Top Tips For Choosing An Area Rug
Area rugs are sometimes that one item that people don’t think of using in their rooms. They have many uses rather than just looking pretty.
If you never purchased an area rug before, you’re missing out. It is an investment which will change a rooms design without having to change anything else in the room. There are so many different shapes, sizes, and patterns to choose from that it is impossible not to find one you love.
Benefits you’ll notice with area rugs is that they protect wooden floors from high trafficked areas, provide a soft feel when walked upon rather than a hard surface, and of course give a room a great make-over without having to purchase many new items.
Here are some of the top tips for choosing an area rug:
There are a few questions you should ask yourself before purchasing an area rug. How many times a day do people go through this area and what type of lighting does the room have?
If you’re looking for an area rug which is durable than close tufting or stitching may be the type for your.
If the area rug is going to be placed somewhere that it may be used as a seating area, you want to make sure it has enough padding. A great padded area rug is a must as well in many cases if used in a highly trafficked area.
Padding is a must in many occasions. You either want the padding underneath the area rug to make it softer to the feel or even for noise muffling.
Don’t make the common mistake of choosing a rug that’s too small for the room. In most rooms, calculate a border of 18 to 36 inches around the rug’s edge.
For a dining room rug, add four feet to the width and length of your dining table, and continue adding until reach the recommended border range (seen hint above).
Fit a hall runner so that it’s within four inches of the hall’s width. Keep the length within 18 to 24 inches of the hall’s length.
Finally, the best tip for choosing a quality area rug is to learn something about the rugs themselves. So many fabulous styles are available today that a little homework can solve confusion and steer you in the direction of your perfect rug.
Here are some guidelines to types of rugs. Hand Hooked. These rugs are made by pushing yarn through the back of a canvas cloth to make a design. Hobbyists and do-it-yourselfers often can find kits to make hand-hooked rugs in hobby supply stores. The rug is finished with a protective backing.
Woven or flat woven rugs are now made by machines but used to be hand made looms.
Braided Rugs. The techniques for these rugs were handed down from American colonialists who needed to get maximum use from every resource. The first braided rugs were made out of strips from leftover fabric, worn-out blankets, seed bags, canvas, just about any material that could be braided and then sewn together.
Bamboo and Sisal. These natural-fiber area rugs are wonderfully durable, making them excellent choices for high-traffic areas. Plus, bamboo is one of the world’s most renewable resources, so it’s good for the environment as well.
Bamboo rugs along with Sisal rugs are all natural fibers and are also durable. This is a great choice if used in front of an entrance of a home or even on the deck.Persian or Oriental rugs are one of the most expensive rugs out there. They are very popular and used in family heirloom rooms for more show than traffic.