Area rugs are often referred to as carpets. Most of us have many childhood memories growing up with rugs. Area rugs are great choices for consumers, collectors, and interior decorators alike.
Nowadays the art of rug designing and weaving is no longer a "Dying Art". Rug designs are no longer limited to the traditional designs we grew up with. Remember the red and blue flowers at our grand parents homes? Currently, area rugs are being designed by new leading designers, architects, and famous fashion designers. Interior design firms have also jumped on board to lend their talent and vision to the creation of floor covering. Designers such as:
Calvin Klein, Angela Adams, Nani Marquina, Gandia Blasco, Gene Meyer, Dakota Jackson, Sara Schneidman, Adam Tihany, Jessica Miller, Marc Davidson, Martha Stewart, even child-stars like Mary-Kate & Ashley
The list goes on.
In comparison, wall-to-wall carpeting is nothing short of boring, and mostly purchased in neutral colors. With wall-to-wall carpeting, the rooms still look empty and furniture still looks scattered.
A carefully selected area rug will introduce harmony and tie in all the artwork, furniture, and accessories of the room without overwhelming the space.
Being the most prominent item in the room, area rugs can transform a space instantly. By using an area rug you can define an area, create false walls, and define hallways. You can define and set the parameters of a seating area and by using different color area rugs you can divide a large space or a loft into separate spaces.
Area rugs can be an excellent purchase for those who rent apartments and homes, who are moving in a few years, college students in dorm rooms, lofts, or anybody else who wishes to keep away from the bother and cost of carpet fitting will find area rugs a smart, practical option that they can roll and load on the moving truck.
Get started - Questions to ask yourself, ways to narrow down and define your needs.
Defining your decorating needs is the key part of decorating effectively. Determining how a space or a room can be enhanced by introducing a rug, and yet being practical. How long do you plan to stay in the space you are decorating? Additionally:
Each one of these questions will help tremendously narrow down your rug selection process.
These questions should help if do you need a rug to make a statement in the room, to have a "Wow Factor" These are just some of the questions you need to answer even before you think about is your favorite color scheme.
I always advise my clients to research by looking at interior design magazines before starting a design project - these magazines such as "Architectural Digest", "Dwell"', "In-style", and my very favorite, "Metropolis". Always stay in touch with the current trends in design- what is "in" and what isn't! In these magazines, designers showcase their art and talent. You will also see the hottest colors and newest trends. This research can help you narrow down the style. There is always someone decorating using pallets and designs close to what you are embarking on - they have yielded their talents to figuring what works with what and what final touch is needed to complete the remodeling or decorating job. Browsing these design magazines will help direct you to the pallets you like to work with and the atmosphere you would like to create in the space you are working with.
Whenever possible, always start your decorating project from the floor and work your way up finishing with the accessories. Therefore you should always try choosing the rug first, using the colors of the rugs as a starting point for the walls and work your way up to the upholstery.
Hold off on buying a lot of accessories. Most times, the rug fills the room with color and warmth and you may not need as much accessories and furniture.
Searching for that perfect Area rug
Before you spend time understanding and researching which particular weave of rug you should buy, you should also ask yourself about the atmosphere you are aiming to achieve.
A few styles of rugs have been named below more for the 'feel' rather then particular weave. Browse and narrow down -RELAX, you may surprise yourself in knowing which is 'your rug' as soon as you see it. So take few minutes and browse the selection posted below and return once you've found a few rugs you like. For your convenience, ModernRugs.com allows you to create a FREE online portfolio, so after you sign in and create your portfolio, you can browse the selections on the entire website and add items to your portfolio and group all the rugs, furniture and accessories you like in one page on your portfolio for future reference.
Ok, I hope you have signed in and created an online portfolio and have also browsed the site and have selected the rugs you are considering to buy. I am sure if you have spent some time reading the description of each rug you like, you saw the following term 'CONSTRUCTION'. This refers to the construction methods used for weaving the rug.
