How We Found A Large Custom Area Rug for Less Than $200!

On Wednesday, I told you all about my fails at trying to find an area rug for our family room. If you're just joining us, you can read all about it here.

A few weeks later, I was whining lamenting to a friend that we just couldn't catch a break with the whole area rug business. I was so frustrated with the amount of time I had wasted surfing the internet, the roadblocks that kept coming, and the tiny rug that currently occupied the space. And that's when she saved my sanity! (Thank you so much, Sue!)

Sue told me about a local carpet store that helped her mother choose carpet and then bound it for her at a reasonable cost per foot to create an area rug. I hadn't even considered that option! It sounded perfect - Hubby would have the opportunity to see things in person, and I would have a whole array of options, plus experienced people who could help me make a decision!
Hubby and I decided to take a trip there as soon as possible, so two weekends ago, before our date night, we checked it out. The employee who greeted us directed us to the throw rugs they had on display and recommended that we also check out their remnants. After realizing that most of their throw rugs were $1,200+ for the size we needed, we went straight to the remnants!
We stepped into an area lined with rolls of carpet leaning against the wall, all in various styles, colors, and materials. We set to work examining our options, but we had a bit of trouble - you see, Hubby and I are both stubborn. He wanted a (boring) neutral beige rug, while I was adamant that we already had way too much beige in the family room between the greige walls, our beige couch, and even the honey maple floors. Meanwhile, I was still stuck on finding something navy with a pattern to bring visual interest into the room. After looking around a bit, we agreed on a remnant that met my requirements, and was neutral enough for Hubby. Wanna see it?

These photos were taken with my phone, so sorry if some of them are blurry. Here's our rug rolled up just the way we found it, as if it was waiting for us. And yes, that tag does say $82! (That's the price before an additional fee to cut and bind the rug.)

I was still hesitant to say yes (I have commitment issues when it comes to decor), so I asked them to open it up so I could get a better idea of what it would look like on our floor. They wouldn't roll out the whole 12'x11'6" rug, but they did have a smaller one in the back. At that point Hubby and I both agreed that it was "the one." :)

After all the rigamarole we had been through up to this point, finding the rug was surprisingly painless! We put down a deposit then and there, and they were nice enough to let us call in the dimensions once we confirmed what would work best. To make the most of the rug, we had them cut it down just slightly to 12'x11'. I couldn't wait until Saturday when Hubby could pick it up in his truck!

And then it was time for the moment of truth. I'll admit was a little nervous as we got ready to put the rug down in the Family Room. Did we make the right choice? Would the pattern be too busy or even too "boring"?  Did we choose the right size?
I needn't have worried. We're so happy with the our choice! The rug really brings such a cozy warmth to the space.

Ahhh... such a difference! It's been in the family room for almost a week and I'm still grinning. :) Ready for the before and after?

A huge improvement, and all for a grand total of $163! Yes, you read that right. Most large rugs (9x12 and higher) are at least $500, and that would be for a lower-quality rug. We were able to get our good-quality, custom-sized rug for well under $200!
It may not be a statement piece in a trendy, pin-worthy pattern like I originally hoped, but that's just fine. It's actually better. This rug should hopefully last us for the long haul, and I shouldn't need to, or want to, replace it for a long time. All those road-bumps and fails led us to a rug that was a much better fit for our family.
So, what do you think? Did we make the right choice? Were you clueless (like me) about the option of using a carpet remnant to find a great deal on an area rug? 

I'm linking up at Tater Tots and Jello, Six Sisters' Stuff, Remodelaholic, A Bowl Full of Lemons, and Just a Girl and Her Blog