Choosing Southwestern Rugs For Rustic Syle Design And Decor

Southwestern rugs are an excellent way to bring out that popular western, rustic or Native American feel in your home decorating. Because of their affordability, many designers are choosing to buy southwestern accent rugs online. Used as western rugs and also southwest area rugs on the floors in your home or when decorating a log cabin with a rustic or western theme, southwestern rugs give your home warmth and a definite authentic southwestern country look.

When buying American Indian style rugs, you will find a wide variety of southwestern rugs to choose from and will no doubt want to include a few of the most popular and sought-after rugs in your home decor. These rugs have an extensive history that has changed over time and can truly be appreciated as great works of art.

Some of the most popular southwestern and western rugs are handmade area rugs, spirit rugs, Mexican Guadalupe rugs, Oaxaca Mexico rugs including Zapotec Indian rugs, Mohair and Navajo rugs. Each of these types of rugs mixes beautiful colors and characters, symbolizing spiritual or historic events. A good example of this is seen in the Southwestern Spirit rug which combines a wide variety of colors and designs. The spiritual characters weaved into these rugs are created in a variety of patterns and forms that represent and express the spirituality of the people.

Not only are southwestern rugs known for their incredible beauty, but the skill and hard work needed in making Native rugs and runners is also very impressive. The makers of hand woven wool rugs are highly skilled and begin the rug making process by kneeling in front of a vertical wooden-framed loom. The designs are then placed by using a shuttle to weave a variety of colored yarn together, making large-scale geometric characters and designs.

In the beginning, Navajo rugs as well as those of some other Southwest Indian tribes were weaved of hand-spun cotton thread. However, once the wool of domestic sheep was introduced to the region by the Spanish settlers, the people primarily used wool to make their colorful rugs and other traditional weaving.

Today, many of the modern southwestern rugs come from areas where Spanish and Native American histories have melded together to create beautiful designs. Southwest rugs, with their rich earth tone colors and unique southwestern designs make them the standard for rustic home decorating. If you are searching for a great southwest rug, you will probably purchase from American companies or directly from Native American weavers.

Purchasing rugs from Navajo or other American Indian tribes not only gives you the satisfaction of owning a southwestern rug that is made by Indians but also helps to support the Native American heritage of rug making, and the people who themselves sell their rugs, blankets, and Native American art.

The rug you purchase will strongly depend on what you like and what kind of decorating you decide on. You will find that southwest rugs are an excellent southwestern accent when combined with rustic or western home furnishings. Whether you are decorating one room in your house or decorating a whole house using a western theme, you will find many designs and colors available to choose from.

Among these options you will find everything from Zapotec rugs with no two alike, to southwest table runners and southwestern tapestries. Designers love hand woven rugs because of the variety of colors and textures. Whatever your style and whatever your home decor needs, you will greatly enjoy the warmth and color created by decorating with southwestern rugs.

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Facts And Tips To Keep Your Rugs Clean

Need the facts on rug cleaning? Whether you have an expensive heirloom or modern oriental rug cleaning needs these fast facts and a few tips will keep your investment looking its best.

Fact: Vacuum regularly to remove dust and debris. Over time dust and debris works its way into the fibers of the rug leaving it looking dull and flat.

Tip: Use a vacuum attachment in the same direction as the nap of the fibers to reduce friction while removing dirt, dust and debris.

Fact: Beating your rug is destructive. It can tear delicate fibers and reduce the lifespan of the item. In the past it was traditional to “beat” many rugs but that tradition has given way to more gentle and appropriate methods of care especially for fine oriental rugs.

Tip: Shake smaller rugs instead of beating them. Larger rugs should be professionally handled.

Fact: Insects like moths and carpet beetles can damage fine rugs. Many insects prefer dark areas with limited air circulation – making your fine rug the perfect insect habitat.

Tip: Turn the rug over to inspect it for damage, insects or larvae. Larvae will often look like small bits of white lint. Immediately have your rug professionally cleaned and repaired should you notice insect damage.

Fact: Delicate natural dyes can bleed or be absorbed into cleaning cloths or paper towels.

Tip: If attempting to clean a spill or care for the rug and you notice color stains or saturation on the cleaning cloth then immediately stop! Continuing to clean or rub the rug can result in further damage. Instead, contact a professional rug cleaning provider who is able to remove the stain and color correct before more damage takes place.

Fact: Paper Towels are rough. Not only do paper towels have a tendency to leave lint and fibers behind but they are actually abrasive to fine silks, wools and other natural fibers.

Tip: Use a plain cotton towel instead. Cotton is more gentle and less likely to harm fibers than other materials. Remember to always blot instead of rub.

Fact: Vinegar is not always a good cleaning solution. Contrary to popular belief, vinegar is actually quite harsh and can harm delicate fibers and dyes. It also leaves a strong odor if not properly vented and rinsed.

Tip: Avoid vinegar. If you must use something more than water then try club soda; the oxygen often helps lift stains before they set. Follow-up with a professional Dallas rug cleaning and oriental rug cleaning company like Kiwi Services that understands how to work with fine rugs.

