Area Rug Buyers Guide

When you begin decorating your home there are some important factors to consider. Your floors will usually be the foundation for your design. An authentic hand made area rug can visually integrate or harmonize diverse elements in any decor or can reenergize a room.

Below are various factors to consider for purchasing & decorating with an oriental rug:

1. Size of the Rug - Area to be covered

Size up 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-10-foot area 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 colo r and warmth.

2. In the Home

Living Room

In a living room the area rug would most likely be placed in front of the sofa and under the coffee table

To place a room-sized area rug on a hardwood floor, choose an area rug which allows eight inches (twenty centimeters) of wood to be exposed around the rug's perimeter.

Measure the open space up to the sofa and chairs making sure that the individual seated will have both feet on the area rug.

More than one area rug is acceptable.

Dining Room

There should be room to pull the chairs out from the table with the back legs of the chairs remaining on the area rug.

Stairs

Look for Busy & Dark patterns

Dark wool rugs are great for this

Hallways & Entrances

Dense Patterns

Wool pile (Most durable) with cotton foundation (strong and does not loose shape) is ideal.

Very light colors are not suggested

Bedroom

Do not recommend a room size Persian/Oriental area rug for the bedroom. Most of the pattern will be hidden under the bed in the dark making the rug prone to moth damage.

Instead, use multiple area rugs. A rug at the foot of the bed and two on each side Or use several scatter rugs to fill areas around the bed as needed. It will actually cost less and compliment your furnishings better.

3. FURNISHINGS

Begin with the end in mind. Visualize the finished look of the room. Do you prefer the sparse, uncluttered look or you have a room rich with colors and textures?

Remember that a rug is th! e largest splash of color in any room. Select your rug first, and then the upholstery to blend with the rug. Furniture should enhance the rug design or colors found in the rug

Next comes window treatment and walls; neutral shades are recommended.

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.

Conversely, should your focal point be furniture, choose a rug to pick up the colors used in your furnishing patterns. Patterns can be mixed if they are coordinated by color.

Don't get discouraged if you are having problems finding an area rug to blend in with your decor. We suggest you surf NatureRugs.com for the vast variety of Rugs that will suit your situation. For some reason, Jaipur & Agra Rug designs and colors tend to work with many fabrics.

4. Using Multiple Area Rugs

Should you use one rug or two?

• One rug is the general rule as it coordinates the room together and helps select fabrics for furniture, curtains, etc.
• In a very large room, more than one rug can be used to separate the room. The designs of the rugs should be different enough to create spatial separation, but similar in color and quality to maintain the integrity of the room space.

Two or more rugs should complement each other

• One needs to be dominant in size
• They should be similar in at least design/color/size
• Smaller rugs should not look like clones

5. Color

If redecorating an already furnished room, choose a rug to pick up the colors used in your furnishing patterns

Paint or paper the walls in colors found in the rug when color coordinating.

Look for a rug that is commonality with the existing color of the walls.

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.

6. Durability

For floor rugs wool is usually a preferred choice as it resists daily wear better than synthetics. Wool has many wonderful qualities- deep, rich color tones, high durability and relative ease of care. For more information you can read article Advantages of Wool over Synthetic Fibers.

Silk rugs are better used for walls, throws etc. Living rooms are ideal to showcase silk rugs.

Chromium dyes are strong and deliver consistency and durability of color.

Vegetable dyes give the rug a patina of color, a casual look that is very attractive.

7. Shape

Let your decorating style determine your rug shape.

Don't be limited to the idea of getting a rectangular rug.

A circular or octagonal-shaped floor covering can add flair and elegance.

8. What is the dealer return policy?

You should at least have one week risk free trial period to experience the rug. You can test the wool texture, dye quality (take a moistened paper towel and run it along the edges & center, the dye should not bleed out) & see if it fits into your home décor.

Other considerations:

Medallion design area rugs should be centered in the room & directly under the chandelier

Don't select a busy area rug if the room's color scheme and patterns are busy as well.

Keep your family safe by making su! re that rug corners do not extend into high traffic areas.

Watch out for the fringe. If the rug you like has fringe, make sure it's sewn on well, and very carefully use the vacuum cleaner.

Look at the back of a rug, as this will usually tell if it is machine or handmade. If the fibers are stiff and run straight up and down, it's a machine rug.

When buying oriental rugs, avoid going-out-of-business sales and auctions where sellers aren't likely to be around later if your rug has a problem

In all rooms try to avoid having the corner of the rug end up in the middle of the doors or archway openings.

For smaller rooms, a small pattern is more appropriate. It gives the appearance of a larger room.

If you're looking for absolute perfection, don't buy a handmade area rug. Expensive hand-made rugs are not squared off as properly as imitation machine-made reproductions. Also read Article Hand Knotted vs! . Machine Made Rugs.

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.

It is recommended to rotate rugs end for end on a yearly basis to equalize wear.

Oriental rugs fade, as does upholstery. Avoid direct sunlight.

Another recommendation is to have rugs cleaned professionally periodically by a reputable cleaner

To meet Federal Trade Commission requirements Persian/ Oriental rug dealers label each rug with its country of origin and the distributor's business name. Labels having the words Indo-, Sino- or Pak-, for instance, would indicate that a rug came from India, China or Pakistan respectively.

Rugs are called 'tribal" if they are woven by nomadic groups.

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5 Factors You Must Consider When Buying an Area Rug

An area rug is one of the best ways to brighten up a room that may be getting a little tired, and in need of some love. A great area rug adds color and style to any room, and takes the eye away from faults, like stains in the carpet.

Rugs are one of the cheapest ways to improve the look and feel of your home. Problem is, when you're out looking for a rug there's so many choices it's hard to know where to start.

However before you buy a new area rug for your home you need to think about a few things.

Here's 5 tips for buying the right area rug for your home to add value and style.

1. The color of the rug, or the mix of colors. It's the color and design of the rug creates the effect, so you've got to spend some time thinking about color.

Do you want your rug to blend in with the colors already in the room to create a more muted and subtle effect, or do you want the rug to jump out and hit the visitor in the eye when they enter the room?

So look at the colors you already have in the room and decide what effect you want to achieve. Select a color that stands out if you want your rug to be the focus of the room, select similar colors if you want your rug to add to but not dominate the room.

