When it comes to pulling the look (and feel) of a room together, consider the rug your most trusty accomplice. The perfect rug unifies color schemes, anchors varying furniture styles, makes a small space feel larger, and makes a large space more inviting. They also have a double duty in protecting flooring from daily wear and tear and hiding imperfections. But, with so many rug options out there, rugs can often be one of the trickiest purchases a homeowner makes. For example, what is the best size, material, or color? And what about the level of maintenance required for fabric care?

No worries—we’re here to help. Whether your rug serves as the design inspiration for the rest of the room, or it’s simply used as a functional accent (hello, soundproofing), here’s our guide to finding the right rug for every use.