7 tips before buying beige rugs

The question of a new or different rug can come up at all sorts of moments. If the old rug is showing its age, or you feel the need for a fresh note of colour, beige rugs can make a difference. Beige goes with everything. It brings calm into a room.

It is no accident that buying a rug counts as the supreme discipline when it comes to rounding off an interior. Rugs do more than dampen sound and footfall. They create comfort. They harmonise, and balance out the variety of colour elsewhere in a room. All the same, buying a beige rug deserves careful thought.

The general view is that you cannot go far wrong with this colour because it is neutral. Beige rugs can look staid and dull, though, if the rest of the furnishing is too low in contrast. Too much colour sameness does no room any good. Concentrate on simple colours and good contrasts. Combined with tactile interest and visual eye-catchers, beige rugs crown any interior.

You have decided on a beige rug. Now the question is which shade it should be. Beige comes in different levels of brightness and tone. Sometimes it holds more white, sometimes more brown. 

From creamy off-white through to a rich ochre, beige covers it all. Its advantage is that it suits every style of interior. This colour balances. It neutralises restless colour in a room. A beige rug is usually not the eye-catcher itself – but it lets you place eye-catchers elsewhere. 

Guiding the eye around a room well rests not on colour chaos but on elements working together harmoniously. Too many visual stimuli, left unbalanced, bring restlessness into a room. They overload the mind too. Since living rooms and bedrooms are there for recovery, a beige rug as a calm anchor is a good idea. 

Rugs can help divide a room through their colour. So it matters where the beige rug goes and which space it occupies. Rugs can also give a room structure. They can mark out particular living areas or create transitions. 

A beige rug can therefore connect two living areas or separate them. That raises the question of the rug's function and its position. Pale rugs are noticeably more prone to showing stains – but they make any room look larger. 

You should not buy a new rug by rough guesswork; measure what you need beforehand. If the room is going to be rearranged or refurnished, do that first. Only then does the area the new rug has to fill become clear. There are a few things to bear in mind.

For one, room doors usually open inwards. They must not stop at the edge of the rug – the rug should not obstruct the door. For another, desk and dining chairs are often pushed back and forth. Here too, a rug edge positioned too close can get in the way. If the beige rug is not to become a trip hazard or a permanent irritation, the question of position is very important.

Rugs are there for comfort. If the shade is chosen wrongly, the atmosphere stops pleasing you afterwards. So consider whether the rug should be a pale cream or a rich ochre. Should it be flecked, or carry a discreet pattern? Which other main colours should it be combined with? If the rest of the setting is cheerfully colourful, beige rugs create welcome islands of calm. But pale beige rugs also work well in a lower-contrast setting. 

If the furnishing is based mainly on white, cream, light grey and beige, a few dark blue cushions and a colourful abstract painting are enough to build in sufficient contrast. Going without a variety of colour can be effective in itself. If you feel more comfortable in a light room, furnish it tastefully enough that it welcomes you. Beige rugs make any room feel more spacious.

With a larger rug, price is often one of the important criteria. Whether that is a good yardstick is another matter. In living and sleeping areas, material quality matters as much as it does in a child's room. In every case, insist on tested material quality and freedom from harmful substances. 

Synthetic rugs are less sensitive, harder-wearing and easier to care for. In return they more often carry a chemical load. Once cleaned, they tend to soil again all the faster. Wool rugs can become quite expensive in larger sizes. In return they are based on natural materials. Cream-coloured wool rugs create a feeling of wellbeing automatically. They feel homely. 

What is more, wool rugs improve the room climate. They dampen sound and even out temperature. If you would rather have a beige rug in coir or sisal, it should be made in an environmentally friendly way and free of harmful substances. The same applies to rug materials such as cotton or jute. The question of material also includes how long you want the rug to last. 

With high quality, a rug can easily last ten years or more. In that case the higher price stands for quality and a long life.

If the new beige rug shifts a centimetre from its place every time you step on it, you have forgotten something. With a non-slip underlay, the rug stays where it belongs. 

If the new rug lies on a smooth floor, it could slip when you step on it and bring you down. If it lies on fitted carpet, that does not automatically curb its wanderlust. Some rugs come with a non-slip latex backing from the maker. Others need an additional non-slip mat in the same size. 

In later life especially, slipping rugs with raised edges become a trip hazard. So do not economise in the wrong place – make sure the rug brings you pleasure.

When choosing a beige rug, consider the room's existing colours and lighting. Lighter beiges can make a room feel more spacious, while darker tones bring more warmth. Test samples in your room to see how they look under different lighting.

Beige rugs come in various materials such as wool, synthetic fibres and natural fibres like jute. Wool rugs are hard-wearing and feel luxurious, while synthetic versions are often cheaper. Natural-fibre rugs, such as jute or sisal, suit relaxed settings well but may be less soft.

Regular vacuuming helps prevent dirt building up, and turning the rug gives even wear. Dab spills with a clean cloth rather than rubbing, and follow the maker's cleaning instructions. For a deep clean and stain removal, consider professional cleaning. Morgenland carries it out from Germany, so from other countries the rug has to be sent in.