Many homeowners purchase oval rugs to place in high-traffic areas within the home, regardless of whether the flooring is hardwood, carpet, or even concrete. Choosing the best oval rugs for your home starts with measuring the area or areas in which you intend to place the rugs. This will help dictate how large of a rug you will need; remember that the oval rug does not necessarily need to cover the entire floor space. It may be used to accent a space or simply protect high-traffic areas from wear, so carefully consider how large a rug you will need for your space.
Once you have determined the size requirements, consider what style and color oval rugs you want. Most wall-to-wall carpeting is subdued in color and design to ensure the room is comfortable and aesthetically neutral. Oval rugs do not necessarily need to follow this aesthetic; you will find, in fact, that many oval rugs are brightly colored and feature attractive patterns. The rug is meant to be a focal point in many cases, so choosing a bright rug can be useful for brightening up a room or keeping one's focus off the less attractive wall to wall carpet.
If you have hardwood floors, you will want to choose oval rugs that feature non-slip surfaces. If you find a rug design that you like, but it does not have a non-slip surface, consider buying a rug pad that can be placed underneath the rug. A rug pad will ensure the rug does not slide or bunch up when the rug is placed on a hardwood floor, and it will also protect both the bottom of the rug and the hardwood floor from excessive wear. Unless you are placing the rug on another rug, you should always consider purchasing a rug pad to extend the life of the floor and rug, and to prevent slippage.
The materials used to make the rug will vary. Synthetic rugs are made from materials that will not wear out quickly, and they will be less expensive than natural fiber rugs. Natural fiber rugs, however, are more comfortable than synthetics and will also last a long time if cared for properly. The downside to natural fiber rugs is the price: they will almost always be more expensive than synthetic fiber rugs, and they will almost always require more regular maintenance.