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