Area Rugs Buying Guide
From Floor Coverings
Contents |
The many uses of Area Rugs.
Area Rugs serve many useful and decorative purposes. They come in a wide range of sizes, colors and patterns. From a simple floor mat to an expensive and exotic Persian rug, area rugs have become popular floor covering choices. If your beautiful hardwood floor is cold and too hard to walk on, area rugs just might be your answer. They absorb noise and have the ability to liven up even the plainest of rooms. The purpose of this guide is to help you understand the differences in rug fibers and patterns, so that you will know how to choose the best rugs for the rooms in your home. In addition, this guide will help you learn about pricing, rug placement and the basic care and maintenance of your new area rugs.
What are area rugs made of?
Area rugs were originally made out of wool and cotton, but in today’s modern home, you will find area rugs that have been constructed from both natural and synthetic fibers. Area rugs made with natural fibers are wool, cotton, jute, sisal and blends of these fibers. Area rugs that have been created from Synthetic fibers consist of acrylic, polypropylene/olefin and nylon. If your area rug is going to be placed in the bathroom, kitchen, basement or on an outdoor patio, either olefin or acrylic are good choices for rug fibers, because these rooms see a lot of exposure to wet spills, moisture and humidity and olefin and acrylic are especially moisture/mildew resistant fibers. These fibers are also great for kitchens and homes with pets or children, since they are so stain-resistant.
Arylic and Area Rugs
Acrylic is the best fiber for area rugs that will be placed in rooms that see a lot of exposure to sunlight, because acrylic is very resistant to fading. Other fibers like jute may fade or turn dark when exposed to direct sunlight. Consider where you plan on putting the area rug. How many windows are there and where is the placement of the windows that will allow direct sunlight to shine on your area rugs throughout the day? Even if there is going to be a lot of exposure to sunlight, you can always install blinds or solar screens to protect your area rugs from fading. Lighter shades will fade more than darker shades because they have less dye in them. Cotton and wool are the most likely to fade.
Acrylic is soft underfoot like wool, but it does have a tendency to “pill”. If high traffic is an issue, then nylon, wool or sisal are fibers for area rugs that you should consider. All three of these fibers are extremely durable and hold up very well to heavy traffic. Sisal is amazingly colorfast and resists static too. Wool and nylon are both easy to clean. If texture is important to you, cotton is softer than wool, but less durable. Jute is the softest natural fiber, but again, not as durable as some fibers.
What styles do area rugs come in?
The two main styles of area rugs are center medallions and repetitive patterns. An area rug with a center medallion is best if you want the rug itself to be one of the main focal points in the room. However, if you want to highlight some other feature in the room, like a piece of furniture or a piece of art, then you might want to choose an area rug with a repetitive pattern. But if there is a great deal of busy patterns already in the room, a solid area rug or a subtle pattern might be a better choice. Selecting lighter colors will make the room appear larger and darker colors will have a minimizing affect. Choose one or two colors that presently exist in the furniture or drapes and match your area rug with that color. When shopping, try to bring a paint sample, furniture or drapery fabric or flooring sample to match the colors with your area rug. If your sofa boasts a lovely floral design, then you would not want to choose a geometric design for your area rug or visa versa. On the other hand, stripes go well either pattern.
What sizes do area rugs come in?
Area rugs can be purchased in a variety of sizes and shapes. Rectangle, oval, round and octagonal are the most common shapes. The most common size for a room size area rug is 8’x11’ but at this size may be referred to as “carpet” and smaller area rugs usually come in sizes 4’x6’ and 6’x9’. When choosing the best size area rug, consider not only the size of the room, but the size of the furniture that they will placed near or under. If your area rug is going to be placed under your dining room table, make sure that it is large enough to still be completely under the chairs even when they are pulled out. Area rugs in front of the sofa should be approximately the same length as the sofa. When the legs of your coffee table stick out way past the area rug, the rug is too small.
Underlayment for Area Rugs
Good area rug placement requires the use of padding or Foam underlayment. This is usually a thin piece of material that lays directly under the area rug. These pads help prevent the rug from slipping and from excess wear and tear from the flooring beneath the rug. They also provide walking comfort and cushioning. Area rug padding is inexpensive and an important part of good area rug maintenance.
Area Rug pricing.
Prices for area rugs vary mainly due to their method of construction. When looking for high quality in an area rug, you might ask the salesman about line count and stitches count. The higher these numbers are the better the quality and density of the rug. A denser area rug will be more expensive and certain styles take more time to manufacture, so they are more expensive. Wool is one of the most expensive fibers available. Hand knotted wool and silk rugs have a high resale value, because they can last over 100 years. Acrylic rugs are inexpensive, but they will not last as long. Natural fibers are usually more expensive than synthetic fibers. Polypropylene/olefin is the least expensive of all area rug fibers. Brand names are going to be more expensive as well.
Care and Maintenance
The care and maintenance associated with your area rugs involve regular vacuuming and quickly cleaning up spills to prevent staining. Cotton fibers are not very stain resistant and require constant cleaning. Club soda is an excellent solution that aids in the removal of dark stains. Blotting spills rather rubbing them will aid in the prevention of stains setting in. Invest in a good vacuum cleaner that uses a HEPA filter and this will improve the process of deep cleaning your area rug and it will aid in the removal of dust mites and allergens. Occasional steam cleaning for larger area rugs will also help preserve their life. Another thing to keep in mind is that an area rug with a rubber backing may stain your hardwood or bamboo flooring. And, if your area rug has a backing that is rough, it might scratch certain types of flooring.