There are three general types of rug constructions (weaves). Rugs fall into different price classes based on those factors such as whether they are handmade or machine made. Below you will find an explanation of each type of construction.
Hand-knotted The process of hand knotting takes the longest to complete, as each knot is inserted into a vertical (or seldom horizontal) loom by hand. The smaller the thickness of the yarn, the longer it takes to cover a given square inch with knots. The more knots per inch, the more colors can be inserted into that inch. Doing so, the weaver can create multicolored curvilinear patterns by alternating yarn colors. Some rugs may account for as little as 30 knots per square inch; others may have thousands of knots in each square inch.
As I have mentioned before, hand knotted rugs are handmade using a traditional knotting method. Every step in the process is completed entirely by the human hand dense, plush wool is sheared from sheep grazing in high altitude. The raw wool is then hand-carded to rid its impurities and manually spun into a fine quality yarn.
The color master then gives the yarn life in dye pots containing hues in every tone, tint, and shade imaginable. meanwhile, a grapher steadily draws out and then paints the rug design on a full scale grid for the awaiting weavers.
With graph in hand, yarn in a wicker basket, and a cotton foundation on the loom, the weavers take over to do their magic. Thousands of hours and infinite knots are nimbly wove into the rug, until the last row and the last knot is complete.
The masterpiece is at last cut from the loom. From there, it is given a final trimming to bring out beautiful details from the grain of the rug. Washed and packaged for its flight across the atlantic, the folk work of art ends its journey on the floor of your home.
Hand-tufted The process of hand tufting consists of yarn inserted into a pre-drawn design on a backing "net-like grid" by the use of a tufting gun. This process is relatively easy, and quick to complete. Depending on the thickness of the yarn used, the weaver fills out and covers the design on the grid (backing) with the tufting gun one color at a time. Once the entire design is filled by the tufting gun, the rug is turned over for an application of latex glue and soon after the glue is covered by fabric backing.
Machine made This type of construction is what the name specifies -made by machine. In the machine-made fully automated rug-weaving process the rugs are made entirely by a machine within minutes. The designs on these rugs are controlled by computers. This kind of rug consists of yarn forced into a grid followed by an application of latex or fabric backing.
Styles?
Are you confused as to which rug is the better buy? You can get wholesale bathroom rugs, outdoor, throw, tropical, feizy, cow hide, oriental, flokati, bamboo, contemporary rugs and much more online.
So many options- narrowing down the choices
These amazing rug collections are all inspired by urban landscapes and abstract art, making way for a statement where texture, shape, and line are the form. This time the yarn does not talk "finest" it's the raw texture of it. It's not the lines; it's the marriage of colors. It's not the size of the knot; it's the texture of the knot that speaks to the room. "It is the art piece on the floor."
Patterns: a simple rule can be applied when considering an area pattern. Large pallets, allover designs, medallion, multiple central motifs, etc. By figuring out to use of the rug and its location you have already narrowed down the design.
If you have already got the furniture and accessories, you should try picking a specific color you would like to work with from the upholstery fabrics in the room.
Narrowing down the size
A rule of thumb can be applied when searching for the correct size of rugs. You should allow at least 20 inches from all walls so the rug can breathe. In dining rooms or conference rooms, you should be able to pull out the chairs without the chairs falling off the rug.
Bedrooms: if using one rug, the rug should have a great texture or color or both. It should be sticking out of the three sides of the bed by at least 25 inches or three small ones should be used. Do not buy a rug that is too small. It is better if you buy a slightly larger rug than a smaller one.
Color scheme: Finding a rug that has the ideal color scheme is important.