2. The pattern, of the rug, is almost as important as the color. There are a number of basic patterns, using both lines and curves to produce the effect. Is your room a room of lines? For example will the rug sit under or next to a table? If so having a rug with curves right beside a table with a straight edge may not work.

So consider whether you want a pattern that incorporates lines or curves.

3. The overall design of the rug is critical, and adds to the character of the rug as much as the color. There are 3 basic types. The medallion which has the motif in the center of the rug, or an all over design where the motif is spread right over the rug. Perhaps you want your motif around the edges of the rug?

So learn a little about the different designs and decide what type of design will fit your room before you go to buy.

4. The size of the rug is critical. Too many people make the mistake of buying a rug that is too big. It shouldn't go right to the edges of the room, and of course bigger is more expensive.

Area rugs come in standard sizes and shapes, including rectangular, round, square and runner, or long hallway shape. Select a shape and size that fits in with the style of your room, making sure that there is at least 12 inches or more between the edge of the rug and the walls.

5. And finally, for rugs that are intended to go under the table. If it's to go under a coffee table don't get a rug that comes just to the legs and no more, most will be lost under the table. And if it's for a table where people will be seated, like a dining table, make it big enough so that people can sit back a little without the rear legs of the chairs coming off the rug, which tips the chairs back a little and isn't entirely comfortable.

So research a little and then get out there and buy yourself a great area rug, it's one of the best things you can do to brighten up your home. Add a rug to a hallway to draw the eyes, or perhaps add color under the dinner table. There's so many effects you can create with a well places area rug.

And buy over the internet, it's so much cheaper than in your regular rug store. You can find some stunning and very cheap area rugs online.

Enjoy your new rug.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/accessories-articles/5-factors-you-must-consider-when-buying-an-area-rug-531479.html

5 Factors You Must Consider When Buying an Area Rug

An area rug is one of the best ways to brighten up a room that may be getting a little tired, and in need of some love. A great area rug adds color and style to any room, and takes the eye away from faults, like stains in the carpet.

Rugs are one of the cheapest ways to improve the look and feel of your home. Problem is, when you're out looking for a rug there's so many choices it's hard to know where to start.

However before you buy a new area rug for your home you need to think about a few things.

Here's 5 tips for buying the right area rug for your home to add value and style.

1. The color of the rug, or the mix of colors. It's the color and design of the rug creates the effect, so you've got to spend some time thinking about color.

Do you want your rug to blend in with the colors already in the room to create a more muted and subtle effect, or do you want the rug to jump out and hit the visitor in the eye when they enter the room?

So look at the colors you already have in the room and decide what effect you want to achieve. Select a color that stands out if you want your rug to be the focus of the room, select similar colors if you want your rug to add to but not dominate the room.

2. The pattern, of the rug, is almost as important as the color. There are a number of basic patterns, using both lines and curves to produce the effect. Is your room a room of lines? For example will the rug sit under or next to a table? If so having a rug with curves right beside a table with a straight edge may not work.

So consider whether you want a pattern that incorporates lines or curves.

3. The overall design of the rug is critical, and adds to the character of the rug as much as the color. There are 3 basic types. The medallion which has the motif in the center of the rug, or an all over design where the motif is spread right over the rug. Perhaps you want your motif around the edges of the rug?

So learn a little about the different designs and decide what type of design will fit your room before you go to buy.

4. The size of the rug is critical. Too many people make the mistake of buying a rug that is too big. It shouldn't go right to the edges of the room, and of course bigger is more expensive.

Area rugs come in standard sizes and shapes, including rectangular, round, square and runner, or long hallway shape. Select a shape and size that fits in with the style of your room, making sure that there is at least 12 inches or more between the edge of the rug and the walls.

5. And finally, for rugs that are intended to go under the table. If it's to go under a coffee table don't get a rug that comes just to the legs and no more, most will be lost under the table. And if it's for a table where people will be seated, like a dining table, make it big enough so that people can sit back a little without the rear legs of the chairs coming off the rug, which tips the chairs back a little and isn't entirely comfortable.

So research a little and then get out there and buy yourself a great area rug, it's one of the best things you can do to brighten up your home. Add a rug to a hallway to draw the eyes, or perhaps add color under the dinner table. There's so many effects you can create with a well places area rug.

And buy over the internet, it's so much cheaper than in your regular rug store. You can find some stunning and very cheap area rugs online.

Enjoy your new rug.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/accessories-articles/5-factors-you-must-consider-when-buying-an-area-rug-531479.html

Area Rugs Will Add That Special Look And Feel To Your Home

Decorating with area rugs is one of the easiest ways to update, revitalize and beautify your home. Rugs can add dramatic color and design to every room; create a focal point or define areas; add warmth to the look and feel of tiles, stone, or concrete; protect hardwood floors or wall-to-wall carpeting; and tie elements of a room together. You can change rugs when the seasons change and take them with you if you move. It is not surprising that area rugs are of great interest to the do-it-yourself decorator.

Some Things to Think About

Color is probably the most important element in decorating and should top the list of your requirements when selecting area rugs. If a room has a lot of bright colors and looks very busy, choose a neutral color and a subtle design for the rug. If the colors of the room are soft and neutral, you can add a splash of color and interest with a bright rug and a dramatic design. If you want to enhance the color scheme that exists in a room, select a rug that repeats the dominant or accent colors; if the color scheme hasn’t been chosen, buy the rug of your dreams and decorate the room around it.

The pattern on the rug must not clash with patterns on the wallpaper, window coverings, cushions, and other fabrics in the room. Dark colors add warmth, and light colors will make the room appear more spacious. The amount of traffic is also a consideration. If there are children or pets, or the rug will get steady use, dark colors and intricate patterns will not show dirt as much or as quickly as light colors.

If you buy a rug for the bathroom, make sure the colors are compatible with the color of the bathmat. (Or buy a new bathmat.) It is also important that a rug in the bathroom not be adversely affected by moisture especially if it will be underfoot when you step out of the shower or bath. Maintenance is an important consideration when choosing rugs not only for the bathroom, but also the kitchen, the hall, or the room of a child. Select designs and colors that don’t show the dirt, and are stain resistant and easy to clean.

