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Posts Tagged ‘floors’

Head To Head: Carpets and Area Rugs

December 18th, 2009 Abigail Foster No comments

Despite what many people think, there is a vast difference between carpets and area rugs. At one time, the terms were interchangeable. That is not the case anymore.

Area rugs and carpets differ primarily in size. The former can be small or large pieces but still considerably slighter than carpets. Carpets cover the entire floor, that’s why there is the term “wall-to-wall carpeting.” Area rugs on the other hand, only cover a certain space. Area rugs are not secured firmly on the floor while carpets are held in place with carpet nails. You can break dance on a carpet all you want and it won’t budge a bit. Let us weigh some more differences between these two floor coverings.

If you are looking for a floor covering with more choices and varieties, then an area rug is what you are looking for. Area rugs come in several different sizes, thousands of different color, texture, design, and pattern combinations, and different levels of thickness. Area rugs are easy to transport from room to room in the event that you decide to change your decor. They are also simple enough to clean- just send them out to a specialized cleaning service.

Because of the decorative qualities and the specialty of the materials, area rugs can be a little more expensive than carpets. However, despite the price of area rugs, they are absolutely beautiful additions to any home or office. Area rugs have been known to be so treasured by families that they are passed down from generation to generation so that they are enjoyed for years and years.

Texture – area rugs differ in texture as they differ in materials. Cotton and wool fabrics are softer. Carpets’ too vary. Some are more luxurious than others are while some may have fine textile but can be a bit coarse to the touch. We know however, that we can step barefoot on both coverings and our feet will be cushioned well enough.

Cleaning a carpet though can be more tedious than just vacuuming or brushing, especially if you’re very particular about your chores. After all, you’re just dusting off the surface and not the floor underneath. To do so requires you to pull up the carpet and remove the padding, and that takes some amount of strength as carpets are quite heavy. Another downside is when it accidentally gets wet, like when there’s a flood, a leak from the ceiling or when your kids decide to spray it with water. It’s not that easy to hang the carpet on your front porch, as you would do with an area rug. You can’t just let it dry either. You really have to take it off to be washed and dried properly. In a worse case scenario such as flooding, you will need a new carpet altogether and disinfect the floor before installing it. Water, especially the filthy one can cause molds and mildews to grow under the carpet and that is very dangerous for your health. Plus, it’s disgusting to have fungi growing right in your living room!

From the given points, both these floor coverings have their pros and cons. It’s about which one suits your home better, which one meets your budget and which one you prefer.

This Interior Design article was brought to you by Abigail Foster from HouseofAreaRugs.com – your online area rug shop for flokati area rugs.

How To Keep Your Rug Clean

November 19th, 2009 Luke Pharkos No comments

Having an area rug in your home is beautiful but keeping it clean and stain free can be a very difficult task. There are several different ways that you can keep your rug clean. Here are some tips to keeping your area rug clean and stain free.

You want to make a rule in your home that states not eating or drinking around the area rug. Spills can happen and you need to be prepared for it when it happens. Unfortunately spills over time can take a toll on the carpet fibers. In order to make your rug last for a long time you need to take precautions.

Vacuum your area rug on a regular basis. This will help to remove any dirt and allergens that may be embedded into the fibers. Occasionally they may rise up and get into the air and cause allergies to act up.

If a spill happens then you want to get yourself a dry cloth and some water to dilute. Pour a little water onto the spill to release the liquid from the fibers. Take your cloth and blot up the excess water. Continue to do this until the spot is dry. Allow the area to air dry to avoid mold from growing.

You can use a mild rug detergent in order to remove stains that may occur during everyday use. This will also help to keep your rug looking new and clean. There is a problem with using some rug cleaners. Over time they can cause the fibers to deteriorate and the rug will eventually fall apart. Before that happens the carpet may become weak and crumbly or it may become frayed.

A final tip is that you should have your rug professionally cleaned every once in a while. No matter how well you clean your rug and how clean you keep it; your rug is bound to become dirty over time. Allowing a professional to clean your rug every so often will ensure that your rug stays properly clean for as long as you have it. Keeping your area rug clean is essential not only for your home to look good, but also for the health of you and your loved ones.

If you enjoyed this information about rug maintenance, and feel it’s time for new solid colored rugs then we recommend www.HouseOfAreaRugs.com for all your new rugs.

Rugs for Decoration

November 17th, 2009 Ariel Barnett No comments

Rugs can divide the room’s space visually into areas or functions. The dining, living and bedroom areas may be designated by rugs placed judiciously in a large room. The various elements of the room can be unified by a large rug, or by a common pattern, color or design in the various rugs used. Rugs with patterns can be more easily harmonized with the other room elements than those with solid colors.

Every room is an individual room so it should be decorated that way. If you use floral designs you should compliment it with warm colors or cool solid colors. If you use small patterns compliment them with large patterns to tame them down.

Decide on your focal point. If a piece of furniture is your focal point then try using an area rug with warm neutral colors that help to compliment your furniture and not stand out.

If your focal point is the area rug itself you can use bright colors or large busy patterns to allow the rug to stand out.

If a fireplace is the focal point use a rug that is subdued in color and pattern so it will not distract from the fireplace. Remember, if more than one element or item compete to be the focal point, the room’s harmony may be unbalanced and it will generate an unpleasant ambience. Only one element should be ‘busy’ in decorating a space.

Other ideas in using rugs for decorating a room include:

1.) Light colored rugs make a room feel more spacious; darker colors or patterns make the room more cozy or warm.

2.) Experiment with round, oblong, hexagonal and octagonal rug shapes. They may imbue flair and unique elegance to your space or room’s floor.

3.) Consider using fringes on the edges of your rugs. Be sure to carefully vacuum around them so you don’t ruin the rug or the vacuum.

4.) Turn your worn out rugs into sofa pillows and add some style with tassels on the corners.

5.) A colorful rug may also make a good wall decoration. Tack or nail it to the wall, or sew loops at a long edge, run a window rod through them, and attach the rod to a pair of window brackets. You will make only two holes in the wall and the rug will hang straighter also.

Decorating with rugs can give life to a dull room. Use the rugs to make a statement or to instantly change the look of a room.

When decorating with rugs all the experts agree that it is essential to use quality area rugs. And as discussed here one of the most popular types is the round braided rugs.