About Rugs
Design With
Rugs When
decorating your home, think of your floors as the foundation for your design scheme.
An area rug can visually integrate or harmonize eclectic elements in any decor or
can revitalize a room.
There's an endless array of rug designs from which to choose. Oriental, Persian,
contemporary and Native American designs are just a few that can be found in nearly
any price range.
Tips for
selecting a rug for your home:
- Visualize the desired total look of the room. Do you want a room that's uncluttered
and monotone or a room rich with colors or textures? If you start with a totally
empty room, choose a rug, then paint or paper the walls in colors found in the rug.
- Remember, the rug has to fit the room – in more ways than one. Consider how
the room is used, how much traffic the area gets and who will view it under what
light. For high-traffic areas such as hallways and foyers, you may want a durable,
patterned rug.
- Choose furniture that enhances the rug design or colors found in the rug.
- If you start with furniture, choose a rug to pick up the colors used in your furnishing
patterns. Patterns can be mixed if they are coordinated by color. Elements of a
rug design can be further incorporated into the overall design scheme. For example,
if the rug is floral, add framed prints or flowers in similar colors.
- Size up the size of the room and the area you want to cover. The most common area
rug sizes are 4-by-6 and 6-by-9 feet. They work well under a coffee table. An 8-by-11-foot
rug or larger can cover an entire room. Smaller area and scatter rugs can be ideal
for adorning smaller spaces—a hearth, a bedside, the area in front of a kitchen
sink—with a splash of color and warmth.
- A rug with a bold, overall design can be the focal point of a room with a chair
and sofa in solid or subdued patterns.
- Light colored rugs make a room look more spacious, and deeper colors lend coziness
to a room.
- Choose a rug that will perform well, with the right combination of density and
fiber. The denser the pile, (with closer tufts or stitches), the better your rug
will wear.
- Synthetic yarns - nylon, polyester, acrylic, and polypropylene - and the naturals
- wool and cotton - are durable, soft, and easy to clean.
- You’ve got to hand it to machine-made rugs: they may look strikingly similar
to the handmade kind, but they’re usually much less expensive.
- Watch out for fringe elements. If the rug you like has fringe, make sure it’s
sewn on well, and very carefully use the vacuum cleaner.
- Don’t be boxed in by the idea of getting a rectangular rug. A circular or
octagonal-shaped floor covering can add flair.
- Remember to take a swatch of any fabrics you’d like to match with you when
you shop for a rug. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what will complement
your existing décor.
- Don’t underestimate the value of an underlay. Not only will it absorb the
impact of feet and noise, it will reduce wear and tear on the rug and make vacuuming
easier.
When buying a rug, it pays to select a reputable dealer with a knowledgeable staff,
wide selection, and a guarantee that the store will stand behind its merchandise.
World of Floors is that dealer. Top
Construction
and Fiber Your rug should not only look great, it should perform well, too. To find the
best rug within your budget, there are several factors to consider. The perfect rug
will have just the right combination of density, twist and fiber.
- Density refers to the closeness of the tufts or knots. The denser the pile, the
better your rug will wear.
- Twist refers to the winding of yarn around itself. A tighter yarn twist will provide
added durability.
The type of FIBER used in your rug also will help determine its appearance and performance.
Synthetic fibers provide brilliant colors, easy maintenance, softness and outstanding
value. Natural fibers provide soft, low luster colors, long term performance and other
aesthetic qualities.
There are six general types of fibers, each with different characteristics:
- Nylon - Wear and soil resistant and easily cleaned. Resilient, withstands heavy
traffic and the weight and movement of furniture. Unlimited variety of brilliant
colors.
- Wool - Noted for luxury and softness. Has high bulk and is available in many colors.
- Olefin (Polypropylene) - Strong and colorfast with a soft wool-like feel. Resists
wear and stains. Affordable. Predominant machine-woven synthetic fiber. May also
be used in outdoor carpet.
- Polyester - Noted for its soft "hand" when used in thick, cut pile textures.
- Acrylic - Offers the appearance of wool at a lower cost. Sometimes is blended
with other fibers. Most often appears in bath rugs and mats.
- Cotton - Noted for its softness and performance. Available in many colors.
Blends - There may be blends of any of the above fibers. Top
Selecting Carpet
& Rugs
Styles
- Area rugs accent a room's color palette or wall design, or even set the entire
mood, character, or period of the room.
- Perhaps you want to rejuvenate or add color to a favorite room, you've been looking
for a way to incorporate artistic expression to your home, or you'd like to warm
the cold tile in your bathroom. Maybe you would just like to add softness to a hard
floor or extra flair to the carpet in a busy hallway.
- Woven. Tufted. Bordered. Sculptured. Textured... Oriental, Persian, Berber and
Native American designs are just a few that can be found in nearly any price range.
Whatever your need, a rug that fits your style is easy to find.
Selecting Rugs
- Area rugs can be made of tufted or woven construction with natural or synthetic
fibers.
- Broadloom carpet can be cut and bound into area rug size and then carved to add
dimension and interest.
- Machine-woven and tufted rugs are most popular, with modern machinery producing
rugs beautifully simulating hand-made versions at affordable prices. If you insist
on real hand-made though, hand-knotted and hooked rugs are also are widely available.
Top
Selecting
Underlayment/Cushion Once you get your rug home, help keep it looking new by placing it over a quality
rug cushion or underlay.
Not only will the cushion absorb shock and noise, it also will keep your rug from
slipping and "creeping." There are two types of cushions from which to select
depending upon where you plan to place your rug: rug-over-carpet or rug-over-hard
surface floor. World of Floors associates can help you select a rug cushion or underlay
for your particular need. Usually you will need to know the size of the rug, although
the size of many underlays can be adjusted by simply cutting with household shears.
Top
|