By: Eliz b

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Antique Persian Rugs

Antique Persian rugs have all the ingredients to impress people. Be it style, color or elegance, antique Persian rugs are simply awesome. Antique Persian rugs are of various types. The categorization is mainly based on the design. If you go for vase rugs you will find a vase holding flower and vines. Similarly, animal rugs feature animals and flower carpets will have flowers. Antique Persian rugs have distinctive patterns and pleasant colors. The designers of antique Persian rugs use an innovative technique to produce these exquisite rugs. If you want to spice up your home, antique Persian rugs will definitely come to mind.

The elegance and magnificence of these rugs have amazed everyone around the world. Antique Persian rugs are basically the result of rug weaving in Persia and Turkey during the 15th and 16th centuries. Since then, the popularity of these rugs has always gone up. This is a very ancient handicraft, yet it still finds many takers. People now won’t have to travel to the East to purchase antique Persian rugs anymore, as dealers are now doing business even in the West. Also, you will find several online stores selling quality Persian rugs. So, the job of buying antique Persian rugs is getting easier.

What to watch out for in antique Persian rugs is the magnificent flowery embellishment. This is the secret of their popularity. The flowers on the rugs are so lively that you may feel temped to smell them. The color on the antique Persian rugs is brilliant and exquisite. Antique Persian rugs have got the potential to improve your home atmosphere. So what are you waiting for? Visit your local stores and pick up your favorite Antique Persian rugs to add grandeur to your drawing room. The rugs have become all the rage.

Persian Rugs provides detailed information on Persian Rugs, Antique Persian Rugs, Discount Persian Rugs, Cleaning Persian Rugs and more. Persian Rugs is affiliated with Oriental Area Rugs.

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Modern Rugs

The most suitable place where you could place a modern rug would be the living room of your house. A modern rug has a very attractive canvas of different colors. These rugs are a combined effort of classical and modern art that brings life to your house. Modern rugs are examples of developed historical craftsmanship in weaving. Modern rugs have resulted from a continuous improvement in centuries of craftsmanship in weaving.

In the ancient days, only kings, queens and some of the most powerful people were allowed to make use of this craftsmanship. Those were the days when craftsmanship of weaving was kept a closely guarded secret by the tribesman. These tribesmen were from remote areas, of the world carpet capital. It took many years to develop a carpet by weaving. The weaving of a carpet is hard work and was only performed by hand. Modern carpets / rugs are the combination of silk, cotton and natural wool and are more often than not, machine made.

The fame of a Persian carpet is known world wide. A Persian carpet is believed to be one of the most precious carpets in the world. A Persian carpet is likely to set you back by approx $ 200, this for something as small as 4’ x 6’. The carpets that are used now-a-days are unlike Persian carpets; however they meet the requirement of a house owner, effectively.

A rug is a smaller version of a carpet. Rugs have standard sizes which range from 3’ x 5’ to 9’ x 12’ for specific areas. The size of smallest rug is just equal to the size of a coffee table. Rugs can cover certain area in effective and decorative way. You could make use of a rug under furniture like a coffee table, whereas a carpet covers the whole floor area.

You should choose a rug to suit to the décor and finish of the room. Light colored rugs make the room look large and dark colored rugs with dark walls give the room a gloomy appearance unless you want to highlight some piece of furniture or chandelier. Rugs provide comfort for walking when compared to a bare wooden floor. Rugs and carpets also provide safety to the floor and improving the sensuality factor of the house.

Modern rugs are available in three different yarn categories such as wool rugs, nylon rugs and polypropylene rugs. Wool rugs are made of natural fibers. Wool rugs provide soft and natural resilient; on walking over it gives a cushioning effect. Wool rugs also have very long life. Due to these factors and the safety factor included, most house owners lean towards wool rugs. Wool rugs are flame retardant, thus they prevent burning or melting of a surface.

Nylon rugs also have certain flame retarding property, but on burning they emit fumes and plasticize. The fumes linger in a closed room for quite some time.

Polypropylene rugs are the cheapest among the three types of rugs. They are not flame retarding nor are they soft like the wool and nylon rugs. But with improvement in technology, polypropylene rugs are treated to certain chemicals to make them flame retardant and soft.

The life of a modern rug is approximately twenty years. Modern rugs need less cleaning. Rug / carpet maintenance experts claim that modern rugs should not be shampooed initially. They only need to be cleaned regularly by the means of a vacuum cleaner.

Before purchasing a modern rug, chalk out a plan on where will you be using the modern rug and what will you be using it for. Update your knowledge data base on what types of rugs are available in the market and what would suit your requirements and your budget. A good planner will be able to get the most economical rug and at the same time make his / her look attractive and cozy.

