Decorate Your Home With Area Rugs

Area rugs have been around for centuries. In modern decorating the usages seems to have peaks and valleys that cycle ever 10 to 15 years. Right now, area rugs are definitely the "in" floor covering. There are a number of reasons for their current popularity.

Carpeting in one manner or another has always been a popular floor covering. The decorating cycle that seems to be prevalent is between area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting. One of the inherent problems with wall-to-wall carpeting is the difficulty in cleaning. Carpeting is one of the worst enemies of individuals with respiratory or asthmatic health problems. It traps, dirt, dust, mold spores, animal dander, and a host of other allergens.

The better the carpet, by number of fibers per inch, the worse the problem. Vacuum cleaners, no matter how powerful, never remove a 100% of the dust or other contaminants. If you don't believe me, use your current vacuum over an area of wall-to-wall carpeting (after vacuuming, with the power still on, hold the hose in the air, stretch and shake the hose as best you can to remove any dust that may be trapped in the hose). Clean out the bag or canister, ensuring that there are no dust remnants. Vacuum the same area again check the bag or canister and you will see more dirt and dust!

Area rugs have the same inherent problem of trapping dirt, dust, and pollen, however they have the advantage that they can be conveniently removed from the home and taken to be dry-cleaned a process which will remove all contaminants including animal dander and other contaminants. The residential and commercial so called steam cleaners, I say so called because they do not use steam to clean the carpet or rug they use hot water, do a better job than a vacuum, but they still do not remove all the dirt, dust and other contaminants that have made their way through to the under padding. As well, cleaning with water has the potential of doing damage to the floor beneath the carpeting.

Now that other floor coverings, such as hardwood and laminates have come down in cost and are being manufactured for installation by the home handyman, wall-to-wall carpeting is decreasing in popularity and area rugs are being used to create warmth and decoration. Where wall-to-wall carpeting is generally a flat color, area rugs give a homeowner the ability to decorate with an assortment of colors, patterns, and even textures.

Many wall-to-wall manufacturers sell their end of roles to other manufacturers who cut the remnants to standard sizes and apply edging to the boarders. Although these are sold by the big box retailers as area rugs, the base material is not made to lie flat on a floor. Wall-to-wall carpeting is manufactured to be stretched when installed. This is important to maintain the connection of the fibers to the backing. Wall-to-wall carpeting used as an area rug, will curl and have a relatively short life span.

eRugGallery.com is a great destination for Area Rugs. They carry authentic, handmade, cotton, wool and silk rugs.

Decorating Tips:Best Placement for Rugs Under Furniture

Small rugs and accent rugs can usually be placed wherever they look good or fulfill a specific purpose, but larger rugs look best when basic guidelines for placement are followed. Since a larger rug often serves as an anchor for a furniture grouping or the main floor covering in a room, proper placement is essential for several reasons, including a balanced look.

A typical setting for a large rug is under a coffee table and/or in front of a sofa. The coffee table is usually centered between the long ends of the rug. The rug can be along the front edge of the sofa or it can be placed under the sofa's front legs, 2 to 3 inches behind the front legs. The back legs of a sofa usually do not get placed on the rug unless the rug is a very large rug.

When using a large rug that covers most of a room, it's best to use a rug size that allows at least 8 inches of a hardwood or tile floor to be exposed around the rug. Center the rug in the room as much as possible, with an equal distance from the wall to each side and an equal distance from the wall to each end. This equal spacing guideline still applies if there is a feature (such as a closet or fireplace) that sticks out in part of the room.

Large rugs are often used in a home's dining area. The best size of rug to use under a dining table extends a minimum of 24 inches beyond each edge of the table. This allows someone to sit down or get up from a dining chair while the chair's back legs remain on the rug. If you've ever tried to get a chair's back legs up and over the edge of a rug while seated, you know how important this guideline can be.

A large room might have a sitting area that is separate from the room's main area. A mid-size rug can help define a sitting area, which could include a couple of chairs and perhaps a small table. A good size would be 4 X 6 feet, 5 X 8 feet, or a 5 to 7 foot round or hexagonal rug. The front legs of each chair are on the rug and the chairs are arranged, often at a slight angle, so the people sitting there can have both feet on the rug. It's okay to have all four legs of each chair on the rug if the rug is large enough. However, it is best not to have more than two feet of empty rug behind the chairs.