It is a good idea to add padding under a rug because it will not only keep the rug from moving, it will also extend its life, absorb sound, and make vacuuming easier. If you are placing a rug over wall-to-wall carpeting, choose a thin under-pad coated with an adhesive.

Check the Size You Need

If you want an area rug to cover most of the floor in a room, the same amount of bare floor should be exposed on all sides of the rug, even if the room is an irregular shape or there is a closet or fireplace extending into it. If you are not able to arrange that, try and have the same amount of floor showing on two parallel sides.

When defining an area – a conversational grouping, for instance – there should be no more than two feet of empty rug extending out from behind the furniture. A rug used in this fashion will unify the items placed around it if the rug is large enough to accommodate at least the front legs of each piece of furniture.

If you are going to place a large rug in the bedroom, it need not be centered but the same amount of floor should be visible on two or three sides of it. In the dining room, the rug should extend eighteen inches to twenty-four inches beyond the table. An eight- by ten-foot rug will work in most living rooms and dining rooms. A six- by four-foot or a six- by nine-foot rug will be fine if it is for a small area, such as under a coffee table, in which case, the entire coffee table should be on it and all other furniture set back from it at an equal distance.

If you have trouble visualizing what a rug will look like in a room and can’t decide what size would be best, use masking tape to define the space. If that doesn’t help, cut pieces from a paper roll or lay out bed sheets to cover the area before you decide what size to buy. You don’t want any surprises.

Create Special Effects

If a rug is to be the focal point of a room, consider purchasing one with a central medallion, which is a popular design for an oriental rug. If the medallion will be hidden for the most part by a piece of furniture – the dining room table or a bed, for example – forget the medallion and select a rug that has an allover design, or one with detail on its borders.

Oriental rugs – a term which refers, in decorating lingo, to rugs from any Asian country – are popular in modern as well as traditional homes. Expect to pay more for an imported Persian rug, considered by many to be superior to all other oriental rugs. Tibetan rugs are also a beautiful and popular choice and not as expensive, or you can choose a rug from Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan, China, or from many other Asian countries.

If the room has an early American theme, a round braided rug, popular since the early settlement of North America, will probably be very suitable. Using a Navajo rug, with its geometric designs and flat weave, can reinforce a southern or desert theme. If your tastes run more to the comfort and appeal of animal fur or wool, forget the tiger skin and look for a flokati rug – a hand-woven Greek woolen rug with a thick, shaggy pile – it may create just the look you want.

Contemporary rugs come in every variety of color, design, texture, size, and price. Don’t overlook them when you are searching for the perfect area rugs, even if your house is decorated in a traditional style. Just as a traditional rug can look great in a modern home, a contemporary rug can add to the appeal and charm of a traditional home. Let your creative spirit soar – and make sure the rug can be returned or exchanged in case you discover your creative spirit soared in the wrong direction.

Cost is a Consideration

The cost of a home rug is closely related to the fiber from which it is made. The most expensive natural fiber will be found in a wool rug; other less expensive natural fibers are cotton, jute, silk and sisal (hemp). Popular synthetics favored for quality rugs are acrylic, polypropylene (olefin), and nylon.

If you are on a tight budget, look for discount and bargain outlets, but be sure the dealer is reputable, there is a wide selection, and check the warranty and the return policy before you buy.

Area rugs are available in a wide variety of styles, and there are sizes to fit every room and prices to fit every budget. Shop until you find exactly what you want.

About the Author:
Scott Gray is currently a freelance writer and enjoys providing tips to consumers who are in the market for all types of cheap area rugs, contemporary rugs, and persian rugs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Gray

Fitting Rugs Into Your Flooring Ideas

When looking to improve the look of your flooring, a rug can come in really handy. There are so many different shapes and sizes available that there is definitely something to suit your needs somewhere!

When thinking of ways to brighten up your living space, it is often a good idea to consider using rugs. They come in all different shapes, sizes and colors so it should be relatively easy to find something to suit your needs. Often the contrast in color between the rug and the floor can look perfectly fitting and it adds a little touch of homeliness into the room.

How to Choose the Right Rug for Your Room

Choosing a rug is a fairly simple process once you understand what it is that you are looking for. Now many people do not stop to think when choosing a rug as they feel that not a lot of thought has to go into it. After all, isn’t it about walking into a store, seeing a rug that you like and then taking it home with you? Well technically yes, but there is generally a lot more to it than that.

Choosing a rug takes a lot of thought mainly because you need to get the color scheme right so that it fits in with the rest of the room. You need to think about the color of the walls, the color of the flooring and the color of your furniture. If you choose the wrong rug it could clash and the whole room would look off balance. So, think about the color scheme before you purchase anything!

If for example the walls are a pale color, you may find that a natural colored rug fits better in with the room than a purple one would. If the walls are more of a copper color then you would be better off choosing a red colored rug. You have to know which colors go better together and whilst you do not have to go for the same sort of color as the walls, you do have to go for one which compliments it. So you can choose either a neutral color or a color which adds a little subtle touch or a vibrant contrasting color which brings the focus to the rug but which does not clash with the color of the walls.

If you are stuck for ideas on which rug to choose then really an Oriental one could be a safe option. You may not realize it but an Oriental rug can actually add a little something to the room and it is not overly intrusive either. They go well with light colored walls, though they could also work equally as well with red and other warm colored walls.

Overall a rug can make a room feel less empty and it can even add a touch of warmth too. They go well on both carpets and laminate flooring and they make a great center feature for any room.

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A Consumer's Guide to Oriental Rug Care

Area rugs have gained significant market share over the past decade. As more consumers remove carpeting in favor of hard surfaces such as wood, ceramic tile, laminates, and stone, rug ownership in the US has skyrocketed. Ken Snow, President of The Original Hagopian, a flooring and rug retailer and cleaning company in Michigan says: "We sell and maintain carpet, wood, laminate flooring, and Area rugs. We've noticed a proportional increase in rug sales and a general decline in wall-to-wall carpet sales over the past decade." Snow continues: "Consumers love the beauty and resilience of hard floors, but still want aesthetic contrast in color and texture as well as a bit of warmth and softness under their feet. Because of these needs, area rugs are the perfect companion to hard flooring surfaces."