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Information on a Handmade Area Rug

Rugs have found their way into homes as an interior decoration. Nowadays, rugs and carpets are not only used to pad hardwood floors. They are added to homes to provide a touch of elegance and comfort in common house areas such as the dining room and the living room. They are considered as very special pieces because of the great length of time that is being put into each rug. Area rugs are available in beautiful and exotic designs. As a matter of fact, there are several types of rugs that are hand-woven with fine details and wonderful styles. Since these rugs provide more than just aesthetic beauty, a lot of homeowners are buying rugs for their homes.

The Purposes of Area Rugs

One of the most common purpose of an area rug is floor covering. It is placed on specific floor spaces within homes. On the other hand, it is used to accentuate a certain part of your home to make it more distinct. Area rugs come in different single colors like violet, brown, blue, and red. There are also some rugs that are available in wonderful color combinations. There are rugs that are woven with the use of a machine. But the most exquisite are those that are hand-woven or handmade. These are special because of the hard work that the workers have put into the creation of the rug.

Choosing the Right Area Rug

Area rugs are placed within homes to highlight a room or area. If the rug has a very distinct design, the more it is capable of drawing attention to the interior design of the house. Compared to machine-woven rugs, handmade rugs are more in demand. This is due to the fact that buyers consider hard work a huge aspect of the beauty of a product. A handmade area rug provides a soothing ambiance to your home. This is possible, especially if its color and design matches with the interior decorations. Before you buy a specific rug design, you have to consider your home’s interiors. Area rugs with light colors and shades bring out your furniture’s size and tones. On the other hand, rugs that have dark colors provide more comfort and warmth. You should also buy a rug that has matching primary colors with your wall paint.

Another factor that you have to consider, when buying a rug, is its size. If you want to use the area rug to cover the entire floor length of the room, you can opt for huge rugs. The sizes of these rugs are diverse, from 1-square-foot rugs to room-sized rugs. Aside from the size and design of area rugs, you can also look into their texture, material, and shape. One rug material that provides soft textures is mohair, which comes from Angora goat hairs. There are also some rugs that are made from animal skins.

Buy Your Area Rug from Online Retailers

The best sources of area rugs are found on the Internet, where there are plenty of retailers selling rugs from top manufacturers. With online rug retailers, you are provided with diverse selections that are categorized according to brands, colors, and themes. The most wonderful benefit that you can get from some of these retailers is that shipping is offered for free. Plus, you can shop for discounted area rugs.

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Area Rugs – the Choice is Vast and Yours

Choosing an area rug is quite a challenge considering the vast sizes, shapes, colors, fabrics, and designs. You must consider the purpose the rug will serve whether it will provide a splash of color/design for a small room or a great deal of color/design for a large space. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to start with a blank palette, then you can choose a rug that pleases you and build the room around its colors and designs. But if you already have furniture that you want to compliment, then choosing the right rug is an important addition to draw your eye and yet make a subtle statement while uniting the elements of a room. Take into account your style and what types of rugs you admire in others’ homes and in stores that sell rugs. The color, style, and texture of your rugs will show your guests what feel you want to convey. Lighter rugs make the room seem cooler and larger while darker shades warm the room and form a cozy more intimate space.

Now that you’ve decided what look you want, you must decide on the fabric that suits the use of the room. Wool rugs are hugely attractive but can be difficult to clean if used in extremely high traffic areas. They are long-wearing, lush, and command respect and admiration so should be chosen for those areas where people sit and relax and in dining areas that are of a more formal nature. Spills on wool rugs are not a problem if they are blotted up quickly; wool rugs repel dirt and liquids not allowing them to absorb quickly into the fibers. The scales of the fibers make wool fibers resilient, soft to the touch, and tough. Wool rugs also dye easier and richer making them a striking focal point. Another natural fiber is cotton that makes a longwearing rug much like wool but of a lighter weight.

Man-made fiber rugs are good choices for brilliant colors and great service in high traffic areas, areas of sun exposure, and areas of heavy use. They are strong and durable and easy to clean. The look of synthetic rugs is not as rich as wool rugs but is substantially more attractive today than they were in the past. There are many ways synthetic rugs are set and woven and many imitate wool’s overall look and feel. Many modern rugs combine synthetic fibers with natural fibers so read the descriptions carefully.

Much of the look and feel rests with the construction of the rug. Some of the modes of construction include hand-knotted, hand-hooked, hand-tufted, machine-made, and flat-weaved. There are others so you can see that this is not a simple choice. Any rug that has "hand" in its prefix will be high quality and a bit more expensive in most cases. But you get what you pay for, as you know.

About size, a great way to determine what size rug is best for your room, spread a bed sheet or butcher paper in the area and try different sizes. In dining areas, you’ll want a rug at least 4 feet longer and wider than your table, which would allow diners to push their chairs away from the table without slipping off the rug. In areas where the rugs will serve as a place for feet to rest while sitting in conversation areas, choose rugs that are at least as large as the open area in front of sofas and chairs. You can leave up to a foot right in front of the furniture because most people don’t place their feet right up against the front of the couch or chair. You can let the size of the rug determine the size and intimacy of that area or you can place your conversation area/s as you wish and then order a rug to fit that space. A large room can have a cozy feeling by dividing it visually into sections you choose with an area rug or two. Keep these rugs from extending into high traffic areas to avoid tripping.

