PROS OF AREA RUGS

Area rugs are a great alternative to purchasing all new flooring for your home. They can be the star of the room, or a beautiful accent piece to go with the rest of the décor. There are also many practical benefits to owning an area rug.

As a home owner with hard surface floors, sometimes you might want to feel a little cushion under your feet. That’s where you bring in a stylish area rug to complete the decor of your living space. Not only does it feel soft under your toes, but it can truly bring the design aesthetic of the room together in a way that looks amazing. It can also dampen some of the sound when you are walking from room to room. The area rug can insulate the floor and provide warmth. The product can also be easy to clean and maintain.

RUG BENEFITS

Area rugs make a great addition to rooms in your home. They work as a great design element to complete your space and also offer other benefits.

The great thing about area rugs is that there is one for every style and need. With all of the different shapes, sizes, colors and patterns you can find a rug for any room. Use a large square patterned rug to be the elegant focal point of your living room. For your hallways, consider a long runner. Or if you are looking to compliment designs in smaller spaces you can utilize circular area rugs. No matter the room, there is a rug for it.

SELECTING AN RUG

Area rugs make powerful design statements and they can completely transform rooms, acting as artwork for the floor or fading into the background. So the question is, how do you decide which one is the right one for you?

Style: There are as many area rug styles. Everything from traditional, contemporary or transitional designs are available. Before settling on a style, make sure to educate yourself about what is available and think about what kind of atmosphere you want to create in your room. Remember that an area rug doesn’t need to match everything in a room, but it should work with the textures and tones of the existing furnishings.

Color: Color is a natural starting point when choosing an area rug. The color of your area rug will set the tone for the entire room, so it’s an important decision. If you already have furniture, consider how different colors will work with your existing items. If you already have a lot of color and pattern, you might want to consider something neutral, or least something that’s a single color. If you don’t already have furnishings, consider how different rug colors will work with the tones of the flooring, walls, and ceiling. Rugs can either stand out or blend in, so think about what effect you want to create when considering color.

Some people are into patterns and some aren’t, but if your furniture and walls are all solid colors, a patterned rug can really bring your room to life. Likewise, if you have patterned furniture, a solid rug can have a grounding, calming effect. It’s all about balance; if your room is already furnished, take this into account before choosing a rug.

Texture: This is probably the most overlooked aspect when choosing a rug, but it shouldn’t be. A room with a mix of different textures feels rich and layered, and an easy way to set this tone is by paying attention to the texture of your rug. There’s so much more out there than cut and looped wool!

Let the finishes of your existing furniture guide you, and aim for contrast. With seating in a soft fabric like velvet, something smooth and hard like a sisal might be the answer, while a sleek leather sofa looks great on something with a longer, fluffier pile.

Keep in mind practicalities about cleaning the rug, and also consider whether elderly people, or those with limited mobility, will be using the area. A raised pile or shag rug can be a tripping hazard.

Size: A rug should fit the size of your seating area (which is not necessarily the entire room) and be as large as possible within it. Ideally, all the furniture will be on the rug, but front-legs-only is a good and common compromise. The idea is that when sitting on the sofa, your feet are on fabric, not floor. Under a dining table, you want to be able to pull the chairs back and still have them sitting on the rug.

When the seating area takes up the entire room (as is often the case), you also have to think about orientation: square rooms look great with square or round rugs, and rectangular rooms with rectangular rugs oriented in the same direction.

PROPER CARE & MAINTENANCE OF AREA RUG

Maintenance and cleaning of area rugs is fairly simple. Regular vacuuming is the most important. Remember to disengage the beater bar. Make sure to blot spills immediately and have the rugs professionally cleaned when necessary. These simple steps will help to keep your area rugs looking their best and last for years to come. 

ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE TIPS

Please be sure to reference your area rug warranty for specific care requirements!

From weekly vacuuming maintenance on basic area rugs to deep cleaning antique rugs, here are some tips on how to keep your rugs in tip top shape and keep your home feeling inviting and warm.

• Vacuum your area rugs just as often as you vacuum your carpet or sweep your hard floors. This eliminates dirt and grime that can ruin the rugs before you’ve even had a chance to really enjoy them. Be careful not to suck up any rug fringe with the vacuum as this could damage the fringe. Also note that some vacuum cleaners will have a rug setting, which basically stops the rollers from spinning and just uses the suction part of the vacuum to remove the dirt.
• Brush out any hair. Whether it’s hair on a bathroom rug or pet hair on the living room area rug it’s possible (and even probable) that the vacuum will miss the hair. Brush in the same direction as the nap.
• Rotate the area rugs a couple of times per year. Traffic and sunlight can add more stress on them which could wear out one side of the rug before the other.
• If you have smaller rugs, take them out back and give them a good shake to remove the dirt and grime.
• Some area rugs require special care. Following the cleaning instructions on the tag of the rug is always your best option.
• Periodic professional carpet cleaning is recommended.  Do not dry clean or use bleach.

Steps for Spot: Removal

• Immediately blot (do not rub) spills with white paper towels or with a clean absorbent cloth. Scoop up solids.
• Pretest spot-removal in an inconspicuous area.
• Apply the cleaning agent listed on the spot removal chart (next page) to an absorbent towel and begin to blot up the spill with a blotting motion. Flip cloth to prevent reapplying soil.
• Do not over saturate with water.
• Work inwards from the edge of the spot to prevent excess spreading.
• Wait a few minutes for the cleaning agent to work on the spot. Follow recommended directions.
• Once the cleaning agent has removed the spot, blot excessive moisture by applying pressure with paper towels or a dry absorbent cloth.
• Rinse with clear water on a clean cloth.
• Remove excess moisture by applying pressure with paper towels

We always recommend you reference the manufacturer’s warranty for specific care instructions.