Considerations

With more rugs in homes and businesses, cleaning and maintaining them has become a growing concern amongst consumers. Before delving into proper care, it's important to identify the basic construction of the rug. There are two main categories of rugs: Synthetic and Natural. There are also rugs which are created with both synthetic and natural materials and these are referred to as "Blends". Cleaning and caring for synthetic rugs is very similar to Cleaning and caring for installed carpet, so for purposes of this Consumer's Guide to Oriental rug care we'll stick with Oriental-style rugs constructed of natural materials.

When discussing synthetic and natural rugs, it's important to understand that the face fibers (the "up" side of the rug) or foundation/backing may be synthetic, natural, or both. For example, a "Wool rug" usually describes the face fibers; however the backing may be synthetic or natural. Both the backing and face fibers are of equal concern to the Oriental rug cleaner. It's safer to clean any rug with the Cleaning solution and method designed for the most sensitive part of the rug. Generally speaking, synthetic materials aren't as sensitive as natural materials. Therefore in the "Wool rug" example above, even if the rug has a synthetic backing, it's safer to treat the entire rug as a Wool rug. More about Cleaning solutions and methods below.

rug Construction

Wool is the most popular naturally-constructed material found in the face fibers of Oriental style rugs. Other natural rug face fiber materials consist of cotton, silk, grass (sisal, jute), animal skins, and even obscure materials including leather and paper. If you are the owner of an animal skin, silk, grass, leather, or paper rug, I highly suggest you send your rug to a qualified Oriental rug cleaning company for proper Cleaning. These rugs are extremely difficult to clean by consumers and permanent damage will occur if cleaned improperly.

Dry Soil Removal

A high quality Oriental rug should last a lifetime and the best way to help it last a lifetime is by vacuuming often. How often depends on usage. Generally speaking once a week is often enough, however if pets walk on the rug or the rug receives a high amount of foot traffic, vacuuming once or twice a day may be required. Dense Oriental rugs have a tendency to hide micro-soiling and sand that builds up in the foundation. Over time these fine dry soils will prematurely wear the rug.

Lesser quality rugs, especially some hand-tufted inexpensive rugs, (usually made in China, Pakistan and India) may shed face fibers quite a bit during vacuuming. This is normal for this type of rug. Unfortunately these inexpensive Oriental rugs will probably not last a lifetime unless not walked on.

Fringe care

If your rug has fringe, please do NOT use a vacuum with a beater bar attached to it. Instead either gently brush the fringe with a brush designed for fringe, or use an attachment on your vacuum without a beater bar to remove dry soil from fringe. As the owner of a rug cleaning company with well over 10,000 rug cleanings successfully completed, the number one complaint we see from consumers is premature fringe wear caused by the consumer vacuuming the fringe with a beater bar.

Spot and Spill Cleanup

Inevitably there will come a time that you spill something on your Oriental rug or notice a spot from something that was tracked in on it. It's best to immediately blot or scoop up the excess spot or spill, if possible. I recommend using a dry WHITE cotton terry towel or white paper towels to remove the majority of the spot or spill. If you choose a towel that is not white, there is a strong possibility the color of the towel will transfer to the rug.

Before using ANY spot cleaner on a rug (including merely water), it's best to test in a small and inconspicuous Area. Unfortunately there may not be an inconspicuous Area to test, especially on a smaller rug. If this is the case test it near the edge of the rug since it's usually less noticeable than the center if the test reveals color loss or texture change. If you notice a color change, bleeding, or texture change, STOP and call a professional qualified rug Cleaning company for assistance.

After blotting and testing according to the instructions above, first attempt to remove any remaining spot with tap water. Do not soak the rug. Simply dampen a white terry towel or paper towel with water and blot, never rub. If you don't notice any improvement, the safest solution to use as a general spot cleaner is to mix 32 oz of tap water and 1 teaspoon of liquid Dawn or Ivory hand dishwashing soap. Do NOT use automatic dishwasher soap or laundry detergents as many of these products contain optical brighteners or harsh chemicals that may ruin the rug.

Cleaning

Dry soil and spot removal are important maintenance steps to take between thorough cleanings, but Oriental rugs do need to be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. Generally speaking cleaning the entire rug once a year is sufficient, but if the rug has a lot of foot traffic, is susceptible to spills and spots, or pets and kids use the rug often, the rug may need to be thoroughly cleaned every 3 to 6 months. There are several ways to clean a rug and it's well beyond the scope of this Consumer's Guide to determine the best method in every case. Having said this, the most thorough cleaning is accomplished by the Immersion Method. Immersion is accomplished by scrubbing the rug under water and safely wringing out the excess water and soil with a roller system, speed drying the rug, and addressing the fringe. I do not suggest consumers attempt to Immerse their Oriental rugs due to the many complications that can arise including bleeding, foundation shrinkage, degradation from being wet too long, and many other concerns. Please check online at IICRC Locate-a-Pro Website to locate a qualified professional rug cleaner.

Rug Padding

High quality Oriental rugs are built extremely strong and can endure many years of use. To help rugs last even longer, help make them softer on the feet, and to provide in-place stability, the use of a high quality rug pad is highly recommended. There are several types of rug pads to consider and the selection of the right pad is dependent on the surface the rug will cover and thickness of the rug.

Conclusion

When properly maintained, high quality Oriental rugs provide a lifetime of beauty and use. By following the steps above your Oriental rug should last forever. If you have any questions about proper Oriental rug care, please contact me via email at the address below.

Tag : rugs,oriental rugs,rug care,consumer,area rugs

Fixing a Damaged Rug – How it Works

Oriental rugs require special care and professionals who understand the types of patterns and dyes that went into making your unique imported rug. If your rugs become damaged or torn, you need a professional who can repair your rug and recreate the beauty of the original style. But what goes into professional Austin rug weaving and what do they do with your heirloom rugs?

Most professional Austin rug weavers are experts at both cleaning and repairing your treasured possessions and have the experience necessary to take great care of your rug. Keep in mind, though, that cleaning and repairing are two very different processes. Although both require intricate knowledge of the history of your unique rug, professional rug weaving and repair requires weavers who understand the intricacies of the patterns. A quality professional rug weaver can match the weave and texture of your rug without any color or pattern variations.

