Carpet squares
From Floor Coverings
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Carpet Squares -- Can You Make Them Yourself?
Are carpet squares expensive?
Well, you could, But then the fraying of the edges, mismatching and shredding into pieces by walking on the carpet, can occur. Carpet squares are experiencing a resurgence and can be found online, in stores, or in catalogs. Homeowners used to think of carpet squares as just being made from that felt-like indoor/outdoor fuzzy material and in several shades of mottled green or brown only. These days, they come in a wide variety of nylon, wool, cotton and other materials and in a vast array of colors and patterns. No longer relegated to back corners of home improvement or hardware stores, or homemade by desperate people anxious to cover an odd shaped floor or defect in a floor -- carpet squares made by manufacturers can rival any style or kind of carpet you may have seen. Sometimes, you cannot tell the difference between carpet squares or carpet made in one piece.
Why Use Carpet Squares?
Carpet squares are a boon to families with young children, or to areas of the home that see much activity, especially close to kitchens or the outdoors. They are so easily replaced if stained because all that you do is pick one up and replace it with another. It is wise when buying your carpet squares to get extras, that way the replacement can be instantaneous. The stained or dirtied carpet square can be taken outside and hosed off, to see if it is recoverable. Sometimes they are, and sometimes they're not, depending on what stained them in the first place, and what the pattern is and what they are made of. Carpet squares are fantastic as an anchor rug underneath a dining room table. A wall to wall carpet would be useless, and bare wood is nice but a rug of some kind is a good focal point for a beautiful dining table. As with any rug, the homeowner has to be aware of what's sitting on top of it (if anything) so that patterns or colors will not clash.
Some Decorating Ideas
If your home is in a mid-century style, then carpet squares can look truly appropriate and to the period. Patterned squares can be checker-boarded with plain colored ones in a contrasting or same base color. Before placing any squares down on your floor, it should be swept and clean of debris. The tiles will fit snugly together as they are usually rubber backed and a slight suction will hold them firmly. For contemporary decor, a plain center with a solid border, perhaps with the odd border-colored carpet tile in the center, looks great. For a period home, darker or paisley colors work well and for a library, dark red or brown work with wood tones. Even if you have an urban loft, carpet squares in light colors will make your rooms look great, and also be easily moveable as you may want to create different rooms in your open loft area, and you change your mind throughout the year. If you change your furniture too, this makes carpet squares so moveable and even portable to another location.
