Is baby arriving soon? Congratulations! For many parents, one of the most exciting steps before baby’s arrival is furnishing the future nursery.
Now celebrated as a decorative piece in its own right, the rug is no longer relegated to optional purchases when it comes to decorating a room. It has even become a central element! As a rug specialist in Montréal, our team helps you choose the rug for your baby’s future room.
Why harmonious décor matters for baby
While decorating a baby’s room with so much care has grown considerably in recent years – particularly with the rise of social media – that care really does matter.
The décor of the nursery will have an influence on baby. Beyond the atmosphere of the baby’s room, harmonious décor brings comfort and subconsciously teaches the child calm and order.
And where does the rug fit in?
The rug mainly contributes to a warm atmosphere in a baby’s room. What’s more, it absorbs noise: handy in Montréal apartments!
Buying a rug offers many additional benefits. This decorative accessory for a baby’s room can also:
- Hide a damaged floor
- Conceal unsightly stains
- Provide a comfortable play area for baby
- Keep little feet and hands warm
Before making any hasty decision, it is worth defining how you want to use it.
Why not choose an educational rug?
Beyond its warmth, a rug can play an active part in your baby’s learning. Hopscotch, a car track, letters and numbers: a play rug can become part of the décor, as long as its colours harmonize with the rest of the room.
And if you want a purely decorative rug, follow the guide!
Criteria to consider when choosing a rug for a baby’s room
Several factors can influence your decision. Combining them will help you refine your thinking, so you can make the right choice and your baby can thrive in a lovely cocoon.
Budget
Today you can find rugs of every kind just about everywhere. Interesting models can be found for very little. On the other hand, a rug can quickly become expensive if materials matter to you and you want to keep it for the long term.
That is why you first need to decide how long you want to keep your new rug. Would you like it to stay in the baby’s room for several years, or would you rather change it regularly to keep up with trends?
Keep in mind, though, that a rug does not have to stay in one room! If you decide to invest to give baby the very best but later want to switch to another style, you can always move the rug from your baby’s room to another room in your home.
So set your budget from the start, and you will know what you can and cannot afford.
Rug size
While choosing a rug is mostly about its colour and price, size is an important factor to consider.
Choosing the size of the rug for the baby’s room has a big impact on the space.
- A large rug helps define the space, especially when it is well placed between the different pieces of furniture and decorative accessories in the baby’s room. It will reinforce the harmony of the room.
- A small rug can potentially make the room look smaller if it is placed in the centre, as it will not showcase the furniture. However, at the foot of baby’s crib, it will draw attention to the bed if you want to highlight it.
If you are hesitating, we always recommend a larger rug rather than a smaller one, because a small model is more likely to make the space feel cramped.
As you can see, your rug plays a major role in the impression the room gives. It becomes your best tool for making the baby’s room look larger or smaller.
Shape
Rugs come in many shapes, some better suited to a baby’s room than others. For example, you can choose a cloud-shaped or animal-shaped rug!
Choosing a square or rectangular shape is still a safe bet: these are more classic and blend beautifully into any type of room, although the round rug is starting to earn its place among the reliable shapes.
Rug colour
Babies begin to perceive colours from about 4 months – this is called perceptual categorization. Even if baby cannot express it yet, just like adults, they will be sensitive to colours.
It turns out that colours have a strong influence on our mood. For example, depending on its shade, blue promotes serenity and rest, or inspiration and creativity. Conversely, depending on the shade, red can heighten anger and nervousness.
That is why you will want to take the choice of colour for your rug into account for the baby’s room.
A solid or multicoloured rug?
This depends both on your personal taste and on the other decorative accessories in the baby’s room. Are you planning colourful walls or bright wall stickers? If so, you may want to calm the room down with a solid-coloured rug.
However, if the tones of the baby’s room are understated, with only one or two dominant colours, you can opt for a patterned or multicoloured rug to add more pep to the room.
A rug for a baby girl or a baby boy?
Well… neither! While some may still think that colours have a gender, you are free to choose whatever colour you like for your baby’s room, whether it is a girl or a boy.
So don’t be afraid to choose a pink rug for a boy, or a rug in shades of blue if you are expecting a girl. If you have followed along so far, your daughter may well turn out to be more creative!
A few ideas to remember:
- Avoid aggressive colours such as red or orange, unless they are just a small touch on your rug.
- If your floor is dark, think about contrast and choose a lighter rug.
- Drawn to pastel colours? That’s normal! They contribute to a gentle environment and reassure baby. The lightness and tenderness of these colours will make your rug as discreet as it is refined.
- If the baby’s room is not very large, stick to light tones so as not to make the space feel smaller.
Rug material for a baby’s room
There are two main types of fibre to choose from:
- Natural fibres: wool, jute, coir, cotton, etc.
- Synthetic fibres: polyester, nylon, polypropylene, etc.
Natural or synthetic fibres?
There is no consensus on the subject. Some prefer natural fibres because they are eco-friendly, while others say they carry allergens. Others criticize synthetic fibres as polluting and harmful. As with any debated topic, it is best to do your own research and decide for yourself based on the evidence.
Both types of fibre have advantages and disadvantages.
- Natural fibres have a lower environmental impact, but are often more expensive.
- Synthetic fibres generally resist stains better and are easier to wash, but some are not really suitable for babies (such as polypropylene).
Once you have chosen the material, the question of caring for your rug naturally follows.
Think about rug care
Caring for your rug is essential in a baby’s room. You may need to clean your rug more often than usual: baby is new to the world and still has to get used to the bacteria and germs around us. Better not to expose them to too much at once!
This decorative accessory remains the dustiest item in a home, since its fibres trap dust and hold on to it. This is even more true in apartments: with hardwood being the most common floor covering, dust moves around much more freely.
You will therefore want to get rid of the dust mites nesting in your rug’s fibres as often as possible, since they can become a source of allergies for baby.
Our recommendation: vacuum every day and wash your rug regularly, in the machine if possible or by hand.
Which factors affect maintenance?
- Short or long pile: long pile holds more dirt than short pile and will require more maintenance. But the soft, cozy effect of long pile is often worth it!
- Colours: we love babies, but when it comes to cleanliness they are not world champions. Time and little accidents may mean you have to brighten the colours of your rug.
Maintenance is therefore essential if the rug in the baby’s room is to last and look as beautiful as it did when it was new!
Don’t forget safety
While adults rarely slip on a rug, a baby who is starting to run around can fall while playing and potentially get hurt. A non-slip rug can be a solution.
If you do not want to sacrifice looks because of a limited choice of models, you can use adhesive so the rug stays firmly in place and baby can keep racing around without worry.
Go custom-made
Children’s rooms are becoming increasingly similar, and for good reason: many parents draw their inspiration from the same sources, such as Pinterest or other social networks. And there is nothing wrong with that! Every good idea deserves to be shared.
If, however, you want to stand out or bring your most beautiful ideas to life, you have the custom-made option. Specializing in carpet sales in Montréal, Tapis André Viau listens to all your wishes to create the most beautiful cocoon for your baby. Come and see us in store, at 1333 rue Fleury Est in Montréal, so that we can offer you the most personalized experience possible.
