This past year brought on many changes in our communities and in our own environments. Our homes and our furniture experienced more traffic than normal. One of the places that took the brunt of that extra traffic, play, work, and fun with our pets, were our floors, especially our rugs. So, is it time to roll up those rugs and replace them?  The answer is likely to be YES!

So now what?  With literally thousands of area rugs to choose from, let’s face it, searching for a new rug can be a little overwhelming.  Have you ever walked into a rug store and felt like it was all a blur?  Too many colors, textures, sizes to choose from.  Should you buy a power loom, hand-knotted, vintage, wool, or polypropylene?  And do you know what is the number one home furnishing item in the US?  You guessed it, rugs. Why?  Size, style, functionality, and selecting the right color, and materials for you.  Get the idea that there are a lot of considerations before shopping for a rug?  There are, so let’s dig in and start with the basics! 

• What room is the rug for? This will help you choose colors and style.
• What happens in that room? Will this room get heavy traffic? Used as a play area for kids or pets? This will help you to determine what type of construction will make the most sense for you.
• What is your budget?  There are so many beautiful choices now at every price point.  
• Determine the correct size for your space.  Rule of thumb, you want to ensure the rug will be large enough for the main furniture to rest on top of it.  If it’s a dining room, you will want to measure your table and add two to three feet to ensure your dining chairs will be on the rug.  

Beautiful rugs at every price point! Here are some of our favorite rugs, in a range of price points from Rugs.com.

Knowing what type of rug to purchase can be very confusing.  We often shop with emotion. We buy what we like, versus considering the wear and tear and use of the room.  A little knowledge can go a long way and can make choosing the right rug easy…. or at least easier. 🙂

Here are a few of the different rug options available and the differences between them  

Power Loomed

Think of these rugs as the “performance fabric” for your floors!  Power loomed rugs come in all colors and textures and add beauty to any room.  They stand up to spills, stains, and heavy traffic. Woven by computer-controlled machines, power-loomed rugs often feature extremely precise designs and generally are the most affordable. Similar to tufted and looped rugs, yarns are inserted into a thin mesh backing, and latex is applied to secure and protect the yarns. When properly maintained, a power-loomed rug from a quality manufacturer can last up to 10 years.

Hand Tufted Rugs

A hand-tufted rug is typically a higher-quality rug than one made by a machine, but, when compared to a hand-knotted rug meticulously created by an artisan, it is less durable and less valuable. Some hand-tufted rugs can be mistaken for a forehand-knotted rug. They are often made of wool, and, depending on the manufacturer and materials used, they can last for up to 20 years. Hand-tufted rugs aren’t made on a loom but are created with a tool called a tufting gun. Additional patterns can be carved on the rug with a tufting gun.

Hand-Knotted Wool Rugs

Hand-knotting rugs are created by tying a knot around a warp thread with each tuft in the rug. This process may take as few as three months and as long as one year to yield a single rug. The finer the knot, that is to say, the higher the knot count, the more intricate and valuable the rug can be. When properly cared for, Hand-knotted rugs will remain as beautiful as the day they were purchased for years even in high traffic areas.

Ultra Vintage 

Ultra Vintage rugs are show stoppers and can be the centerpiece of your room.  These antique Persian rugs can be 40, 50, or even hundreds of years old. Overtime they are washed, over-dyed, and then shaved down to a low pile. Each one is unique and truly a work of art.  You only need to look at the detail to fully appreciate the uniqueness of each of these rugs.

Due to the age, design, and construction of the original rug plus the additional processes utilized to update these rugs, this is an investment piece. This process allows for an incredible range of vibrant colors giving so many more options for your room.  You get the old-world patterns in a very modern color and look that is unique.

Caring for your new rug

Knowing how to care for your new rug will ensure it retains the great look and feel you fell in love with when you purchased it.  

The basics:

• Every rug needs a rug pad.  Not only does this help to keep the rug in place, it also protects your floors and adds an extra layer of softness. There are many different options available and at all price points.  
• Frequent vacuuming (with the beater bar off) helps to eliminate dust and pet dander, and let’s face it, sometimes M&M’s. 
• Blot stains right away.  For most rugs use equal parts mild detergent (Dawn), water and white vinegar.
• Professionally clean large cotton rugs, Viscose, Silk, and Silt/Tencel rugs to remove stains.
• Wash machine-washable small cotton rugs on a gentle cycle in cold water with mild detergent.
• Use soap and water to clean natural fiber rugs.
• Clean outdoor rugs with a mild detergent and water solution and then rinse with a garden hose.

 With care, your rug can last for a very long time!

Now that you’ve done your homework, you are ready to start shopping for your next rug! If you need any assistance in finding the right area rug for your space, schedule an inspiration call with us! We can help with finding the right pieces for your space.