Of course, many rugs will be chosen to stop dirt from entering the main parts of the house. The foyer, back door, garage entry, and side porch doors are some of the examples of these entry points. Rugs for these areas should be fairly flat, absorbent, and easy to clean. Rug pads that are a non-skid type are a necessity for these areas for obvious reasons.

Rug pads can keep rugs from moving, avoid turning up at the corners, help them wear longer, and make them feel cushy under your feet. Shop carefully for the right pad for the rug you’ve chosen. The pad is no place to skimp on quality since the pad will influence so much about your new rug. Be sure the pad provides a firm, non-slip backing and a cushion that reflects your style. Decide if your rug will be on carpeting or bare floors and choose the pad that is correct for each by reading the descriptions carefully. Rug pads prolong the life of your rugs since rugs wear from the bottom up; the pads cushion the rug from the hard floor below.

So, you want to find the rugs that will reflect your personality and style while providing room definition, comfort, design elements to unite the room’s elements, and the designer’s touch every room can have. Choosing the right rug for each area can be daunting and use more time than you have. Unless, of course, you shop on line like I do. The "running’ from store to store is a thing of the past. There is no way I could have perused the vast amount of rugs in stores that I was able to examine from my family room sofa with my laptop. As you search this site, you’ll get new ideas and begin to form images of the way your home will look with the addition of their beautiful, versatile rugs! Have fun looking for rugs for all the special areas of your home!

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Introduction to Karastan Area Rugs

A discount area rug from Karastan is an elegant steal. Karastan rugs are known as some of the best machine-made area rugs ever produced. Until the first Karastan rug was produced, in 1928, people knew that machine-made area rugs could never beat handmade rugs in quality and resale value, even if they came at deep discounts. But Karastan rugs changed that image. In 1928, in a small North Carolina town named Leakesville, the first of these elegant area rugs rolled off an Axminster loom. These rugs were so excellent, and their quality and durability were so great, that buyers began to see little difference between a handmade rug and a machine-made rug like Karastan, except for the heavy discounts that a machine-made rug had over a manmade rug. In fact, so uncannily similar was a Karastan area rug to handmade rugs, that trendy fashion magazines began calling them Mystery rugs.

Marshall Field, the illustrious Chicago departmental store whose brain-child these rugs were, was quick to take advantage of Karastan’s popularity. Five years later, at the 1933 World’s fair in Chicago, they had a Karastan rug not as a display but as an actual floor covering. After five million feet had trodden and dirtied this elegant piece of rug, Marshall Field had half of it cleaned and the other half kept as-is for eternity to appreciate its durability. It still exists as a testament to the elegance and durability of these splendid creations from Karastan.

Almost all Karastan rugs are wool rugs; they are made from the finest New Zealand wool. Such wool does not have small fibers to cause discomfort to asthma sufferers, nor does it harbor dust mites and other causes of allergy. Wool has been known to be an exceptional absorber of dusts due to its ability to produce static electricity, and a Karastan area rug, regularly cleaned, makes an exceptional dust absorber at discount prices.

Innovation has never become a bygone thing at Karastan. They have produced a number of patented finishing processes which give their area rugs that unique color and patina that is so characteristic of them. No machine-made rug had that wonderful softness and delicacy and harmony of colors characteristic of antique handmade rugs until Karastan rugs were processed with their patented LustreWash finishing, which gave them a similar soft finish. A few years later, Karastan began using the AntiqueWash process. This, as its name suggest, used chemicals to tone down the brightness of a Karastan rug, giving it an aged and muted appearance only ancient handmade rugs used to have.

In 1997, Karastan began using the TeaWash process, a further improvement on its finishing process endeavors. This is a multi-step technique which adds an aged appearance to the Karastan rug by producing a vintage patina to the wool through chemical means. It adds a warm yellowish hue to the pure white New Zealand wool, giving it an appearance of ancientness much valued by rug-lovers, and which is not usually found in machine-made rugs. Competitors have tried to emulate this process to create similar-looking rugs, but with not as much success as Karastan.

It should be mentioned, in connection with the LustreWash technique, that Karastan introduced a new style of rug-making in 2006 through its Shapura collection. Authentic handmade rugs from Peshawar have a luster created by using vegetable-dyes, and which is not found in machine-made rugs. Using its LustreWash technique, Karastan managed to create a similar appearance in its Axminster-made Karastan rugs. These look so similar to authentic handmade quality rugs that Karastan rugs have become known as the "Wonder rugs of America."

