Welcome Interior Designer, Michele Iverson to the NW Rugs Team!

We are thrilled to introduce our newest Design Consultant at NW Rugs (Wilsonville), Michele Iverson. Michele has over 15 years experience in Interior Design and holds degrees in Interior Design (Marylhurt University) and Art History (University of Colorado). She is also a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (NAHB) and is a Charter Member and Board Secretary of Interior Design Society, Portland Chapter.

Gray Is Far From Ordinary Especially When Decorating With These Rugs

Hadley Court (@Hadley_Court) posted a great blog about using gray in your home and it inspired us to pull together a selection of gray area rugs suitable for any decor style. She says, “Grey is the new neutral that has taken the place of beige.”

Here are 10 rugs  (just a few of many available). Which one inspires you the most?

     Brio Charcoal and Mustard

Court continues, “”Grey is the perfect playmate to pair with an array of colors; yellow, orange, green and brown to name a few….  Grey has grown in popularity because consumers crave grown-up hues that lend sophistication to a room”  This one is perfect for a mid-century decor scheme with all the “Mad Men” colors.

Modern Stained Glass

Or how about an animal print by Barclay Butera? Click here for a great post with tips for working animal prints into your design.

Cheetah

Or perhaps an Ikat inspired piece by Jaipur Rugs?

Brio by Jaipur

Bold graphic designs are a great way to bring visual interest to an otherwise neutral color scheme.

Textured Graphic

And if you are a fan of a floral motif, try this one from Nourison.

Illusions Floral

If you are wanting to keep it solid a shag is a great way to do that while also adding some plush texture. (Here’s a great guide for cleaning shag rugs.)

Gray Shag

This choice from Loloi is a happy medium between bold and monochromatic.

Francesca Mist

No matter what your style or color scheme a rug is a great way to ground it while also adding some panache. Hadley wisely reminds us that “The sublime color isn’t just for living rooms and bedrooms anymore, grey has shown a dramatic increase in popularity in the kitchen and bath.”

Bring your color chips, fabric swatches and measurements to any NW Rugs Showroom and we’ll help you select the perfect rug for your home from our huge selection of 2000 plus rugs in each store. Or you can always start your search on our website www.nwrugs.com. Click here for a link to our list for Gray Rugs.

 

5 Ways to Make a Dull Space Attractive and Interesting

If there’s an area in your house that you feel is significantly lacking, the good news is it doesn’t have to remain that way. Even if you’ve thought about interior design ideas but haven’t been able to come up with any that you like, the truth is there are plenty of options.

All you need to turn this lackluster space into a vibrant spot is a spark of inspiration. To help get your creative juices flowing, let’s look at five ways to add the spice that’s missing.

Decorate the Walls

Light tan or similarly colored walls with nothing on them are a sure sign of a space that’s not going to make anyone say “wow!” One option to consider is actually painting the walls. Keep in mind that bright colors aren’t always necessary. Utilizing patterns or textures can also work very well.

Another option is to find items that you can use to decorate the walls. The Internet makes it very easy to find great pieces of art that don’t cost a small fortune. Even if you don’t consider yourself an art person, you can still pick out some great prints to add personality to your walls.

Create a Gallery Wall

Put the Space to Use

One reason a space may seem dull is if it doesn’t have a clear purpose. If it’s just “that room,” the solution is to find something to do with it. You can make it a reading room, entertainment spot or home office. If you choose the latter, be sure to invest in a few quality office chairs. Having chairs that you actually like will ensure that you want to spend time in this room. And if you end up doing quite a bit of work in there, good chairs will prevent problems related to posture.

Use a Rug to Create a Focal Point

Many spaces just need something to visually pull them together. Once a focal point is established, it suddenly becomes much easier to create a great design scheme for the entire room. Thanks to their size and variety, rugs work very well as the foundation for a room’s design. Not only do they provide lots of different options, but they do so at a very attractive price point.

Add Live Plants

Multiple studies have shown that putting live plants in a room improves air quality and can even brighten the moods of the people who live there. Another cool thing about using plants is that they’re a design element that you can change throughout the year.

Try any one of these tips to enhance your living space. Take a risk. Sometimes it takes trial and error, but in the end you and your family will be glad you did. You can find many great ideas for your home decor on our Facebook Page or Pinterest Boards.  We love this book by Abigail Ahern too.

Adrienne Erin is a blogger interested in interior design. She loves trying new things in her own space and sharing her successes with others. Read more of her work by following her on Twitter: @adrienneerin.

How to Schedule Pins on Pinterest – So Easy – @NWRugs #Pinterest Trick

“Schedule” Pins by stacking them on your desktop, then pin-click at each stack key times.

- Open Pinterest
- Create Pin
- Do Not click pin button
- Go back to browser and select next pin
- Stack in threes
- Pin at key times

Boom – Pins Scheduled on Pinterest.

What to Look for When Purchasing An Indoor/Outdoor Rug

Emily Henderson designed deck

Outdoor rugs are a great choice when needing something more durable for high traffic areas, sun rooms, or the outdoors! People are creating wonderful outdoor retreats that feel like an extension of their home. To make a relaxing space feel like it belong outside it is all about the details, starting with the perfect indoor/outdoor rug.

Arbor

Woven outdoor rugs can enhance your space by adding fun patterns and colors. By adding an outdoor rug you will create a soft contrast against your patio or deck, which will help create a visually more inviting area.

Arbor Floral

It is well known that outdoor rugs have many functional aspects as well. There are many types of materials to consider. You have natural fiber rugs made with bamboo, jute, sisal, and hemp. There are also more man-made durable rugs such as Duracord, nylon, polyester, and polypropylene blends.

Barcelona

Here’s are some great tips from HandyMan Matter on what to look for in outdoor rugs:

• Some are more durable than others, but you can expect to replace an outdoor rug every couple of years if you leave it exposed to the elements year round. They will last longer if you put them in a covered area.
• Sometimes a good shake and spot clean is all an outdoor rug needs. You can also vacuum it. But for a good cleaning, hang it up, hose it off, and let it dry completely before putting it back.
• When buying, look for a label that says 100 percent polypropylene. The tag should also say that the rug is UV-stabilized to resist fading, mold and mildew.
• They can create traction in high slip areas, absorb excessive noise that bounces off the hard surfaces of patios and decks and they certainly are more comfortable to walk on barefoot.

Paprika

Visit any NW Rugs Showroom in Portland, Agoura Hills or Las Vegas to view our Indoor/Outdoor Rug selection. Also see our Tanasbourne designer Lisa Galligan’s recommendations “Tips for Choosing the Right Outdoor Rug.”