• Area Rugs Guide

• Area Rugs Glossary
• Area Rugs FAQ

Area Rug Buyer's Guide

For centuries, area rugs have laid the groundwork for elegant interior design, and there is an endless array of sizes available to furnish grand parlors, narrow entryways and everything in between. While the most common shape for a rug is rectangular, there are those that are round and oval, and more and more companies are developing new shapes to create interesting statements in entryways and children's rooms.

There are two types of rugs: machine-made and handmade. Machine-made rugs are just that—made from a machine. And under this heading, there are two subcategories: machine-tufted and machine-woven rugs. In short, machine-tufted rugs are constructed by a machine that pushes yarn through a backing, while machine-woven rugs are made by a machine that uses a weaving technique. (With machine-mades, you'll often hear the words Axminster and Wilton thrown about. They refer simply to different types of automated rug-making looms.)

While machine-woven and machine-tufted rugs are the most popular area rugs today, many people prefer the subtle charm of a handmade rug. Common construction methods for handmade rugs include hand-tufting, where workers use a hand-held device to shoot the yarn through the rug's foundation, and hand-knotting, where the yarn is pushed through the foundation and tied off.

Oriental, Persian, Berber and Native American designs are just a few that can be found in area rugs in nearly every price range. And an endless array of sizes are available.

As a rule of thumb, Oriental rugs fall into two broad style and quality categories: geometric and curvilinear (or floral). Geometric patterns are associated with looser tribal weaves made in the countryside. Curvilinear patterns offer finer definition and tighter weaves, and are associated with city manufacture.

For many people the purchase of an area rug comes later in the decorating (or redecorating) process. They’ve either seen a rug that simply knocks them off their feet and buy it on the spot, they’ve recently had a hard surface floor installed and are looking for a little extra touch, or they simply want to coordinate with their existing design theme. If that sounds like you, it’s a good idea to bring along paint and fabric swatches.

Must Have Area Rug Accessories:

Area rug pads: not only do they provide added cushion to your rug, giving it a comfier feel, they prevent rugs from slipping on hardwood or tile surfaces and protect wood floors from abrasions.

Spot cleaners: Spot cleaners come in either powder or liquid form. Before use, make sure to spot test the product on a small area on the back of the rug. (Always have high-quality area rugs, handmade Persian rugs, Oriental rugs and antique rugs professionally cleaned.)

Choosing Area Rug to Fit Room

When selecting an area rug, the first order of business is deciding in which room this new floor accessory will be placed. High-traffic areas require something durable, maybe a tufted wool rug, which will stand up to heavy traffic and soiling. Cotton is another good choice for high-traffic areas because it's washable as well as durable. Still, nylon is hard to beat in terms of performance, fashion and style.

The most popular area rug sizes are 8-by-11 feet, followed by 5-by-8, but larger rugs, including 9-by-13 are becoming popular due to the growth of living areas. In deciding the size you need, consider where you will be placing your rug. If it is to be set beneath a coffee table in the family room, you may find a 6-by-9 suitable to create a conversation area. A larger rug would be a good choice to cover the floor of an entire room.

Choosing Area Rug Color and Pattern

Colorations for area rugs truly run the gamut. There are rich palettes of reds and golds, antique-washed greens and browns and subtler azures and weathered grays. Again, be sure to take along a swatch of the upholstery or drapery you'd like to match. Often the interior lighting of a showroom will differ greatly from the lighting in your own home, so it helps to see how, say, how your upholstery fabric will match up under other illumination.

Just as there are endless choices in color, patterns are becoming just as plentiful. The traditional Aubussons (a classic French floral design) and Kirmans (finely detailed geometrics) have given way to more contemporary looks in bold shapes. The pattern you select will depend upon your personal inclination, but keep in mind that "matchy-matchy" furnishings are a thing of the past. Eclecticism reigns in today's design culture, giving you more leeway. Go ahead, be bold. Today’s machine-made area rugs are so well made in terms of design and construction that you can’t go wrong.

Smaller pattern repeats (also called an all-over design) can create the look and feel of wall-to-wall carpeting. Rugs featuring larger patterns or patterns with a strong center medallion or border give a more dramatic effect. These rugs often feature a border, which is the design that frames a rug's field (the central part of the rug).

Area Rug Construction

Once you've decided upon the size and colors of your rug, it's time to consider the construction. While this may be an area that you are not familiar with, construction is just as important as color or pattern and helps keep your area rug not only beautiful but long-lasting.

When it comes to construction, there are three basic characteristics: density, twist and fiber.

• Density refers to the closeness of the tufts or knots. Basically, 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.
• In terms of fiber, there are six general types used in creating area rugs. Again, the type you select will not only determine your rug's appearance but it's performance.

Nylon is a resilient fiber that withstands heavy traffic and the weight and movement of furniture. It is soil resistant and easily cleaned. The most common choice.

Wool is noted for its luxury and softness. This natural fiber has been used in the construction of carpet for centuries – and for good reason. It is soft, warm and comfortable, plus it’s easy to clean. Still, because of its higher price, wool is generally limited to upper end goods.

Cotton, for its softness and performance as well as for the ease of maintenance.

Olefin, also called polypropylene, is strong and colorfast with a soft wool-like feel. It resists stains better than nylon but doesn’t wear as well. Since most polypropylene is solution dyed during the manufacturing process, color is an inherent part of the fiber. Think of polypropylene as a carrot, the color runs right through it, versus nylon which is like a radish, color on the outside of the fiber, not inside.

Polyester features a soft hand when used in thick, cut pile textures. Naturally stain- and fade-resistant, it is easy to clean and maintain. However, it is not as durable as either polypropylene or nylon.

Acrylic offers the appearance of wool at a lower cost and is sometimes blended with other fibers.

Care and Maintenance of your Area Rug

Once you've selected and placed your new area rug into your home, you must be sure to care for it properly, as this will prolong its life and appearance.

Regular vacuuming is a must, because it will remove loose soil. Take special care when vacuuming the fringe and edges of your rug. (Some throw rugs can be washed in a home washing machine, but comply with the manufacturer's recommended cleaning methods to prevent warranty invalidation and damage.)

Have a professional deep clean your rug every year to remove soil build-up. Several cleaning methods will work, but to prevent rapid re-soiling of your rug, it is important to completely remove any cleaning agents.

As with any fabric, area rugs are an easy target for household spills and soiling. When these occur, treat all stains immediately, no matter what type of rug you have. The longer the stain sits, the harder it will be to remove.

Good to Know...

Be sure to invest in a rug cushion or underlay. Not only will it absorb shock and noise and keep your rug from "creeping," it will reduce the wear and tear and make vacuuming easier. In addition, but underlay can prevent color transfer from the area rug pad to the floor surface and minimize the crushing of pile from furniture placed on rugs.