Area Rugs

Questions to Ask when Choosing an Area Rug:

1. Which room is the rug for?
2. Are you replacing a rug? If so...why?
3. What is the approximate room size?
4. What is the decor of the room? Is it contemporary, traditional, etc?
5. What are the colors and designs in the room?
6. Is there a fabric swatch or pillow that could be used to help coordinate the best rug?
7. How is the room used?
8. Are there children or pets?
9. Do you have a fiber preference, i.e., wool, olefin, nylon?

Types of Area Rugs:

Traditional Rugs Traditional styling refers to long established patterns in the Oriental, Persian, or classic European. In new rugs, traditional designs are produced either in modern colorations or in colors that replicate antique rugs.

Transitional Many rugs are not easily categorized as specifically traditional or contemporary, so they are called transitional. Today’'s popular botanical and floral designs are part of this category. Transitional rugs work well with every type of interior design.

Contemporary/Modern Contemporary rugs are designed as non-traditional patterns that range from architectural geometrics to free-form asymmetrical styles. Some of the relaxed patterns feature stripes, squares, or simple border designs. The term “"modern”" refers to more formal contemporary looks, identified by geometric forms, single large-scale motifs or subtle gradations of color.

Novelty Novelty rugs are truly artwork of the floor. They reflect the rug designer’s distinct aesthetic and are often pictorial, whimsical or graphic in character. Novelty rugs are usually in the accent rug category, but are sometimes available in larger sizes. They are frequently used in children’'s rooms, kitchens, baths, family rooms and dens.

How to choose the right size for you:

When it comes to selecting rugs, the proper size is very important. When considering a rug size, first measure the size of the open areas. To make the room appear larger, show a border of the flooring around the perimeter of the room. The type of room and furniture placement must also be taken into consideration. There are no official rules for furniture being placed on or off the rug. Sizing up a room to make sure the rug is proportional should be a design decision.

Living Rooms, Great Rooms, and Family Rooms

First decide if you want to use a room-size rug or use more than one rug in the room. It is suggested that each piece of furniture be either on or off the rug, creating more of a “public” space with larger rugs. Smaller rugs can be used to create cozy, conversation areas. Many of our collections offer a 9' x 12' size for large areas and some offer a 12' x 15' size.

Dining Rooms and Breakfast Rooms

It is recommended that rugs be large enough so that when chairs are pulled out, they are still on the rug. In order to do that, roughly two feet of rug from the edge of the table is needed. Most of today’s dining rooms require an 8' x 11' or 9’ x 12' rug. Breakfast tables are normally smaller than dining room tables; so smaller sized rugs will work in those spaces.

Bedrooms

For the bedroom, it is recommended using either one room-size rug or several rugs around the bed. A room-size rug should be large enough that a step or two can be made on the rug when getting out of the bed. When using multiple rugs, place one at the end of the bed and one on each side. If there are two beds, a rug looks great centered between the two.

Don’t Forget your Underlay!

An underlay prevents rugs from slipping and sliding, prolongs the life of the rug, and adds comfort. Rug underlay is available to hold rugs on carpet and hard surfaces.

Area Rug Fibers

There are dozens of material used in the construction of area rugs, all of which have unique characteristics that offer its own advantages.

Wool: Noted for luxury and softness, wool is durable, and easily dyed making it available in many colors

Nylon: Nylon has been a fiber of choice for years in broadloom carpet. Nylon gives the versatility needed to make synthetic rugs look like antique masterpieces. With attributes such as easy cleaning and superior wear, nylon makes a classic rug at an excellent price.

Olefin: Huge breakthroughs in fiber technology have moved olefin to the forefront of both broadloom and rug manufacturing. An olefin rug has excellent durability, stain resistance and cost. Olefin offers a luxurious look at an affordable price.

Sisal, Seagrass, Raffia, Abacca, Bamboo: Natural plant fibers have become very popular over the past decade. These rugs are hand-made in places like Indonesia, India, and China, offering the consumer cool, casual, and tropical looks. These rugs gook great in urban lofts or soft contemporary settings.