IT IS UNQUESTIONABLY "ONE OF THE MOST IMPORT-ant design decisions you can make," says designer Timothy Whealon. "Rugs take up most of the visual space in a room, so choose a design you love and materials that work for your lifestyle." A natural fiber like jute will give the room a tropical look, but it stains easily-so not ideal for the klutzy among us. Outdoor rugs, on the other hand, are nearly indestructible; use one indoors if you've got kids or messy pets. Make an informed decision when you buy a rug and it'll be an investment, adding warmth, muffling the sound of footsteps, and protecting your floors. Not to mention keeping the room from looking naked! Just don't leave buying one to the last minute. "Ideally, the rug would be the first thing you purchase for a space," says Sylvie Johnson, artistic director at Merida, "so you can build the rest of the room around its color and shape."
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