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Home sweet home with hand-made rugs

Carpets or rugs are a vital part of your home décor. Trends have stated the gradual increase in awareness about carpet designs, style, types, care and maintenance. Owing to the competition and availability of skilled manpower, this industry is well regarded in maintaining your home elegance and floorings flaws. The industry focuses on two types of manufacturing: hand-made and machine-made carpets or rugs. While machine-made carpets are available in exclusive designs and types, nothing has been able to replace the value that hand-made carpets or rugs have been able to provide. Hand-made rugs or carpets have been considered eco-friendly and extremely valuable. They are also more durable as compared to the machine-made rugs since they use strong natural fibres.

Carpet weaving has been carried as a tradition in various regions of the world. It is an occupation adopted by those regions where farming activities are not suitable. Different areas have their own peculiar designs that are carried down by various generations. At times the designs and fibres are a mix owing to the influence that the region has had in the past. India basically uses a mix of Persian and Turkish designs that have been modified over the time with regional tastes and market preferences. Worldwide these designs have made waves in the International market.

Jaipur Rugs Company, a quality exporter of hand-made rugs has been exhibiting the rich and traditional craftsmanship of the Indian weavers through its authentic product range. A hand-made range comprises of hand-knotted rugs, hand-tufted rugs, flat woven rugs, Durries, Indo-Tibetan rugs and Shumak or shaggy rugs. These are available in pure wool or silk fibres or in a combination of both. Other fibres such as jute or artificial silk are also used. The company has an in-house team of more than 50 designers that have lured the customers with their authentic designs.

A category leader is a blend of right strategy and true character. In this highly dynamic or competitive environment by being natural and subtle many hearts can be won. This is not just a mere philosophy of Jaipur Rugs Company, but it is lived truly by its brand advocates. Every carpet or rug is knotted with thousands of dreams, plenty of hard work and tireless dedication that enhances million floorings.

For more details do visit www.jaipurrugsco.com

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Wool Rugs

Wool rugs are advantageous in adding charisma to any room of the house. These are available in different styles to suit the needs of each individual. Woolen rugs are of two types – woven or hand made and tufted or machine made rugs. These are available at all price ranges making them easily affordable. The properties of woolen rugs which make them unique are:

§ These rugs are made of woolen fibers which do not absorb soil easily. This keeps them clean for longer periods.

§ These are resistant to fire and static electricity.

§ They can easily withstand wear and tear in high traffic areas.

§ Woolen rugs absorb the water vapor in the air and reduce the humidity in the atmosphere of the room.

§ These are very durable and their quality remains intact for many years.

§ No chemicals are needed to clean woolen rugs. Most stains can be removed with warm water.

§ Repeated vacuuming of the woolen rugs keeps them clean and helps to improve their quality.

The first decision to take is whether to buy a hand made or machine made rug. After that, the color and design of the rug can be chosen. The size and color of the rug must be selected based on the size of the room and its furnishings. Wool can be extracted from a live animal called live wool or from dead animal called dead wool. Dead wool is the rougher of the two. Dry cleaning should not be done on the wool rugs. It leaves a harmful chemical in the wool. Steam cleaning extracts oil from these rugs, making them rougher. Carpet padding can be used to prolong its life.

Wool rugs are unique because they can be dyed in different colors. These are available in different colors and designs. These are usually costlier than other rugs but they provide long-term durability. Wool acts as thermal insulator and keeps the temperature convenient in accordance with the season. For instance, in winter it prevents the heat in the room from escaping and keeps in warm. In summer, it keeps the room cool by absorbs the heat. Regular vacuum cleaning is sufficient to keep it in good shape. Each person must assess his needs and choose the type of rugs they want.

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Oriental Rugs

Oriental rugs have come a long way since their early days. The early days were a time when the rugs produced in the east were popular in the east only. Persia, India, Turkey and Tibet were some of the oldest manufacturers of these rugs. The main reason due to which these were not so popular in the west was lack of transportation in the older days.

The rug industry has carved a niche of its own. Initially, rugs were popular only in the west but in recent days, this popularity has spread to the east also. The manufacture of rugs using machines has also increased. One of the most favored among the machine manufactured rugs is the oriental rugs. Some of the properties of oriental rugs which make them unique are:

§ Though the cost of these rugs is high, they are designed with the finest textures and give a royal look to your home.

§ Oriental rugs are woven in different countries with different designs. For example, the rugs from Iran or Persia are huge, bulky, and exquisite. Oriental rugs are designed by incorporating the culture of their own country and the neighboring countries in the design. 828 International, AminCo, Feizy, Kalat, Lotfy, Momeni, Nichols, Fette, Samad, Tamarian, and Trans-Ocean are some important designs of oriental rugs.

§ These rugs when purchased from a genuine dealer are a lifetime investment and give good value for your money.

§ Oriental rugs come in Geometric patterns or simple designs, bright colors or light tones, with can make every room in your house beautiful.

The important factors to be kept in mind when purchasing an oriental rug are:

i.Since these are costly, the exact size which you require must be measured first.

ii.The quality of rugs depends on the knots woven per square inch. If the knots per square inch are higher, the rug is of better quality.

iii.Look for imperfections on the rug surface.