Darker colors
Light colors
Multicolored
Select Your Style:
Modern Home Design: Modern home design grew out of the architecture style the 1930s and has its base in the German Bauhaus Design School and Scandinavian modern design. Modern decorating is identified by its clean lines, polished surfaces, geometric and asymmetrical shapes. Generally expansive, unadorned windows marry the interior with the exterior landscape. Colors are neutral, allowing the objects in the design to take center stage. White walls are predominant in a modern home decorated with furnishings, accessories and fabrics sporting neutral tone-on-tone color schemes. Finishes are smooth and polished in modern decorating, and concrete, granite and linoleum are ideal modern decorating ideas for flooring. Architecture in modern home decorating focuses on geometry and angular shapes, while artwork and accessories in modern decorating are extremely important and must exhibit striking shapes or forms to make a statement.
Floral: For a relaxed setting, use floral design rugs. These rugs tend to lend themselves to country or more traditional settings.
Sophisticated Modern: Warm up a modern style room with a high-pile shag or a sheep-skin rug or new abstract art.
Colors - Bright and vivid colors indicate the good quality dyes.
Captivating designs - While each rug is unique, there are three distinctive types of design, each wonderful in its own way: geometric designs, floral and curvilinear designs, and pictorial designs.
Fine knot count - More knots are better because they result in a tighter weave.
Highest quality materials - These rugs feature top quality wool, silk and dyes.
Contemporary area rugs are typically designed in modern styles, although there is an abundance of patterns to select from.Regardless of your budget, you're sure to find contemporary rugs to fit in with your area rug decorating ideas.
To spot a quality hand-knotted rug, inspect the quality of the wool:
If you're looking to transform a room in your home quickly, effortlessly and economically, think about using an area rug. An area rug is a brilliant way to instantly warm the room up too. Consider these tips before buying one:
Rugs are easy to maintain, they come in countless designs, and they can be moved or rearranged to go with your decorating tastes. Owing to the unbelievable diversity of styles, sizes, shapes, materials and manufacturing processes involved, shopping for rugs can be a challenge. Area rugs can be found in a wide variety of prices, too. The majority of inexpensive area rugs are machine-made from artificial fibers like olefin or polypropylene.
Now we need to talk about trend in the rug market and eco-friendly rugs.
Calvin Klein Organics: Fluid and eco-friendly, the Calvin Klein Organic Weave rug is hand-woven by skilled artisans from around the world. Supporting hundreds of remote villages and farming communities, this stirring collection employs thousands of people worldwide, and uses only all-natural, reusable organic materials for a truly one-of-kind look.
Bamboo Gets A New Look: Bamboo has quickly become the most popular eco-friendly natural fiber. Its shaggy fibers have a luminous sheen like chenille and are soft like cashmere, naturally stain resistant, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, resist odors, and promote a healthier lifestyle. Bamboo plants are sustainably grown without the use of pesticides or fertilizers.
Sustainable Plant Fiber: Other natural fibers that have gained much popularity are jute and sisal. 100% biodegradable, durable, sustainable and inexpensive, these rugs lend a natural look that is calming and beautiful in an abundance of settings. Increased use of natural plant fibers can have a dramatic effect on reducing oil consumption.
"Recycle yourself, it's never too late," says Nani Marquina of Bicicleta, an area rug made from recycled bicycle tires. Nani Marquina is a member of Care & Fair, an organization dedicated to eradicating child labor in rugmaking countries like India, Pakistan and Nepal.
Post-Consumer Recycled Rugs: Shaw brand nylon rugs are made with Type 6 nylon, the only post-consumer fiber capable of being recycled into dyeable carpet or area rug fiber. All Anso nylon carpet and area rugs contain post-consumer recycled content. ModernRugs.com carries the entire Shaw line - if you don't see the product you want, just ask!
Made to Last, Naturally: Tibetan rugs are made entirely of natural fibers, which require no energy or oil to manufacture, and are biodegradable. This is good news, especially if one were ever to throw out a Tibetan carpet. But these rugs are designed and made to last a lifetime, and then be passed on to the next generation as a precious, valuable and enduring work of art.
