Your home’s flooring can make or break a room, but you may not always be able to update it whenever you wish. Some people may invest much in flooring, only to be weary of it a few years later. Not everyone likes walking around on carpet all the time, so area rugs provide the ideal compromise for switching things up.
Home decor may be easily updated with new area rugs. Since they can be replaced for a fraction of the cost of new flooring, you might want to explore trying out new patterns every year or two. Perhaps the best feature is that these rugs can improve the look of any area in the house.
But before you invest in area rugs, it will be good to know more about area rugs. Understanding the various rug materials before deciding on a design is essential. Each fiber form, whether natural or synthetic, has advantages and disadvantages. The vast selection of rugs and the high prices they asked for might be intimidating to someone new to the rug-purchasing scene. Read on, and learn about the different area rugs that will perfectly suit your home!
What Are Area Rugs?
The term “area rug” is used to describe a carpet that is substantially smaller than the overall room size. As opposed to wall-to-wall carpeting, area rugs can be found in many sizes. While many area rugs are square or round, some have more natural, asymmetrical designs.
The installation of wall-to-wall carpeting is also very different from other types of flooring. Conversely, area rugs may be disassembled and relocated with no effort. Area rugs are fantastic design pieces for spaces of any shape or size due to their lightweight portability and vast variation in color, pattern, and texture. People often use area rugs to “bring the space together” as a focal point.
Silk Area Rugs
The popularity of silk area rugs is growing in countries worldwide. No other area rugs can serve as a suitable substitute. These carpets are woven with various colors and patterns from around the world.
Rugs made of silk can give your home the most beautiful appearance. Silk is frequently blended with wool and other high-quality materials throughout the rug-making process to improve durability and lower production costs without sacrificing aesthetic quality. Hand-woven and hand-knotted silk rugs both have their benefits.
What’s important is that these processes result in stunning carpets that can be tailored to suit any interior design scheme. Silk area rugs, particularly, have a reputation for being extraordinarily plush underfoot.
Wool Area Rugs
You can completely transform the look and feel of a room by adding a wool rug. Their plush edges and warm texture, crafted from natural, sustainable materials by weaving or knitting, can make any space seem finished.
Wool carpets are made from wool fibers that are cut from sheep. Despite its status as a luxury good, wool is not fragile. Its durability is good to great and can last for decades with the right care. Its resistance to breaking is due in part to the natural flexibility with which it is endowed.
Natural wool carpet, in contrast to some synthetic fibers, retains its original thickness and elastic feel after years of usage despite high foot activity and the heaviness of furniture.
Wool’s coiled fiber structure is what gives it its inherent strength and durability. This characteristic is artificially conferred to synthetic fibers and may degrade with use. This is one reason why a wool carpet can endure longer than one made of synthetic fibers.
Wool fibers are inherently resistant to moisture and stains, so if you have a spill on your wool rug, simply blot it up with some white towels or paper towels. You should regularly clean your wool rug because dirt particles that settle into its strands might hasten its deterioration.
Cotton Area Rugs
Affordable and stylish cotton area rugs are a great way to upgrade your home decor without breaking the bank. Their gentleness and potential for luxury make them a welcome addition. There are no or very few synthetic fibers in their construction. Because of natural fibers’ inherent stain and spill resistance, these carpets do not attract filth like synthetic ones.
Cotton derived from the cotton plant is an eco-friendly, low-cost, and very adaptable material. Cotton fibers are robust, resilient, and excellent at holding colors. Because of these qualities, cotton is ideal for carpets and is particularly well-suited to elaborate rug patterns.
Discovering an area rug made of cotton is unusual when discussing cotton rugs. Cotton is rarely used alone to make rugs; instead, it is mixed with other fibers like wool to make use of each fiber’s unique properties and make a more durable and versatile product.
These organic materials wick away moisture and dry quickly. The growth of mildew and mold is inhibited by this method. However, people with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions should avoid wearing synthetic fibers.
