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Thick Rugs For The Living Room: How to Choose & Style Them
When you’re shopping around for the perfect rug to tie that most utilised of rooms, the living room, together, you’ll often focus on colour and design or size. But one of the most important factors that should influence your decision when browsing, and it’s a factor that is oft-neglected, is the thickness of your rug.
A thick rug isn’t right for everyone or right for every space in the house, but it is a fantastic choice for a living room rug. The luxurious comfort that a thick living room rug offers is second-to-none and greatly enhances a space. But how do you go about finding one? What does pile height mean?
We are your experts in all things rugs and rug accessories. We’re here to help. It can be tricky to determine the thickness of a rug or the unique benefits of a particular material, especially when you’re browsing online and can’t feel the fabric. That’s why we’ve provided this helpful guide on the benefits of thick living room rugs, how to determine how thick a rug is and what the best material is, as well as some inspiring styling ideas.
Why is a Thick Living Room Rug a Good Idea?
There are a number of benefits to a thick living room rug, otherwise known as a rug with a high pile (more on that in the section below).
A thick living room rug is a wonderful choice because of the following benefits:
- Superior comfort: The plushness of a thick carpet feels dreamy under the feet, adding a super soft cosiness to your living room.
- Added warmth: The warmth that a plush, shaggy rug brings to your living room is especially emphasised if you have hardwood flooring. A thick rug even adds insulation, resulting in a cosier space that is far less stark.
- Aesthetically pleasing: Simply put, a thick rug looks luxurious and sophisticated in your living room. With the dense, lush look of a thick rug, you’ll add a unique sense of richness to your interior design.
How Do You Find Out How Thick a Rug Is?
The thickness of a rug is denoted by its pile height. The higher the pile height of the rug, the thicker it will feel. Let us explain this in more detail below.
What does pile height mean?
Specifically, pile height refers to the loops of fabric that make up a rug. If these loops are taller and looser, then this means the rug has a higher pile. Pile height is calculated by measuring the carpet fibres from the point of the rug backing to the tips of the fabric. Rugs with high pile are also referred to as shag (or shaggy) rugs, fluffy rugs, and plush rugs.
What Are the Thickest Rug Materials?
Rugs can be made from a range of materials and it can be difficult to determine which is best when browsing for your living room rug. Here are the most common materials that make up thick rugs:
Wool
Rugs made from wool are sumptuously soft. Not only does wool create a beautiful sense of comfort in a living room, but it’s also a durable and long-lasting material. The threads spring back after being stepped on, meaning the softness doesn’t fade. Wool is undoubtedly one of the best natural fibres for a rug and a properly cared for wool rug can last a lifetime, especially if it’s a high-quality rug like the wide selection we have at Rugs Direct.
Faux Fur
Faux fur rugs are often made of an acrylic and wool blend. The mixture of natural and synthetic fibres makes these rugs more affordable while still retaining that super softness that only wool can give.
Polyester and polypropylene
Both polyester and polypropylene are common materials for rugs and can replicate many of the qualities of wool but are, again, more affordable. These materials are also great because they are stain-resistant and unlikely to fade in colour.
Cotton
A cotton rug is good if you’re focussing on bright colouring for a thick rug as its fibres hold dyes exceptionally well. A cotton rug achieves thickness when blended with wool, so a cotton rug with a wool blend could be perfect for you as a more affordable, thick rug for your living room.
Remember that the cushioning effect of any rug can be increased with underlay or thick rug pads artfully placed underneath.
How to Style a Thick Living Room Rug
There are as many ways to style a thick rug as there any other type of rug. It all depends on your personal style and the look you’re trying to achieve. It’s true that thick rugs just add a special sense of comfort and luxury to a living space, something you can really sink your feet into and relax with. There are no rules when it comes to styling a thick rug in your living room, but there are some things to keep in mind.
The first thing to note about shaggy rugs is that they can be harder to maintain. This is because dirt and dust are more easily trapped in the fibres due to the longer, looser fibres. You should also bear in mind that they are a little more difficult to vacuum. So, if you’re looking for less maintenance, thick rugs in the living room are best placed in areas with lower foot traffic. A fluffy area rug placed in front of your sofa (without furniture legs on it) is the perfect way to unify a seating area together in the cosiest way without it being in a heavy foot traffic area.
Don’t neglect the power of a small rug delicately placed, either. A smaller shaggy rug placed in front of a fireplace will create one of the warmest, snuggest environments in your home.
Most people don’t consider layering rugs as an option in their home décorbut it’s a distinctive styling idea that combines different textures to create a uniquely comfortable space. It’s also a great way to incorporate different colours and patterns to bring a vibrant style to your home.
Thick living room rugs can be susceptible to crushing, so having furniture legs on a shaggy, fluffy rug can leave indentations and markings. Having said this, a shaggy rug with furniture placed on it can look aesthetically pleasing as the pile rising around the legs accentuates the plushness of the rug and the sense that you can just sink your toes into luxury.
Find The Perfect Thick Rug For Your Living Room With Rugs Direct
With Rugs Direct, the options for thick rugs for your living room are practically endless. We are proud to stock a varied range of rugs in all shapes and sizes, designs and textures, including an impressive selection of beautiful designer rugs. We are committed to exemplary customer service, which is why we offer free delivery in the UK on all of our items as well as easy returns.
And if you’re searching for something bespoke, just get in touch with our team of friendly professionals and they’ll be happy to help. Enhance your living room’s design with a stunning thick rug from Rugs Direct today.