Introduction to Area Rugs

Welcome to Area Rug Knowledge

Although carpet and ceramic tiles offer extensive selection, area rug choices are virtually unlimited.

From braided to cotton, exciting Oriental to exquisite Persian, area rugs are varied and beautiful, classic and exotic and as affordable or expensive as your budget.

Choosing an area rug can be a challenge! We want to share helpful information with you, both on our website and in our store.

We want you to understand, learn and experience this incredibly versatile flooring product, so you can choose the best rug or rugs for your home décor and lifestyle.

And believe us, there are area rugs for every style, need and budget. So, there’s bound to be one, or several that are the perfect answer to your decorating needs.

In this section we will share with you all the area rug basics to help you become an informed shopper.

A fabulous area rug can become your design centerpiece and provide a unique starting point around which your entire room’s décor can be coordinated.

Or, the right area rug can deliver a colorful finishing touch and complete your room’s décor.

You can also use area rugs to define a space. For today’s popular open floor plans, an area rug can create a conversation area, designate an eating space, welcome one into a foyer or usher your guests down a hallway.

Area rugs also offer you other unique benefits.

They are the only flooring product that you can install, then pick up and move. Change them season to season or as your style changes.

Area rugs offer you softness, warmth and sound absorption on hard flooring surfaces such as stone and wood.

They add another layer of design, luxury and warmth when laid on top of wall-to-wall carpeting.

And the price range of area rugs is just as wide and varied as the rugs.

Area rugs can be very inexpensive (cotton and synthetic) or phenomenally expensive (ancient weaves) depending on the material used, how they were made and the degree of artistry or intricacy in their design.

Oriental or Persian rugs made of handmade wool, 100% silk or wool and silk blend have been known to last hundreds of years and just seem to increase in value.

Relatively new are the "machine made" rugs with sophisticated design patterns made on computerized looms that can mimic the more intricate and labor-intensive handmade rugs at greatly reduced costs.

Because machine-made rugs are more affordable, they are available to a wider market segment. And that’s good for everyone.

Area rugs are made from wool, silk, (or a blend of wool/silk), olefin (polypropylene), or nylon fibers. Some area rugs, particularly bath mats, are made of cotton.

Wool and silk rugs dominate the high end of the market.

Heat-set olefin rugs are a great compromise because they look much like wool, are easy to clean, and are moderately priced in comparison to wool.

Area rugs can be an investment that becomes a family heirloom and can pass down from one generation to the next, or they can be practical and fun design elements that move around to suit your mood.

Area rugs can be a simple, beautiful, fast and effective answer to many of your flooring needs.

So, we invite you to check out all the information we have about area rugs.