By Home Furnishers

09/24/2011

Placing an area rug in a room is a wonderful way to add color, comfort, and beauty. And with so many styles of area rugs available, you'll have lots of choices for the best one for your space.Area rugs can be hand-tied, braided, woven, tufted, or machine made. While hand-tied rugs have always been considered the most valuable and a perfect investment to live with, the techniques used to create the new machine-made rugs make them good competition.
Read on to learn aboutdifferent styles, weaves, colors, prices, and patterns of area rugs. Then decide which is perfect for your room.

• Bound Carpet
  For a look that blends with other areas of your home, choose to have some wall-to-wall carpet cut to size and bound all the way around. This is a great solution for an area rug in an irregular-shaped space, since the carpet can be custom cut just for you. And the carpet can be the same as the adjoining space or you can choose the same color with a different texture. It won't distract from the other spaces and will flow with the rest of the space.
  
  
  
• Natural Fiber Area Rugs
  Jute, sisal, sea grass, hemp and bamboo fibers are used for area rugs both indoors and out. Because they're made from renewable resources, they've become very popular for homeowners decorating "green." These fibers are great for casual rooms but should be avoided for high traffic areas. They don't clean easily and wear down in high traffic areas. Most natural fiber area rugs are bound around the sides with colored bias or twill tape to protect the edges from coming unwoven or fraying.
  
  
• Woven Patterned Area Rugs
  To add a punch of color to a boring space, choose an inexpensive woven patterned rug. They come in stripes, florals, color blocks, and contemporary patterns. If you want a gentle background for your space, choose colors that blend with the furniture. But for a plain room, use bold color that will serve as a focal point in the room.
  
  
• Floral and Print Area Rugs
  If your space is rather plain and you want to keep it that way, you might consider adding a floral motif to the room with a floral patterned rug. This is a great solution if you're in an apartment, as you can take your floral rug with you when you move. There are many prints available that are modern or traditional, whimsical or subdued. Fun Kids Rugs can really cheer up a play space or define a child's territory in a large room. I love floral rugs, since they help to add a splash of color to a dull space. The designs can be traditional or contemporary, depending on the look you want.
  
  
• Faux Oriental Area Rugs
  There are many very effective and convincing area rugs, machine made, that resemble designs on oriental rugs. They're often made of wool and last for years, giving the look of a traditional oriental, yet saving you, the homeowner, the cost of an authentic antique or new oriental rug.
  
  
• Moroccan Area Rugs
  Moroccan Rugs are a big tourist take-home. In Morocco, there are stores wherever you go, wanting to bargain to get the top dollar. The rugs are decorative, colorful, and durable. My personal warning would be to watch out for colorfastness, though. With the cheaper rugs, the color bleeds down onto the flooring below, causing problems when you want to move the rug. When purchasing an oriental-style rug, check out the country of origin.
  
  
• Persian Rugs
  Persian rugs are from Iran. The designs and techniques used go back several thousand years and these area rugs are considered to be some of the finest available. The different areas of Iran have distinct rug-making styles. Some areas are known for fine knotting, others for colors, still others for interesting designs. Most Persian rugs are made of wool or silk and will last through generations of use and provide enjoyment for centuries if well cared for. In fact, it's believed that Persian rugs become more beautiful with the passing of years.
  
  
• Oriental Rugs
  While rugs made in Iran are lumped into the description of Oriental rugs, Oriental rugs are actually made in China, India, and Iran, as well as other Asian countries. The designs are beautiful and fit into the most regal interior as well as a rustic cabin. These silk or wool rugs withstand years of wear and traffic and are an excellent investment that you can enjoy every day.

When you're looking for an area rug, spend some time looking for the perfect design, color, and style for your space. You'll be amazed what a transformation a good area rug can make for a room.