Your living space could be in dire need of a makeover for a bunch of reasons: ill-fitting accent pieces, poorly scaled furniture or inconsistent color scheme. Smart design and home décor tricks can remedy this situation making your tiny living space look and feel larger than life. And the foundation of a gorgeous space is stylish floors.

So if you’re looking to change the interior design and décor of your living space, start with the area rug first. It adds a tactile and visual interest to a room and sets the center stage for everything else: color scheme, furniture placement and other accessories such as throw pillows and paintings. The trick is to choose the right area rug and the best way to do this is to take it one step at a time.

• 1. Think construction

  As you probably already know, the quality and price of a rug depends on two factors: construction time and the talent of the weaver. Your options include hand-knotted, tufted, hooked, flat-woven and braided.

• 2. Think materials

  Then how a rug looks, feels and performs also depends on the materials used. Select one that fits your needs. For example, is the rug intended for a high- or low-traffic area? Will it be on its own or underneath a coffee table? Common fibers for area rugs include wool, silk, cotton, grass fibers and synthetic.

• 3. Think size

  Of course, before buying a rug, you need to choose a layout and measure the space you’d like to fill carefully. You want your rug to fit your living space but also make the most impact possible. The rule of thumb is: Choose an area rug that’s no less than six inches and no more than two feet away from your wall. In the living room, the bigger the rug, the more it pulls together the other disparate elements of the room.

• 4. Think care, cleaning and maintenance

  Lastly you’ve done your research and selected a rug that fits your needs. The next consideration is caring for it. Admittedly, it doesn’t take a village to care for an area rug but there are some things to remember. For example, you need to clean spills promptly. Be sure not to wipe or rub the spill but rather blot the affected area; wiping and rubbing may strain the yarns. To keep your rug clean and hygienic, you also need to vacuum both sides regularly. Rotate the rug every 6 months to avoid uneven wear either from foot traffic or furniture weight.