Selecting Rugs for your Home:

Area rugs are a fashion focus for home or business.  When redecorating a room or when considering furnishings for a new home, an attractive area rug can help to project the desired image and atmosphere of the room or the entire residence.

As fashion items, area rugs must be considered in several aspects.  Certainly, the color, style type, design, size, shape and quality of the rug are each important.  Area rugs may be used over hard surface flooring to soften the atmosphere.  This includes hardwood, laminates, vinyl and even rooms where tile is used.  Area rugs can also be used over carpeting as accents and to focus various furniture or furniture groups within a room.  Area rugs are distinctive units from scatter rugs in that they are larger and generally begin with a 2' x 3' size.  Area rugs usually will be offered up to 12' x 18' unless custom sizes are required.  Consequently, there are decisions to be made in the selection of area rugs.  To assist on line customers, some of these determinations are outlined to guide in their selection of the appropriate area rug:

• The colors in the rug should coordinate with the room furnishings or the wall coverings or both.  Most every rug comes in at least three colors and sometimes five or six different color schemes.  (Global would be Color)

• The style of the rug must also be complimentary of the furnishings or the architecture of the home.  Style types are often generalized into categories that depict the style image of the home or the room in which the rug will be used.  Traditional rugs are those considered to be accepted through the years in homes in which the fashion orientation is historical American.  Contemporary indicates rugs with a more modern effect and style trend.  Floral rugs obviously have flowers or plants in their design.  Transitional rugs represent a general category that will work well with eclectic or mixed furnishings.  Novelty rugs include rugs with themes, such as Christmas rugs, college logos or visual scenes and subjects.  Braided rugs are a specific type of rug made with a tubular braiding process that creates an Early American effect.  For shopping convenience, rugs may be viewed in these categories on line.

• The size of the rug should be in proportion first to the room and then directly to the furnishing or furnishings group with which it is associated.  Rug sizes vary significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer.  One way of determining the correct size is to cut a paper template in an approximate size of the rug selection of your choice to see how the size would meet the visual effect you are seeking.

• Area rugs come in various shapes.  The rectangular shape is by far the most popular.  However, there are rounds, squares, hexagons, octagons and ovals.  An additional shape for halls and stairs are called runners that are offered in various lengths and widths.  All rugs are not offered in the broad variety of shapes mentioned and this is a particular consideration when selecting an unusual shape of rug on line.

• The decoration of the rug refers to fringe or hand knotted poms being applied to the rug as an extra dimension.  Binding means that the rug has a binding tape around the rug.  Surging indicates that a thread is sewn around the rug or at least on the sides of the rug to eliminate raveling.  Other decorations can apply to specific rug types and origin of the manufacturer.

• The design influence of a rug is an important feature.  As a general comment, the design influence may come from a geographical location, such as Persia, China or Southwestern United States.  It could also be a creation developed by a flooring or furnishings designer.  Generally, the design influence is typical of rugs used in a particular geographical area or styled to that influence, although may be made in another country. 

• The materials from which the rug is made are very important.  The prime feature is the pile or yarn system.  Wool is a natural fiber that is widely used in luxury rugs.  Nylon is an important fiber in area rugs because it allows for excellent resistance to wear, versatility in style and outstanding appearance retention.  Olefin or polypropylene rugs can be exceptionally well styled and are economic to purchase because of the lower cost of the fiber system.  Polyester is used widely in scatter rugs, but less often in area rugs.  It has excellent stain resistance.  Other rug fibers include natural systems like cotton, silk, jute or flax, which are often used in relation to other fibers or component parts of the rug.  Additionally, another synthetic fiber, rayon, is sometimes used in area rugs because of its sheen.  The choice of fiber system influences the cost of the area rug significantly.

• Price is always a consideration in the purchase of flooring fashions or furnishings.  Obviously, in an expensive décor, the area rug should match the quality of the other furnishings in the room.  There are many reasons, however, for buying economy rugs or area rugs in the mid price range.  This depends on the use area within the home or business, the design and color effect required, the manufacturing method and the country of origin.  Of course, the size of the rug also affects the price.

• Special qualities may be required of an area rug.  For instance, a rug for a porch will require ultra-violet treatment so that it will not fade in sunlight.  Such rugs are labeled indoor/outdoor.  Rug backings can be conventional backings in which a rug cushion is encouraged to create a non-slip function or to ensure that the rug will remain flat and not wrinkle underfoot.  Non-skid backings are sometimes offered on selected rugs.  Customized rugs can be made from broadloom of different types of constructions pieced together to create unique visual effects or designs.  These rugs are called inset patterns.

• Rugs cut from broadloom are also popular in the market, today.  The long shag offered in broadloom carpet is a prime example of a distinctive area rug with high popularity when cut to a specific size and properly bound or surged.  Likewise, attractive broadloom patterned carpet can be cut into rug sizes and these are often excellent and very economical choices.  It is always best to place a cushion under these types of rugs, as they have a conventional carpet backing.

A major consideration in selecting an area rug is to recognize that it is a key fashion component within your home or business.  Color, style and design make a significant difference.  The correct rug must be carefully matched to other components in the room for the best visual effect and to compliment other furnishings.  Importantly, it must meet the style and image preference of the customer.