Whether that statement brings back memories of Steppenwolf or a Whole New World from Alladin, area rugs can be a dream come true for your home.
Area rugs have been adding pattern, warmth, texture and color for centuries. Like in fashion, interior design elements fall in and out of style. The area rug has had a great resurgence over the past ten years. The demand for hard surfaces throughout the home has opened endless possibilities.
Area rugs are the perfect marriage of form and function. They provide comfort, protection, style and definition. There is nothing like walking across a soft, luxurious rug and letting your toes curl into the pile. They can absorb sound, making an open room seem cozy. But where area rugs give the most impact is in design with color and texture. Choose from beautiful soft florals to bold geometric patterns. Textures vary from flat weave and rustic loop pile to deep shag. Colors from soft neutrals to bold brights can solidify a design concept and can define a space.
Let’s talk about the types of materials used for area rugs. Being informed on the types of fibers will guide you to the correct selection for the space.
The most common fibers are Wool, Polyester, Polypropylene, and Recycled P.E.T. High quality wool rugs are very durable, soft and have wonderful insulation properties. They are resistant to water, stains and dirt. Wool rugs also hold on to color well. Wool rugs can shed fibers early in its life but should slow with vacuuming.
Polypropylene and Polyester are man-made fibers. The fibers are very durable and less costly to produce. They are resistant to sun fading and can be stain resistant. Polypropylene can be difficult to dye and the color options may not be as prevalent as natural fibers.
Recycled P.E.T. or polyethylene terephthalate is derived from plastic water bottles. These are perfect for indoor/ outdoor use or in home with pets or children. They are very easy to clean.
Not all rugs are manufactured the same. There are hand-knotted, hand-woven, hand -tufted, flatweave, printed and power loomed. Cost does come into play with the construction of the rug. Hand knotted, hand woven and hand tufted are on one end of the spectrum and power loomed and printed are on the other. So, for example a hand knotted wool rug would be more expensive than a power loomed P.E.T. Both have wonderful properties suited for different applications. The hand knotted would perfect for a living room or formal dining room while the P.E.T power loomed would be amazing as a runner or in a utility room.
Area rugs can also help in the definition of a space. For example, many homes have an open concept floor plan. Area rugs will help create a room within a room. The rugs could be of different construction and weaves. Design and color will give the two spaces continuity.
A common question often asked is how to determine the appropriate size of the rug for your space. These are guidelines and not hard and fast rules. First of all, measure your space so you have a general idea of size. A larger rug is better than one that is too small. A small rug will seem disconnected and “float in the room”. Larger pieces such as a sofa could sit partially on the rug while occasional chairs should sit on it. A general rule in a dining room is that the chairs should sit on the rug when pulled out. Know your table dimensions and add 2-4 feet to the size of the table to determine your rug size. For the bedroom, consider a larger rug to anchor the space. Or at a minimum the rug should present half way under the bed.
Area rugs are an amazing design feature that can transform your space from a house into a home. With the right guidance and product placement your design dreams can come true!
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