Sometimes, a couple of things get overlooked when people want to get a large rug. Think about this for just a moment: You know the design and color you want, but will the rug really fit where you want it to go? If a door opens over the rug, does the door have enough clearance? Will the rug's desired placement impact any air vents or electrical outlets?

I certainly don't want to throw a wrench into the cogs of your decorating plans, but thinking ahead will almost always help you avoid unwanted "surprises." Good placement for large rugs might not seem like such a big deal, but poor placement can throw the look and feel of the entire room off balance.

You'll find that it's time well-spent to mark off the area for a new rug before you get the rug. This can be done with newspaper and masking tape, plus a tape measure. Put newspaper where you want the rug and hold in place with the tape. You can also use a blanket or sheet folded to various sizes. Work with this outline until the overall size looks just right. Measure the outline and look for a rug that closely matches those dimensions.

With the wide variety of rugs in every design and color you can imagine, you'll probably be able to find your favorite rugs in just the right size for each particular placement.
eRugGallery.com is a great destination for Area Rugs. They carry authentic, handmade, cotton, wool and silk rugs.

Add Warmth To Your Bedroom With An Oriental Rug

When it comes to the bedroom we all know that bedding and accents are important, but a key area of bedroom design that is often overlooked is the flooring. Many people have wall to wall carpet in their bedroom and, therefore think that they are "stuck" with that color or design. The truth is that you can jazz up your flooring by simply laying a carpet on top of your wall to wall carpet. Beautiful and durable, oriental rugs can add warmth and charm to almost any bedroom. This type of rug goes with many bedroom design styles, romantic, Victorian, shabby chic, Tuscan, Morrocan, oriental and many more.

Oriental rugs come in many different designs and colors so you should be able to find one that suits your bedroom décor. You can buy them in different sizes so you can add a splash of color and elegance to any part of the bedroom. You can buy them in a variety of price ranges as well, but as with anything else, the more you spend the better quality your rug will be.

A real oriental rug is hand tied - that's right each piece of wool is tied onto the backing by hand. These rugs are really works of art, and you might think they are fragile but they are actually quite durable. I have been to many antique auctions where rugs that were over 100 years old have survived to look almost as good as they day they were made.

When selecting an oriental rug for your bedroom, you should only look at rugs that are 100% wool as these will be the best quality. To determine if the rug you are looking at is hand or machine made there are a few things to take into consideration. First off it's good to be able to compare two rugs - one you know is machine made and one you know is hand made. Look at the backs - the hand made rug will be much more colorful than the machine made. The machine made rug will have an overall stitch pattern across the back and you won't see any knots since only hand made rugs are knotted. Another thing to look at is the fringe. On a handmade rug, the fringe is made up of the wrap strings from the end of the rug, on a machine made it is simply sewn on.

When selecting your oriental rug, make sure to choose colors that go with the colors in your bedroom. If you are placing the rug over wall to wall carpeting, it is best to choose smaller throw rugs that you can use as splashes of color around the room and avoid putting furniture on them unless you buy a large rug that covers almost the entire room.

Love the look of oriental rugs but don't want to put them on the floor? Why not try using one as a wall hanging? You can use it to jazz up a large boring wall or hang it behind the bed in lieu of a headboard.

No matter how you use them, oriental rugs add warmth and character to your bedroom or any room in the house!
eRugGallery.com is a great destination for Oriental rugs.

More on Choosing The Perfect Wool Area Rug

There are quite a lot of types and styles of wool area rugs that can confuse you while choosing the perfect one for your home. You should consider many things and be aware of the qualities of wool rugs before purchasing one.

If you really want a genuine wool rug for your family and home, first make sure it is made of 100% wool, not some artificial wool imitating fibers. Pay attention to the manufacturer - if it is a reputable company, they will provide a certificate of authenticity. Do not be tricked by some cheap wool area rug that later turns out to be a mat or too small to cover the floor.

Have you ever imagined how healthy wool rugs actually are? Wool rugs have wonderful properties and I would suggest you find out how wool area rugs are perfect for you, your family and home.

As wool is natural and one of the oldest textile fibers even known, it has survived the test of time for quality, strength, durability, as well as isolation, elasticity, purity and healthiness.

• Wool is naturally fire resistant and water repellent. So every wool rug is capable of absorbing air moisture, while safely repelling liquids and making it easier for you to clean and take care of your wool rug.

• Wool is naturally elastic and can wear quite a long time, even a life time and more. Wool rugs are durable enough to keep their great new-looking appearance for years on end.