The oriental rugs are durable and environment-friendly. These are hand made and each strand is hand stretched to provide greater strength and consistency. The two types of knots used in making oriental rugs are - the symmetrical Turkish knot or the asymmetrical Persian knot. Horizontal looms are used to weave smaller rugs and vertical looms to weave larger ones. The time for completion varies with the size of the rug. Since oriental rugs are costly, all your needs must be assessed properly before you buy one.

The oriental rugs are designed by experts who are well versed with the tradition and culture of their region. They try to transfer this culture into their rugs through well depicted sceneries and designs. In the recent days, a sort of innovation has crept into the manufacture of these rugs. Weavers have been blending old models with new ones in the recent days. The Persian designs are famous all over the world today also. Recognizing this popularity, the manufacturers are finding newer ways to incorporate these designs into the modern rug

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Choosing the Right Rug

So you’ve decided that you want to buy a rug but you don’t know what sort of rug will work best for you and the environment in which it will be placed, or maybe you know the sort of rug that you would like but you’re having difficulty choosing a design. The following is meant to be a practical guide to help you discover issues that you may or may not have taken into account when choosing a rug.

Space and Environment
Space and environment are key issues to consider when it comes to choosing a rug, have you thought enough about the space that it will be in and the effect that the design you have chosen will have on that space?

The likelihood is that it has been thought about but not fully considered. Rugs can either open a space up or make a space seem a lot cosier. Depending on the atmosphere, look and feel that you wish to create, there are several key elements to take into account. If you want to create the feeling of spaciousness then light colours and simple patterns are the way forward.

Light colours and simple designs can create an amazing feeling of expansion and really open up a space, however if you are looking to make a space cosier then rugs that have darker colours and more ornate or dense patterns tend to work better. Featured to the right are two great rugs featuring ornate dense patterns for making that space seem more cosy. Most traditional rugs will lend themselves well to this job with their ornate dense patterns however there are also many modern rugs that will effectively make a space more cosy. Don't limit yourself to just traditional if it's a modern rug that you would prefer.

Size
Believe it or not size is one of the most fundamental decisions to make when it comes to choosing your rug. The wrong size can make a room look cluttered or far too small. Rugs tend to come in standard sizes:

Small rugs measuring approximately, three feet by five feet (90cm x 150cm) up to approximately four feet by six feet (120cm x 180cm)

Medium rugs measuring up to approximately eight feet by five feet (240cm x 150cm)

Large rugs measuring up to approximately eleven feet (330cm) with anything larger classified as extra large.

Many rugs can be custom made to the size that you require, this is often more expensive and can take a long time but the results can be amazing and in the end provide you with a rug that is the perfect size for the area required. If you see a rug that you like and you require it to made in a custom size then please view the size chart for that collection to see whether or not custom sizes are available, contact us by email or telephone us for a quote and more information.

In general small rugs tend to highlight smaller pieces of furniture say for example a bed or a coffee table whilst larger rugs tend to be for dining rooms, lounge areas and other bigger spaces.

If you prefer to go with one of the standard sizes of rugs but they’re not the actual size that you require it is often better to choose a standard size that is slightly larger than the required size than to choose a size too short. Remember larger rugs can often be tucked under furniture.

The best way to determine the size of rug that you need before placing an order is to lay out some sheets of newspaper in the area that you would like to place your rug and to stick it down with masking tape. When you are satisfied with the area that the newspaper fills you can record the measurements of the size that looks the best. Also bare in mind the area where you will be placing the rug, e.g. If you are placing a rug by a door opening you want the rug to be able to go under the door without it causing an obstruction. There really is nothing worse than buying an expensive rug only to find that it obstructs entrances and exits to a room. Another thing to be aware of is to make sure that the corner of a rug doesn’t stick out into the middle of a door opening because they can often cause tripping hazards.

Where is Your Room's Main Focal Point? Furniture, Fireplace or Rug?
Discovering the focal point of your room to be can be very important when it comes to choosing a rug. Rugs can draw attention to certain areas of a room, compliment existing focal areas in a room or even become a focal point themselves. They are extremely powerful design aids and can be used effectively to attract or detract attention to or from certain areas within a room.

Furniture as a Focal Point
If for instance the furniture and surrounding décor in the room is to be a focal point, then it’s best to choose a rug that is more subtle and subdued with little or no pattern or a rug that compliments the colour of existing furniture. Soft colours and tones will work best for this with many plain rugs being good choices. In some cases two or more smaller rugs can work better than one large rug.

Fireplace as a Focal Point
If the focal point of a room is a fireplace it is usually best to choose a rug that has a subdued all-over pattern or a plain rug that compliments the surroundings so that it does not become a distraction.