When a professional Austin rug weaver takes your rug, they usually clean it first, removing all loose dirt and debris from the fibers. Cleaning a rug prior to repair can help decrease the amount of damage done to the wool or silk fibers and help the professionals find any other damage or repair that you may have missed. After removing loose dirt, professional teams usually hand clean the carpet and inspect it, making notes for the individual or team of individuals who will mostly likely conduct the repairs.

You'll need to make sure that the professional Austin rug weaving and repair teams employ individuals who have experience in the type of work and weaves that your rug requires. No two rugs are alike and most professional rug weaving and repair services use master weavers who have experience in matching the weave and patterns of various different rugs. You'll also want to make sure that these Austin rug repair companies are confident in matching not only patterns and knots, but also the fibers and dyes of your unique rug.

Some Austin rug weaving repair team employs a master weaver, like the ones at Kiwi Austin rug weaving. These individuals have been specially trained to match the weave, texture, pattern, and dyes of thousands of different regions around the world. They hand match each component of your rug to ensure seamless repairs and restore the luster and color of your treasured rugs.

Every rug is unique and different. Each one combines dyes, patterns, and colors that define the region of origin and the time period in which it was produced. In order to keep your rug looking great, you need to trust only the professionals who have employed Master Weavers, like the ones with the Kiwi Austin rug weaving team. If you need professional rug cleaning or rug weaving, trust your treasures to the professionals and those who understand the importance and heritage of your unique rug. As questions and research the team prior to signing a contract and make sure they employ individuals who can recreate the beauty of your rug without compromising the integrity of the fibers or dye.

Only perfectly matched Master Weavers and rug restoration professionals, like those at Kiwi Services, can produce the seamless results you want. Research the Austin rug weaving, rug repairOriental rug Weavers services in your area and ask appropriate questions to make sure their teams and services match the needs and requirements of your rug. and

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/fixing-a-damaged-rug-how-it-works-431179.html

Traditional Braided Area Rugs

Traditional Braided Area Rugs

The craft and origin of braided rugs has been the subject of some debate over the years. It is said that the art and craft of braided rugs has roots in the Native American culture. Indigenous cultures the world over have long and well documented histories of rug making. Others contend that the braided rug came to the New World with early European settlers, originally as rag rugs. Regardless of the how the braided rug arrived in North America, the popularity of these rugs has not diminished over the years.

Rag rug making has long been considered a folk art that is still widely practiced. Like many other types of weaving, rug making was a home based craft, borne out of necessity. Frontier settlers did have the luxury of climbing into the family wagon and heading to the local rug store. If something was needed for the home, be it a warm blanket or a rug, a way was found to make it.

As the term implies, rag rugs were made from any available scraps of fabric. Like quilting, the practice of utilizing available materials meant that color schemes and patterns were a secondary consideration. In essence, form followed function. Fabric dyeing, if done at all, made use of local plants, berries and roots. Again, the practice of fabric dyeing was not limited to European settlers. For centuries, Native Americans understood the power of nature to provide beauty and color. This understanding can be seen in virtually every aspect of Native American life.

Traditional braided rugs can be found in a wide variety of weaving styles and construction. Regardless of the fabric, weave or construction, properly made braided rugs share one common feature. Simply put, a proper rug must be made to lay flat on the floor. One sure sign of a poorly braided rug is curling and bunching. A properly made braided or rag rug will have a flat braid. Flat braids are sometimes referred to as tape braids. Flat braids are made by weaving around at least two parallel center cords.

Many round braids are made by weaving around a single, round center cord. The practice of round braiding is a technique that can be found in more modern rug construction. Round braiding is a perfectly acceptable practice, though some less expensive round braid rugs have some problems. Use of a stiff center core in combination with a poor quality yarn will result in a rug that does wear very well. Cheap yarn abrading against a hard center core causes the yarn to wear prematurely, often exposing the center core material.

One of the more unique and beautiful characteristics of braided rugs is color. Makers of early braided rugs might have used whatever fabric or yarn was at hand. The result was a blend or variegation of many colors, often resulting in random patterns. The variegation in color made every rug unique much like patchwork quilts which did not rely on any particular pattern. Variegated rug patterns are perennial favorites among those folks prefer a very traditional look.

The practice of dyeing fabrics and yarns allowed weavers to create patterns of more uniform color. The choice of styles and patterns available today is quite diverse with some rugs following thematic patterns.

Quality braided rugs are easy to care for. Remember that these rugs have been around since before the introduction of such modern conveniences as the vacuum cleaner. Tightly sewn and woven braided rugs could be swept clean with stiff broom. Braided rugs are reversible and regularly turning the rug over greatly extends the life of the rug.

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Wool Area Rugs - Great For Home-Interior

Wool area rugs are a great addition to any household. They can be used to bring life and vibrant color to any room inside of your household. Often times in order to offset certain dominant color patterns in rooms, people will go out and purchase wool area rugs. The nice thing about getting an area rug is that you can choose to move it to any room of your house at any time; it is not a permanent installation. The benefit of getting an area rug made from wool is that it will provide you with much longer-lasting comfort than most other types of area rugs.

A lot of people focus on improving the appearance of their home-flooring. An easy thing to add to your home that will make many people believe that you are an expert in home decoration is a wool area rug. Not only do they look great in nearly any room of your house, but they feel great to lie on. The majority of individuals that have a wool area rug are able to enjoy the fact that they provide a lot of additional comfort and warmth during the winter-season. They may cost you a fairly large sum of money, though, and people have the right to not waste money on buying a wool rug.

Another unique feature about wool rugs is that you can buy them in any size and shape. There are square wool rugs, circular rugs, as well as rugs that are more traditional shapes like rectangles. It is completely up to you as to what shape and size of wool area rug will best fit the room that you'd like it to be in. If you have a circular room, you may want to consider getting a circular-wool rug. If you want a rug to go under your feet while you are eating, you can get a smaller, more individual-style wool-rug.

If you are going to make an investment in a wool area rug, you should certainly take the time to admire all of the hard-work that was put into its creation; especially if it was a handmade rug. The benefit of buying a handmade wool rug over a regular one is that it will likely be a lot more unique and have much greater durability than most rugs.