• Wool is wonderful isolator against cold floors and the noisy neighbors from downstairs. You can also use wool rugs for the walls - there are some specially designed for walls and they isolate against all kinds of noise. Although it may sound too luxurious, it is truly effective and can warm any room's atmosphere in no time.

• I kept the best quality of wool area rugs for last - their successful resistance to all kinds of dirt and ability to stay clean longer. That is due to the crimp in the wool fiber and the scales on the outside of the fiber that assist in keeping the dirt from penetrating the surface, while this makes the cleaning of the wool carpet a lot easier.

Wool rugs are perfect for the home environment and very commonly recommended for baby's nursery rooms, as they are popular for their ability to continually purify indoor air. What's more they can do that for as long as 30 years or more, which is an absolutely incredible ability. That makes wool area rugs perfect not only for nurseries, but for your kid's room or bedroom, for your family bedroom or living room.

Being very strong and durable all wool rugs are great compliment to any high traffic area in your home.

100% wool rugs are all natural and made without chemicals, which makes them completely biodegradable. Having a wool area rug in your home you make sure that your indoor air stays free of many harmful pollutants and will not re-emit them back in the air. You and your family will enjoy the fresh air for years on end, while your feet will feel soft and warm with your wool rug. eRugGallery.com is a great destination for wool rugs. They carry authentic, handmade, wool and silk rugs.

Choose a Wool Rug for Your Home

Renovating your rooms with new decor? Then you simply can't do without an area rug, and there is no better material than natural fiber, especially wool. It is durable, strong and adds an aesthetic value to your room.

The very nature of wool fiber enables it to recover well from crushing. These stretch sometimes up to 35% without rupturing and then come back to their original size. Wool is also resistant to soil and is easier to clean than synthetic fiber. The high moisture content of wool works as a natural flame resistant. Though synthetic fibers have evolved over the years, they still cannot match the quality of wool.

Important things to consider when buying a wool rug are the size, design and grade of wool, handmade or machine-made. The size of your dining room, bedroom or study, hallway or stairs will determine the size of your rug. Next you have to decide the color and type of design you are looking for. Whether you want the color of your rug to match with your walls or are you looking for contrast. Whether you want a simple design or a more elaborate one. Wool comes in various grades. Wool may be from a dead animal or a live one, a young healthy one or an old one. Wool sheared from a live animal is called live wool. Dead wool is sheared chemically from dead animals and it contains no oils and is rough to touch.

Another important decision to make is whether you want to buy handmade wool rugs or machine-made. Handmade rugs are not only more beautiful, but also durable, they hold their value, age beautifully and last for generations. With handmade wool rugs each strand is tied individually for greater strength and consistency.

The buying of wool rugs may be a complex issue and their uniqueness and originality is hard to judge unless you are an expert. It is advisable to take the help of an expert or deal with reputable dealers and direct importers of handmade wool rugs. eRugGallery.com offers authentic, handmade, wool and silk rugs. Each rug comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

MAINTENANCE:
It is important to take proper care of your precious possession. Dry cleaning and steam cleaning are a strict 'NO' for your wool rug. Dry cleaning leaves a chemical in the fiber that is harmful for the longevity of your rug. Steam cleaning takes out the oil from the wool, converting live wool into dead wool. Regular vacuuming is recommended to remove dirt. Proper padding and moth-proofing are also recommended for a prolonged life.

The Area Rug You Want

Every home benefits from the touch of a certain something which provides the household with a unique ambiance, contributing even to beneficial adjustments of your own mood. An empty room is uninviting, but a well decorated one becomes a personal sanctuary. We simply choose things to complete our space, to fill the emptiness and give it our own flavour. So we bring in beds, wardrobes, tables, lamps, flower pots... What about the floor? A 'naked' floor gives a room an unfinished aspect. To put the finishing touches we have to think about bringing in an area rug. How do we pick the appropriate one for our interior?

Well, for one thing, area rugs come in a great number and in a wide range of categories. All you need to do is look around your room or your entire household and decide on the color, size and shape of the rug or rugs you want to buy. It is sufficient to find a rug which fits the general aspect and tone of the furniture or walls to make the interior design perfect. Of course, everyone wants to purchase high-quality rugs because rugs are not just decorative, they serve a functional purpose as well. They cover and protect parquet flooring and provide a warm, soft and comfortable feeling for your feet.

