How to choose the right rug for the right room

Size and colour are just the beginning, says Home of the Year winner Jennifer Sheahan 

A striking rug by La Roche Bobois.

We spend a lot of time (and money!) on choosing the right flooring to create the perfect backdrop for our homes, but we often undermine this beautifully created effect by covering it up with close-but-not-quite-right rug choices.

Rugs can frequently be an afterthought, one made when we’re already fatigued from other, more pressing interior decisions. Furthermore, rug choices are seemingly endless. Size and colour are just the beginning; we must also consider shape, texture, fabric, and of course my favourite — ease of cleaning.