enjoy your little living space so much more.