No matter what style of wool rug you have, you should always take steps in order to prevent it from getting worn out. Do not put a special wool rug in an area of your house that is frequently walked through or that gets trampled. Be sure to put it in a location where everyone is able to see it, yet in an area that will prevent it from getting worn out. If you are really serious about preventing your rug from getting damaged, you could even consider buying rug-pads in order to ensure that you keep the bottom of your rug from getting torn.

When buying a wool area rug, you often get what you pay for; if the rug is handmade, you will definitely be shelling out more money than you would for a contemporary wool rug that was made in a factory. If you don't have issues with the pricing of wool-rugs, then it would be wise to select a handmade rug for your house. If you want to get a good looking wool area rug and save money, you should get a machine-made area rug.

If you are wondering where you can find a good wool area rug, there are plenty of places on the internet that will help you find a rug that meets your selection criteria. It is suggested that you look online for a good area rugs and compare the prices of the best rugs that you found online to rugs that you found at interior-décor and home-interior stores. You will likely find that the prices are relatively comparable between sites that sell rugs and stores. Stores are a great place to find wool-area rugs because you don't need to pay for shipping and you can get a close-up view of the texture and rug styles. No matter if you shop at a rug-store or on the internet, you can find a wool area rug that helps bring more life to your house!

Buying Oriental Rugs at Auction - What You Need to Know

In order to buy Oriental rugs at auction, you have to be able to evaluate them. They can be rather complicated so the more knowledge you have, the better off you will be. Once you know what to look for, you will have a leg up on most of the other people in the audience.

No one at an auction is going to help you measure the value of an Oriental rug. You will have to do this yourself. Rugs can be a wonderful bargain at auction as long as you know what you are doing.

Here is what you need to know about Oriental rugs:

What is an Oriental Rug?

It is a rug that has been hand-made in Iran, China, India, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, Morocco, the Balkans, Mongolia, Egypt, Tibet, Nepal, Afghanistan or the Caucasus Mountains - the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

Persian rugs are usually broken out into a separate category under the group heading of Oriental. This is because they are in a class all their own. There is no finer rug than a Persian rug. Not only that, there were more rugs made in Persia than in any other country. Persia is now known as Iran.

What is the Difference between a Rug and a Carpet?

An Oriental carpet is generally considered to be anything larger than 35 square feet. It is considered a rug if it measures anything under this. You may also come across the term "Palace carpet." True palace carpets are usually antique and they measure 14 feet by 10 feet or larger. Years ago they were made in these dimensions so as not to be overwhelmed by the larger size of the rooms found in a palace.

When is an Oriental Rug Considered an Antique?

Unlike most other items that are considered antiques when they reach one hundred years old, an Oriental rug is an antique at 50 years. Rugs that are between 10 and 50 years old are semi-antique and anything under 10 years is looked upon as new. Although most Oriental rugs have value, antique rugs bring the most money and some of them bring huge sums of money.

How Can You Tell if an Oriental Rug is Older?

Determining age can be difficult unless you are an expert. The majority of antique rugs have a design in each corner such as a bird's head. This was quite common back in the day but no longer.

Also, if you separate the rug pile and use a magnifying glass to look at the base of one of the knots, you should see an even and consistent reduction in color all the way to the top of the pile. This is evidence of the fading of the dyes over time. If the reduction in color is more sporadic or uneven, then the color was purposely altered in some way to give the appearance of age.

How to Tell a Hand Made Rug from a Machine Made Rug?

There are many rugs out there that have the look of an Oriental but they are just inexpensive machine made rugs. It is very easy to tell the difference between the two. You can fold an Oriental rug. No matter how big it is, it can be folded like a blanket, although it is considerably heavier and bulkier. Large Oriental rugs can be folded in half and then folded again in thirds for easier moving - as long as you can lift it. A machine made rug has to be rolled up because it has no capacity to bend.

There are two other ways to distinguish between hand made and machine made. The first is to look at the fringe. On a hand made Oriental rug, the fringe is an extension of the rug. It is not sewed on. The second is when looking at the back of a rug, if the pattern on the front is clearly visible on the back then it is hand made.

How do You Judge the Quality of a Hand Made Oriental Rug?

The quality of a hand made rug is determined by how many knots there are in a square inch. The tighter the knots, the more expensive the rug. This rule of thumb is somewhat complicated by another factor and that would be the material used to make the rug. Most Oriental rugs are made from either wool or silk. Clearly a rug maker can get more knots into a square inch with silk than he can with wool. However, there are some wool rugs with a lesser knot count that are more valuable than a silk rug with a higher knot count. Unfortunately that makes quality based on knot count alone hardly foolproof.

All you can do is look at the knots carefully and decide whether or not the knots are extremely close together as it relates to the material used. A knot count of 290 per square inch is considered a fine quality rug. As the count goes down so does the quality. Most antique rugs, which can be pretty expensive, are less than 290 knots but the value of an antique rug is based on age and country of origin as much as it is anything else.

All knots are hand done but there are different kinds of knots. A knot is reflective of a particular area such as a Turkish knot or a Persian knot, also called a Senneth knot. A Senneth knot is usually used on very intricate patterns.

If you are interested, you can do further research on the Internet or you can get a reference book on Oriental rugs. Seeing what these knots look like will further enhance your ability to properly identify each rug you see.

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Care And Use Of Traditional Rugs

One should make use of traditional rugs as they reduce noise pollution and loss of heat through the floor. Traditional rugs also provide comfort for sitting and lying compared to a hard wooden floor. However rugs needs to be cleaned regularly and they are hard to maintain compared to a hard floor. On a hard floor all you may need to do is clean up the surface with a mop. This is not possible on a floor with a traditional rug. Further the biggest hurdle lies in the maintenance of the rug. Stain can be caused very easily on traditional rugs by spilled drinks. Traditional rugs also tend to absorb fur from your pets. Traditional rugs are to be cleaned regularly by a vacuum cleaner to prevent dust from accumulating on the surface and below the surface. If your traditional rug happens to be a dark color or a single uniform color without any designs, then the dust particles are likely to show up against the background. Dust collected on these rugs is a cause for allergy to asthmatic patients.

When making use of traditional rugs, it is advisable to make use of traditional rug cushions, especially when using the rug on the floor. This not only increases the life of your traditional rug but also gives it a classic look.

Plastic foams are best cushions for traditional rugs because they do not stain your traditional rugs as well as floor. Plastic cushions also provide good wear protection. Jute, waffle and rubber pad should not be used as traditional rugs cushions.