Rug as a Focal Point
If the rug that you choose is to be the focal point of the room, then it is best to choose a rug that is quite busy, bright or bold in design/colour, thus attracting attention to it and drawing attention away from the furniture and surrounding décor. Rugs that are to become focal points work best in rooms when the surrounding décor is neutral or soft in colour, thus creating a picture frame so to speak for the rug that becomes the artwork within that frame.
In general if two or more items happen to compete for a focal point it can unbalance a room and upset the atmosphere within it. This can be avoided with good planning and placement. As a rule of thumb it is often best to just have one focal point in a room, a rug can be busy or the surroundings can be busy. If everything in the room is busy it tends to create a very restless atmosphere.

Style, Texture and Colour
A rug can really transform a room and can be used instead of redecorating or to replace an old carpet that looks worn. A rug can bring a fresh look to a room or give it a lift. Whatever your rug is for, the thing to remember is that it should always compliment the style and colour scheme of your room. For instance it wouldn’t be advised to place a beautiful traditional style Persian rug with an ornate design, in a room that has been designed to have a modern and contemporary nautical feel to it, whilst at the same time it wouldn’t be advised to place a Navajo rug in a room that is trying to create a Victorian look. Instead it would be advised to choose a rug that reminds you of a seascape for the nautical themed room and a rug with a European floral design that compliments it for the latter.

In general, in terms of style and colour scheme the rug that you choose should compliment the surrounding décor or theme of the room otherwise it will look out of place and stick out like a sore thumb.

In terms of colour, it is advised in general to match up a particular favourite colour in the room for example match the colour of your walls or your curtains. There is no need to try and match your rug to every colour in your room or vice versa. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s a room full of colours, choose a neutral colour for your rug and if it is a very neutral room then choose a bright coloured rug. Try using solid modern colours to carry painted colour schemes all the way throughout the room. If you place a rug in a strategic area of a room that matches a certain wall or ceiling colour it can really set off a room and make your design come together.

Textured rugs can add a certain depth to an otherwise flat room. Many shaggy and textured rugs can create depth where smooth walls meet smooth laminate floors. They can break up the monotony of smoothness in a room, adding depth and interest, giving your room body as well as form.

Wool or Synthetic?
Regardless of what anybody says, all wool rugs shed. This is because they are from a natural fibre source. Most wool rugs that are new will shed for a while because of the loose fibres however some wool rugs have been known to shed for months and even longer. We have a wool rug in our sitting room that has been shedding for well over a year now. For some time we have been concerned that it is just going to disappear into nothing however it doesn't shed half as much now as when we first bought it and it still seems to look just as great. If a rug that doesn't shed is a huge factor in the rug choosing decision then we would recommend that you do not choose wool.

So you may ask why people buy wool rugs if they shed. Well the answer to that is that wool is far more resilient, more durable than synthetic man made fibres and responds better to coloured dyes, i.e. it absorbs and maintains dyes better. Therefore you can often get a wool rug that is years old and still looks as good as new whereas its synthetic counterpart can look old and slightly faded. Wool is also naturally resistant to water, fire and stains as well as being resistant to dust mites. This is a great positive for anybody that has allergies because they don't have their allergy aggravated by dust mites. Also because wool is mainly resistant to fire (not entirely resistant if overexposed) and sparking it makes it an ideal choice for a fireside rug.

Another major or not so major factor depending upon whether you're shopping on a budget or not is price. Wool is far more expensive than acrylic / man made fibres due to its authenticity and durability.

There really isn't too much difference in the look and feel of some synthetic rugs these days. In fact synthetic fibres are that well made now that we sometimes have to really look closely at acrylic to be able to tell that it isn't wool.

Wool is and probably will remain the most popular choice for a rug due to its traditional heritage and natural existence in a mostly man made world. If you are going to be putting your rug in an area that receives a high amount of traffic we would have to recommend wool due to its durability and natural resistance to stains.

There is no exact science to choosing a rug and we are all different in the sense that we all have different tastes and ideas about what will and won’t work in a room. The above information is a broad view of what is known to work and what is not, as with anything there will always be instances where a rug contradicts the theories above, i.e. an exception to the rules so to speak but this will be rare. We hope that you have found the information interesting and that it helps you narrow down the overwhelming choice of rug that you choose.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/choosing-the-right-rug-396331.html

Contemporary Rugs

Rugs help to change the look of your room and also provide comfort to your feet. These days rugs are available at prices affordable to all the people. When you purchase them, a few tips are given regarding the practical considerations about how to use rugs to your advantage. These rugs provide a good value for your money. Using contemporary rugs in your rooms can change the entire look and feel of the room.

The application of contemporary rugs is that they can either be used to separate various living areas of the room or to unify the entire room. After choosing the size and the number of rugs, their color should be chosen the suit the surroundings of the room. They must also be able to withstand the traffic in that particular area of the room. The advantages of contemporary rugs are:

a. These can be hung on the walls and also moved to the floor later as desired.
b. These are easily portable and can be moved from one room to another.
c. Rugs help to protect your carpets that are placed in high traffic areas.
d. They help in sound proofing.
e. They help to add multi-colored look to your dull rooms.
f. They are available for modern as well as traditional styled homes.
g. They lessen the need for other decorative elements in the room.
h. These are available at highly affordable prices.

