There’s no doubt a home can be beautiful without an area rug, but there’s also truth in the fact that area rugs can enhance that beautiful look even more. Maybe you haven’t given much thought to area rugs before. That’s okay because thankfully, it’s never too late to incorporate a gorgeous rug into your home’s existing decor. Here we’ll take a look at what makes rugs so unique.

Benefits of Area Rugs

Many people might not realize the benefits that come with having an area rug in the home. Some benefits of area rugs to consider:

• Area rugs can provide a pop of color and style to your home
• Area rugs can serve as a focal point
• Area rugs protect delicate floors
• Area rugs add warmth to a space
• Area rugs are easy to clean and less likely to collect allergens

All of these benefits are definitely worth paying attention to when you start thinking about decorating your home. Rugs are the perfect way to tie together all the elements in the room’s decor.

It’s All in the Weave

Man-made rugs can be produced more quickly, but when it comes to weave, the same basic techniques are used in hand-woven ones as well. Whichever you decide to buy, knowing the features of each type of weave will help narrow down your options.

• Hand-knotted rugs are made up of individual knots that are tied to the warp yarns that make up the length of the rug. These knots are what make up the surface, which is more commonly known as the pile. The more knots the rug has, the more durable and valuable it becomes. If you want unique, this is the way to go, as no two hand-knotted rugs are the same.
• Tufted rugs are easier to manufacture since they don’t have knots. The surfaces of these are created by loops of yarn that are pulled through the backing material. The loops are then sheared, giving the rug a smooth feel. However, they do shed more.
• Hooked rugs are similar to tufted rugs, however, the loops aren’t sheared. This gives the rug a knobby, embroidered look.
• Flat-woven rugs don’t have pile. Instead, the vertical yarns are woven through the horizontal yarns.
• Braided rugs are without pile as well. A cool feature about these is that they are often reversible. Since the yarns are braided into one continuous rope sewn into a spiral, they are extra strong and durable.

Materials Matter Too

Area rugs also come in a variety of materials. The main natural fibers they are made from are wool, silk, cotton, sisal, hemp, jute, and bamboo. Rugs are also made from synthetic fibers such as nylon, polypropylene (olefin) and rubber. All have their pros and cons, and depending on where and how it will be used, as well as what your budget is, will often influence your purchase.

The Right Style for Your Lifestyle

We all have different lifestyles and the rugs we choose for our home should reflect that. Here are some general rules that may help you find something that will meet all of your needs.

Families With Young Children

You might think that kids and style have to be mutually exclusive, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are actually plenty of rugs that can offer comfort, durability, and good looks.

A good rule of thumb is to look for a functional rug of casual elegance. Low pile (flat), synthetic options are going to be your best bet for easy maintenance. Wool rugs are also a really nice option. Dark-colored and patterned rugs are champs at hiding those stains until you’re able to clean them.

Homes With Four-Legged Friends

As much as we love our furry friends, they can be messy. To help minimize the appearance of stains and general wear and tear, bold colors and patterns are where it’s at.

Take advantage of performance fibers like the ones found in indoor-outdoor rugs. Not only are they easy to maintain, but they’re also often more affordable, making it much easier to replace them when the time comes.

At-Home Work Spaces

Need to bring comfort into a home office, craft room, homeschool area, or any other space where you have to be productive? A rug can be the perfect solution.

Creating a comfortable and appealing work area is definitely important. Your rug can really shine in spaces such as this while serving its function. If you can, start with the rug and then build around it.

The space should match the personality and functionality that the work demands. Some people prefer bold-colored rugs, which can energize the mind, while others prefer softer colors and subtle patterns in order to feel focused.  

We Have All the Rugs You Need

A quality rug is an investment, but that doesn’t mean it has to cost a fortune. Avoiding the middlemen markups, that often come when purchasing from a department store, is crucial if you want to invest wisely. It is always best to purchase from a reputable rug dealer.

We have a wide variety of Persian, contemporary, and shag rugs for you to choose from, so stop in and let us help you find the best rug for your home.

We also have a wide selection of beautiful upholstery fabrics in store and online that can style perfectly with your new rug.