Be sure to flip your traditional rug regularly. This distributes the wear and fading both sides on the traditional rugs. Your traditional rugs should be inspected regularly for insects. Insects like beetle can damage your traditional rugs. Inspect your rug regularly for damage by insects and treat your rug for moths. As mentioned earlier, vacuuming your traditional rugs is necessary periodically. When making use of your vacuum cleaner, be sure to use it without the beater bar.

If you’re traditional rugs get dirty due to accidental spills, clean the spill immediately. Immediate cleaning will prevent permanent staining taking place on your traditional rugs. Train your pets to let up outside the house only. Pet wetting causes stains that are not easily removable. Don’t let your pets chew up part of the rug, this damages the rug and treasured weaving of your traditional rugs get damaged due to the chewing. If you’re traditional rugs happens to get wet, and then dry it as fast as possible, possibly with a blow dryer. Do not put the heater on. Wetting the traditional rug is likely to cause irreparable damage to your rug. You should try to keep your traditional rug from getting wet. For this follow a few golden rules:-

Rule 1: Do let your pets wet the rug.

Rule 2: Do not keep any flower pots on the rug. (The prolonged moisture from the plant and mildew is likely to drain into the rug thereby damaging it)

Rule 3: If you find that your rug is dirty try to clean it only by specified methods. Do not wet clean the rug.

Rule 4: Do not stem clean your rug or clean it by any automated means.

If you happen to notice any damage to the rug that is caused by fraying or normal wear and tear, get the area repaired. Leaving a fray or wear unattended will reduce the value of the rug and will give the rug a bad look. A little care and cautiousness preserves the value of your traditional rugs and prevent major damage to your traditional rugs. Your traditional rug will serve you well if you give it a little care and attention.

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Modern Rugs Add Color, Texture, Interest and Space Definition To Your Room

Modern Design is sleek, stark, and spacious with angular and geometric lines. As the look for contemporary design is escalating so is the demand for modern home décor accessories. Modern area rugs can add color, texture, interest, and space definition to your decor. In the past, customers, who desired modern rugs, found it difficult to find one that fitted their requirements. However, today a growing number of rug companies are manufacturing modern rugs and more stores are in turn stocking modern rug designs. Fortunately, the buyer is not just restricted to jaded colors with abstract patterns. Today, modern rugs range from solid color modern rugs, stripes modern rugs, circle modern rugs, animal print modern rugs and many more. Additionally, a vide variety of modern rugs are replicated from famous artist’s paintings.

A number of rug manufacturers are producing rug designs with a central focus on modern rug design. Foreign Accents rug collection has been cited as the importer, who sets the trends in modern rugs offering modern rugs that are directed towards both the price conscious customer as well as the high-end market. These modern rugs have been richly rewarded “Best New Product” award - three times at the New York and Home Textiles Show. Exquisite Rugs carries the entire Foreign Accent modern rugs collection ranging from machine made modern rugs to hand tufted modern rugs and hand knotted modern rugs.

MOMENI RUGS , which has appropriately been recognized time and time again with America's Magnificent Carpet Award offers an array of modern rug collection. Many of these modern rugs are inspired by twentieth century decorative arts, 1910's Vienna scession, 1930's Art Deco and 1950's Abstract Expressionism. Momeni modern rugs have a variety of modern rug designs in hand made 100% wool construction. Some of these modern rugs are hand carved giving these rugs an interesting texture. Exquisite Rugs stocks these highly popular modern rugs that are a must buy for contemporary design enthusiasts.

Contemporary style is simple and refined using color schemes for their effect rather than their coordination. Use solid color rugs with interesting textures and patterns to complement other furniture and accessory pieces. These solid palette modern rugs depict clean lines and style in a contemporary look that is today. These modern rugs complement high-end contemporary or casual setting and are hand made in India from quality Indian and fine New Zealand wool.

The metro modern rug collection with its minimalist forms and exquisitely refined details is fresh and appealing. These modern rugs with their neutral base colors, tone on tone designs and slight trace of color are a hit with interior designers and customers alike. The underlying simplicity of line, shape, and form makes them hot sellers.

The modern rugs offered by Exquisite Rugs exhibit structure, proportion and preferences for geometric shapes and intense color.

Tasneem Mirza is the Managing Partner of Exquisite Rugs LLC. and member of AWBA, NJWBA and Beta Gamma Alpha- honors society for business students. Under the leadership of Tasneem Mirza, Exquisite Rugs launched in April 2002 has gained increased recognition. Tasneem Mirza has indebt knowledge of the rug industry. For questions related to rugs or Exquisite Rugs products please feel free to contact her at http://www.exquisiterugs.com

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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!

This Article is Originally Published here: Area Rugs

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Decorating With Rugs

Rugs are both decorative and practical. You should aim to get the best of both worlds when using rugs in your house. Rugs can also be used to separate and distinguish areas in a room. This is useful for efficient use of space. You can follow some of the suggestions below in order to achieve those aims.

Because rugs can have an effect on the overall look of a room selecting rugs you don't like cannot have happy consequences. In other words use only rugs that you feel comfortable about.

When selecting rugs for decorating, the size of the rug should depend on the effect you are aiming for. For instance rugs are useful as focusing agents, accenting a table, a sofa, or a bed, placed on top of them. Rugs themselves can be used as focal points without any furniture on them. This kind of highlighting can be done in almost any room in your house. In order to find the exact size required you should measure the floor in the area you wish to place the rug and then imagine the effect of placing it there with the help of floor markings. This method will give you a good is idea about the proportions of the rug that will be required and you will be able to judge whether effect you are aiming for can be successfully brought out.

Decision as to whether to use a large rug or several smaller ones will depend on similar considerations. A larger rug will unite the items placed on it into a unit, while smaller rugs can be used to break the room into several sections. Colors and patterns of the rugs should also be taken into account in this regard. Using rugs with similar colors and patterns will make them blend in with the room, while contrasting colors will help divide the room. For instance by using two a fairly large rugs with different patterns and colors you can divide the room into two.