The color or size of the rugs must be chosen depending on the requirements. Rugs can be chosen as the focal point for the room or to separate various areas of a bigger room. The color of the rug should be finalized after considering the colors of walls, curtains, and furniture in the room. A contemporary rug can also be used to preserve a hard-wood floor or carpet in an area with high-traffic. These days many discount outlets are offering contemporary rugs for less prices.

The contemporary rugs come in models of flowers, stripes, bold and bright colors. They have the capacity to make your small rooms look big and also your big rooms look small. They can be made either of olefin, polypropylene, wool or cotton. Contemporary rugs with cartoon designs can be used to brighten up your children’s rooms. However, buying rugs with cartoon designs is always a risk because the children’s minds change very quickly. If after a while they do not like the design or cartoon on the rug, then they will even hate the idea of having the rug in their room.

The quality of the contemporary rug depends on the material from which it is made. Though wool is expensive, it is highly durable, soft and easy to clean. Synthetic fiber rugs are cheaper, stain-resistant, water-repellant and easier to clean. One idea would be to select the design or texture of the rug such that it joins together with the surrounding items or furniture. Whatever be the material, the contemporary rugs help to add charm to your room and also provide comfort to your feet.

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Introduction To Rugs

Movable carpets with finished edges are called as rugs. This phrase was earlier used for the garments used by humans to protect their pets from climatic changes. Rugs can be used atop your carpets or even on plain floor. They are available in a variety of colors and designs and help change the appearance of the room. The different types of rugs are:

¨Persian rugs: These rugs contain complex designs. These can be used either on the floor or hung up on the walls.

¨American design rugs: These are of three types - hooked rugs, shirred rugs and braided rugs. Hooked rugs have different designs and sceneries pictured on them. Shirred rag rugs have different strips of fabric sewn together artistically in a network of rows and columns. Braided rugs are made up of color or multi-colored braids or threads.

¨Bearskin rugs: These rugs have derived their name from the fact that the material used in the making of this rug is similar to a bear’s skin in appearance.

There are a number of factors to be kept in mind when purchasing rugs for interior decoration. It is important to know beforehand specifically what your requirements are. Some important factors to be considered are:

a. Flooring decoration: Good flooring can give a pleasing look to your room and also thrill the minds of your guests. Decorating the flooring also keeps it free from soiling. So the rugs used to cover your flooring should not look odd.

b. Texture of rugs: Rugs of different colors and designs can be used to decorate the room. They are portable and easy to maintain. Choose which type of rug suits your room the most.

c. Cost: Rugs are less expensive than carpets and can be used anywhere. There are different qualities of rugs for all price ranges. Hence, you must select a rug that lies within your budget and at the same time also lends a good look to your room.

d. Warranty: When your purchase rugs, see if the dealer is known for being reliable and if he provides only authentic goods. Find out if there is any warranty period for the rugs and whether a provision to return the defective products is present.

e. Rugs should be fireproof and also withstand wear and tear.

f. Apart from all this, the rugs should not gather dust from the surrounding easily. In case this happens, it should be possible to clean the dust easily without much trouble.

Rugs come in different colors and textures. It must be chosen depending on the buyers’ taste. Among all the materials, nylon rugs are preferred due to their durability and ability to retain color after long usage. Other materials used in the manufacture of rugs are olefin, polypropylene, wool and cotton. If you have more children and if there is a chance of more dust accumulating on the rug, it is advisable to purchase a rug made of polypropylene as it is accumulates less dust and it is easier to clean it.

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The History Of Rugs

The history of rugs is quite amazing. The weaving of rugs and carpets dates back to at least 500 BC. Rugs are made by weaving, at least this is how they started making rugs. Weaving is nothing new, our ancestors have been doing it for thousands of years. The first weaving that was done was to make baskets. They made baskets out of anything that was pliable, leaves, grass, twigs and whatever materials could be found at the time.

The most common material used for rugs back then was most likely goat and sheep hair. Later on the Chinese produced wool piles. Some of the first Chinese rugs and carpets were made out of cotton and wool backings.

Some of the first looms were made with two branches that looked like a fork and connected by a crosspiece. The binding threads were then flattened with a bar usually made of wood. They later learned to dye the threads with various natural colors from fruit, vegetables, animals and bugs.

In 1769 a machine was invented by a Richard Arkwright. The machine was designed to spin thread onto a bobbin. Not too many years later a machine was designed to spin a thousand threads at a time. Eventually it progressed to where we are at today.

An archaeologist in the 1950's found a rug that dated back to 500 BC or before. It was found in a frozen state in Siberia. It was a knotted rug of Turkish descent. This just goes to show you that rugs are by no means something new. Our ancestors have been using them since the beginning of time.

Before people ever started weaving hunters would use the animal hides they got off of their prey to make clothing, rugs, maps and other various things. Today rugs are mass produced by machines and most people have forgotten the history behind rugs. When buying your next rug, remember the history of rugs!

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