Declaration - I am a rug business owner. The pros for having a rug - subfloor protection, noise suppression and atmosphere outweigh the cons - scratched floors (we all have a friend who comes for dinner and tips on their chair) noise (my kids constantly scrape the chairs) and cold bare atmosphere. Rugs complete rooms. Maybe the issue with young kids who are messy eaters could be the only reason you hold back. The issue relating to timber fading is another matter - timber floors darken with UV exposure, so your rug should always be moved around to make sure the fade lines are not obvious. Even if it just 10cm here and there to mix up the exposed area.

Hi Trish, Just to plant an idea that you may want to run with, we provide made-to-measure wall murals - and the best bit - on peel and stick paper, making them great for rented properties! They're simple to install and peel off leaving no mess. We have 1000's of images available, but to give you an idea, here are some of our best sellers... See map murals > http://bit.ly/2ioz91d See forest murals > http://bit.ly/2iLwsEp See cityscape murals > http://bit.ly/2ih4MeE Let us know if we can help! :) Nicole @ Wallsauce.com

What is the best way to clean an area rug?

Can I vacuum an area rug?