Cotton is one of the finest flooring options for children since it does not irritate their respiratory systems. During manufacturing, no hazardous byproducts are created. It’s also the most comfortable option for bare feet. Because it is a cultivated and collected natural resource, it poses no threat to human health.
Bamboo Area Rugs
A bamboo rug may be the way to go if you’re looking for a new area rug but don’t want to settle for nylon or cotton. Although bamboo isn’t often thought of when shopping for an area rug, this material has attracted more attention as homeowners realize its many advantages to their living rooms. The casual sophistication that bamboo carpets provide to a room has been shown to have a calming effect on individuals who spend time there.
Bamboo rugs are an import from the Asian culture; they are made from bamboo, a long-lasting renewable resource. Manufacturers use linen, jute, cotton, and other materials in addition to bamboo strips to create rugs of varied sizes that are completely natural.
Bamboo is an excellent choice for flooring and carpets because of its durability. Time and again, it is the best alternative for individuals who value a basic yet exquisite natural aesthetic in their interior design since it is highly resilient, appealing, and long-lasting.
There are typically two primary options for bamboo rugs: broad strip and narrow strip weaved. In the case of the broad strip variant, the bamboo is fixed on an anti-slip backing, making the rug a firm anchor on your flooring surface. Rugs made from narrow strips of woven bamboo are also equipped with non-slip backing, but their interlaced bamboo strands are weaved in a much tighter pattern.
It’s likely that some instances of drinking or eating in the living room will occur, even if they don’t occur frequently. The potential for messy spills and stains increases when food and drink are involved. A spill on ordinary area rugs would immediately leave a stain, but not on bamboo. No need to worry about permanent stains on bamboo because any liquid will first bead up on the surface. Having a rug free of stains is especially important in high-traffic areas like the living room, where guests may view the rug.
Another perk of going with bamboo carpets is that they are eco-friendly. The growth cycle of bamboo is short, making it an efficient renewable resource. This implies there is no risk to the environment when farmers and industry utilize the raw material repeatedly and replant it. Growing bamboo grass requires less land than growing trees, so farmers can easily keep up with supply and demand.
Microfiber Area Rugs
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Rugs made from microfiber are a form of synthetic rug. These are constructed from either one hundred percent polyester or a combination of polyester and other synthetic fibers. The soft texture of microfiber carpets is achieved by using extremely fine thread. Machine-woven mats may easily be made to look like their more costly wool counterparts. Polyethylene, the winner among synthetic rug materials, is a bit softer to the touch and is created from recycled plastic bottles.
The benefits of microfiber are numerous. It’s sturdy and easy to transport. In addition to being water resistant, it has a high durability and longevity threshold under normal use conditions. Sportswear, undergarments, sweaters, jeans, and even shoes are all common places to find microfiber. This material is also a key component in the production of mop heads and rags. This material is great for cleaning because it is nonabrasive and antibacterial.
Microfiber’s superior features as an upholstery material make it a fantastic choice for smaller rugs like throw and area rugs. Microfiber rugs provide a relaxing, comfortable feel. They are durable and pleasant to walk barefoot.
Maintain their quality with occasional spot cleanings. Spot-clean any messes with a mix of dishwashing liquid and warm water on a sponge or soft cloth. When washing microfiber, it is recommended that you use a new cleaning solution each time. If you try to clean it with unfiltered water, you’ll only have water spots. When the cloth is dry, brush it with a dry fabric brush.
Most importantly, choosing a professional carpet cleaner familiar with microfiber is essential when you need your microfiber area rugs cleaned. This will prevent you from damaging your microfibers worse soon.
Choose Your Area Rugs Wisely
Overall, area rugs may be found in various styles and tones when you shop. Evaluate your options in light of how well they complement the space you intend to furnish. A room already packed with bold furniture and accessories might benefit from solid-colored carpeting. However, by laying down a rug with a striking design, we may simply inject some personality into an otherwise dull space.
Similarly, area rugs have the power to transform the atmosphere of a room completely. In the winter, it may be preferable to use dark tones in big spaces to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Colorful and unique patterns and hues can also be a starting point for a kid’s room or the nursery’s overall design scheme.