A hand-made area rug is even nowadays considered a top rug choice. However, if you intend to place your area rug in a spot where the daily to-ing and fro-ing is constantly repeated, then opting for an area rug made from a more durable fabric like wool for instance is a great choice. Also, taking a while to consider the colors of such an area rug is very important. Light or pale hues are less dust or stain-resistant than brighter, more intense colors.

A provoking idea would be to choose a rug made from silk. However, such rugs - Persian rugs - are less sturdy than their wool-made counterparts (this does not mean that Persian Rugs are made exclusively from silk, they are also made from wool). Persian rugs made from silk are more expensive since this material is more luxurious. So, as long as you can afford it, such Persian rugs make a very refined choice. These rugs however cannot be placed just anywhere in the house, but they are appropriate for elegant living rooms because they are ornamental rugs and their purpose is to delight the eye.

Additionally, a hand-made area rug, as a rule, will provide your room with a specific, distinctive identity. Depending on the type of interlacing or interweaving used, the appearance of the rug you put on the floor will be more robust or more delicate and fragile. A well-informed, experienced area rug provider will answer all your questions regarding the weaving procedures for different rugs. He or she can tell you whether the knots are more compact or sparser in the structure of this or that rug which can be useful for detecting the quality of an area rug. An area rug in which the ties or knots are closer is definitely sturdier and, as a consequence, more durable, so you can position it in a room which is unrestricted to regular, everyday movement. For more information on area rugs, you can call an area rug consultant at (tollfree) 1888-611-RUGS(7847) at eRugGallery.com. They are well informed, and happy to help.

Insight into area rugs

A house or office may be very minimalist but what can make it an eye pleaser are the accessories and furnishings, properly used and coordinated with the other furniture in the room. One such furnishing that can be used to achieve an over-all effect is the use of area rugs.

Area rugs are available in all shapes and sizes and definitely in all colors. Area rugs need not be expensive to serve their purpose. It all depends on the creativity of the decorator.

The art of using rugs has been in existence thousands of years ago when the weavers incorporate religious or tribal symbolisms in the rug designs. In fact, rug styles and designs have been named after cities like Kashan and tribes like Bakhtiari due to the strong influence of these tribes and places to the rug designers.

The Persian rugs became famous among royal courts, thanks to the European traders who bartered the rugs to Europe’s rich and powerful families. From then on, the Europeans learned from the Persian rug techniques and later on created their own designs and rug motifs. The evolution of rugs is really a good example of cross cultural influences.

Modern day rug makers may have all the high technology equipment but ancient rug makers had to contend with their creative hands to create hand-woven rugs that characterized great artistry. The invention of chemical and commercial dyes made the rug making industry better and more colorful since rug makers can now experiment on a variety of colors.

When buying rugs, always consider its purpose and where it will be placed. One can opt for antique rugs which comes in traditional designs and styles or modern rugs which are available in all shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Aside from the design consideration, your choice of rug should also be based on where the rug is to be placed. If you need a rug for your private rooms then an antique rug would be fine. However, an antique rug may be frail and easily damaged so it should not be placed in areas with maximum exposure. Antique rugs will definitely cost more than modern rugs so you must also make sure that you have researched on the authenticity as well as the proper price of antique rugs.

Rugs that are to be placed in areas with high people traffic should be in colors that are more dirt resistant. The material should also be taken into consideration since a soft and fragile rug may be out of place in a room often visited by people. Unless of course, you want to gamble on the rug’s toughness.

While the type, design and color of the rug is of paramount consideration when buying rugs, the price of the rug should also be a primary concern. A more expensive rug made of sturdier and quality materials would be more cost effective than a cheap rug that can easily be damaged.

eRugGallery.com is always celebrating the handmade rug. We would like you to be able to celebrate with us, which is why we created our great risk-free "Try It Before You Buy It" policies:

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A New Rug: The Quickest Way to Give Any Room A Face Lift

There is no doubt that a tasteful, well chosen area rug can completely alter the appearance of any room. Whether it is an exotic, richly colored Persian rug, or deep, soft flokati, a new rug can add an entirely new dimension to any room or hallway. Functional, as well as beautiful, area rugs are an easy way of adding something special to your decorating style.

In fact, if you want to revamp any room in your house, the simple addition of an area rug can do just that. Forget about going to the expense of completely redecorating! Just have a look around at the vast variety of area rugs and carpet runners on the market, and you will see that by carefully selecting a rug, you can achieve much the same effect of redecorating at a fraction of the cost.

Check out the beautiful, handmade, area rugs at eRugGallery.com for an idea of what will look good in your home.