Choosing a College Dorm Room Area Rug

Adding an area rug is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to decorate your college dorm room. Because they are not costly, you can use an area rug even in a high traffic dorm room without having to worry about visitors damaging an expensive item. Choosing a bold pattern or color can add some style to an otherwise bland college dorm room. Here are a few things to consider when choosing an area rug for your dorm room this school year.

Area rugs for college dorm rooms: Type of fabric

One of the most important considerations when choosing an area rug for your dorm room is the type of material. An area rug will probably cover most of the floor space in your dorm room, so it will be subjected to all of the foot traffic and spillage that occurs in the room. The least expensive dorm room area rugs will be made of cotton. Cotton area rugs are easy to clean, but may not be as sturdy as a wool area rug.

There are also area rugs made out of a cotton and wool blend fabric that are more durable than cotton, but still less expensive than buying a wool rug for your dorm room. Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are also used in area rugs, but the quality may vary by manufacturer. Synthetic area rugs are generally easy to clean and make a good choice for a college dorm room. Stay away from silk area rugs because they are very expensive and may be difficult to clean. It is very likely that a luxury area rug such as this will not survive the entire school year in your dorm room.

Area rugs for college dorm rooms: Get the right size

Be sure you get an area rug that is the right size for your dorm room. Measure the desired area before you go shopping so you do not get an area rug that does not fit the room. After considering the furniture, most dorm rooms do not have much space to cover, unless you have a larger suite-type dorm arrangement. Generally, one large area rug will be enough to cover the entire usable section of the floor.

Area rugs for college dorm rooms: Colors and style

There are a wide variety of colors and patterns available in area rugs, allowing you and your roommate to express your personal style when decorating your dorm room. Like any other decision affecting your joint living space, be sure to involve your roommate in the decision. This is especially important if you prefer bright colors or bold patterns that may be rather alarming to your roommate. Most dorm rooms lack color, so the area rug is often the only way for you to add a significant amount of boldness to the decor.