Matina AuCoin, co-owner of Zephyr Rug and Home in Halifax, says area rugs are to a home’s décor what shoes are to an outfit.
“I think rugs are what pull a room together,” she says. “It’s an expression of one’s personality. You can be all dolled up, but if you don’t have shoes, the look is unfinished.”
Beyond beauty, area rugs provide practical functions, too. They absorb sound and reduce echoes, especially in a room with hardwood floors. AuCoin says they are necessary in open-concept spaces.
This rug, designed by Aimee Wilder and available at Zephyr, is hand-tufted and has a cotton foundation. It’s also low maintenance, requiring only a weekly vacuum. To remove stains, just use a mild dish soap. Its design includes yellow, which is a hot colour for 2013. But AuCoin says the grey in the pattern helps give it a classic combination, which will help make it work with your décor. “Yellow can be a difficult colour to work with,” says AuCoin. “When mixed with grey, it softens and neutralizes it.”