Placing rugs on their own without any furniture also adds color to that room and that space. You can make the room look larger or smaller according to your wish by choosing complementing or contrasting colors for the rugs in comparison to the room's color scheme. Range of rug patterns on offer can be huge. Since their contrasting or completing effects can be infinite, before buying you should always check the effect by placing different rugs against each other and against room's general décor. Generally lighter colors and patterns create a more spacious feeling, while heavier and darker colors create a warm coziness.

By using differently shaped rugs and rugs with fringes, you can give your rooms a certain decorative fair and make them less formal.

Similarly rugs can be used for defining space in a room. By placing two chairs, a sofa, and a small table, on a rug you can demarcate a sitting area easily. If the rug is not large enough place only the front legs of the chairs on the rug, however to get the best decorative effect you should place the furniture completely on the rug. In order to save space you should avoid empty rug space behind the furniture.

In the dining room, rug should be large enough to cover the feet of the chairs when they are being used by a person sitting at the table. Before buying you should get accurate measurements to ensure this. Keep the other furniture in the dining room off the rug to get a nice effect.

In the bedrooms you do not need a large rug under the bed to highlight it. Most of it will be covered up by the bed in any case. Use smaller rugs and place them around the bed.

Rugs placed on the hallways and at the entrance will create the tone for the rest of your house décor. They should also make the guests feel welcome to the house. So you must choose those rugs with care.

For places with high foot traffic choose darker colors with heavier patterns in order to disguise the effect of usage. When placing the rugs ensure that high foot traffic areas should be covered by the middle part of the rug. Placing corners of the rug in such places can be dangerous.

You must leave enough space for door clearance if the space between door and floor is not enough for the rug. Using thinner rugs will save space in such situations. You should take the precaution of using rug pads. Rug pads protect the rugs from wear due to the friction between the rug and the floor or carpeting below, and increase their durability. They also stabilize the rug by providing a slip free foundation to the rug. Hardwood floors should not be covered completely by the rug. At least several inches of hardwood should be exposed to the air around the room if you want to use a large room covering rug on such a floor. Other factors that need to be considered include wiring and vents on the floor.

Rugs of various sizes, patterns, and colors, can be obtained to fulfill these decorative and practical functions as required. However larger the rug, the range of buying options available, whether it be colors, styles and materials, or patterns, decreases. You have the greatest range of options with the smaller rugs.

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5 Steps to Area Rug Bliss - No More Wrinkles, Buckles and Bunching Ever Again

To ensure that your Area Rug experience is one of absolute joy and bliss, consider these 5 tips.

1. Buy a Decent Area Rug

Area Rugs are often bought as an impulse item. When you need a rug to accent your décor or to cover an ugly spot, don't give in to the temptation of buying a chain store special, based on color and price only. An area rug should be a well thought décor item, not a cheap after-thought. You don't have to break the bank. Most good quality wool fiber rugs are available in style and qualities that will fit most any budget. Fine quality wool fiber area rugs can be purchased Online and shipped right to your front door for about the same price as those chain store pretenders.

2. Buy a New Zealand Wool Fiber Area Rug

Wool Fiber that has been shorn from New Zealand sheep is the best fiber for an area rug. Why a New Zealand sheep? Because they have been bred to produce "carpet quality" wool fiber. An area rug of New Zealand wool fiber will be soft on the feet and extremely durable. Most stains are not a problem; simply blot gently with clear warm water for best results.

3. Make sure it is at least 12mm to 14mm pile density

An area rugs density will play an important role in its life and performance. A flimsy cotton or olefin (polypropylene) rug or a runner without a secondary backing is nothing but trouble. A rug without sufficient density will wrinkle, warp, buckle and bunch. Not to mention the battle for possession that takes place when you try to vacuum it. The vacuum almost always wins this battle as you try using your feet to keep it under submission and out of the suction tube. I don't know anyone who enjoys constantly adjusting and straightening their rugs. If you buy a rug with sufficient pile density (or weight) it will remain where you place it and behave when you vacuum. I prefer rugs of at least 12mm. Especially if they are to be placed over wall-to-wall carpet. Buy a dense rug and let gravity keep it in position and under control.

4. Cotton or Jute Backing is preferred

Although cotton or jute backing is preferred, many rugs are manufactured with a secondary backing. I prefer rugs that are woven without the secondary backing. Because you can tell if it's a good quality rug when you can detect the pattern of the rug while looking at it from the back. Whether a rug is machine-made or hand-knotted it has to be woven into something. Cotton or jute is preferred, but polypropylene mesh is fine when used in the backing of a rug (but never the face fiber). However; some rugs need that secondary backing to add density and weight. Also consider how the are rug is bonded. Single backed area rugs only need a small amount of latex to keep them bonded while secondary backing rugs need more latex to secure the backing material. If the rug maker uses synthetic latex for bonding, your nose will be happy. It will only have a new rug smell for a short period of time. If your rug maker uses a lot of real latex to secure a secondary backing, it will most likely stink of burnt rubber for years to come. Especially when the weather gets hot. Most noses and eyes are sensitive to real latex in larger doses. If you have chemical sensitivities, stick to single backed area rugs that don't use heavy applications of synthetic latex.

5. Don't place Heavy Furniture on your Area Rugs

Area rugs are often intended to define and delineate space. If your rug is too big for the area you are decorating you will be tempted to tuck the edges of the rug under your heavier pieces of furniture. When heavy furnishings are placed on an area rug they can often cause bunching and wrinkling where the furniture legs are indenting their selves into your rug. This can cause the most beautiful and expensive rugs to look cheesy and warped. Indents, wrinkles and warping of rugs from heavy furnishings can also become more permanent. To avoid costly rug repairs down the road, keep four to six inches of distance from heavy furniture. (Coffee tables are fine; sofas, hutches and entertainment systems are a definite no-no). Although not often. Some rug applications may result in the need for a dense and firm rug pad (or cushion). I always suggest the use of all-felt or synthetic all-felt rug pads.

Avoiding the hassles of wrinkles, buckles and bunching in your area rug is as easy as pie when you consider applying these 5 tips. Your new area rug can be a joy or a nightmare. Always buy good quality (not museum quality) New Zealand wool fiber area rugs with a single woven and bonded cotton or jute backing, and never place it under any heavy furniture. Follow these rules and your new area rug will be a joy for many years to come. Visit our web site for more about area rugs, home decor items and information.

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