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Beginner's Guide to Decorating with Area Rugs

 

Back to Basics: A Beginner's Guide to Decorating with Area Rugs

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There is no easier way to re-decorate any room in your home than by placing (or replacing) the area rug on the floor. It's a quick, simple and relatively inexpensive way to make a desired change. Certainly much easier than painting, wallpapering or hanging new window treatments - and incredibly less expensive than buying new furniture, light fixtures or artwork.

If you're lucky enough to have wood floors in the room you want to energize, all the better. Area rugs and wood floors were made for each other. But even if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, a new area rug can overcome a lot of deficiencies in the way the carpet affects the ambiance of the room.

Don't limit yourself to placing one large area rug in the center of the room. While this is a great way to warm up a large area, it can also make the room seem somewhat ordinary. Instead, consider creating focal points - places within the room that draw attention. A rug with some boldly contrasting colors to the room's main scheme can work wonders. Smaller rugs placed strategically near or underneath furniture can break the room's space into more inviting units. And remember - as easy as it is to pull up and replace area rugs - consider seasonal changes to the room to make it unique and inviting all year round.

OK. You've decided you want to decorate with area rugs. Of course your best source for ideas is going to be a website like Rugs Direct. But what should you consider as you start shopping?

First, determine the main purpose of the rug. Are you going to take our recommendation and use it to define a focal point in the room? Does the room need to be brightened? Softened? Warmed up? Or is the main goal to protect your valuable hardwood floors?

Is one rug going to do what you want to do, or should you consider several smaller ones? If there a place for a long runner? How would a round or octagonal rug look in this room?

Is this room particularly noisy? Are you hoping the rug will cut down on the sound of footsteps or other annoying echos in the room?

How much sunlight does the room get? You need to consider the material - or fibers - used to create the rug. Although wool is by far the most popular fabric for area rugs, a synthetic such as polypropylene (olifin) or acrylic can be more durable, more resistant to stains and easier to clean.

How much traffic does the room get? Again, wool is popular because it is durable and soft. But it is not a good idea to get it wet. There are many other more suitable fabrics for that situation, so you need to consider whether muddy, wet feet are going to come into contact with your rug.

Lastly, don't cheap-out and think you can get away with not putting a rug pad underneath your rug. This is critical on hardwood floors, but important for rug-on-carpet applications as well. Apart from the safety issue of not wanting your rug to slide underfoot, a pad will make the rug lie flat, extend its life tremendously and make it much easier to regularly vacuum.

Most importantly, with all the thousands and thousands of rug styles, colors, shapes and materials available, don't get overwhelmed! Decorating with an area rug can - and should - be fun. Look at photos in magazines and imagine what would translate well to your space. Then visit an online store with enhanced search capabilities to help you quickly narrow down the possibilities to the ones that appeal to you. Again, we recommend the Rugs Directory at Rugs Direct.

Good luck!

Area Rug Maintenance is Easy

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No, you don't need a belt full of tools to properly maintain and care for your area rugs. In fact, keeping an area rug looking new is actually pretty easy. With a little bit of attention it can last a long, long time and withstand a great deal of use.

The single most important tool you'll need doesn't fit very well on a belt - your vacuum cleaner. Most of the dirt, sand, dust and debris that ends up on your area rug can be removed easily with a simple vacuuming. (Liquid spills are another matter completely and we've covered them in a separate article. Click here if you would like to read it.)

New rugs often have a certain amount of "fuzz" that frequently appears on top of the rug. This is normal and is not an indication that there is something wrong with your rug. It is simply loose fibers that are created during the weaving process that work their way to the surface over time. If they bother you, simply vacuum more frequently. In some cases it may take several months for all of the "fuzz" to disappear. Many people get frustrated and feel they have received a defective product when the "fuzz" continually reappears. Please don't be one of them!

After all the fuzzies are gone, a thorough vacuuming once ever two weeks is probably sufficient. If you can flip the rug over and vacuum the back as well, that is ideal. Ground-in dirt will actually be closer to the bottom than the top and it is easier for the vacuum to suck it out from there than the surface.

One important note of caution: if your rug has fringe, DO NOT run the vacuum over it. This should be obvious, but based upon how many ruined fringed rugs we see, it apparently is not. Nothing will damage the fringe on a rug more than spinning it around your vacuum's beater bar. Not only will you have to immediately stop the vacuum and carefully unwind the fibers, but there's a good chance you will literally tear them off the rug. Not good. Not easy to fix. Just don't do it.

For braided rugs and flatweaves, avoid using the vacuum's beater bar entirely. Use the hard-floor attachment instead. Rugs constructed in these ways are too easy to snag and pull with a spinning beater bar and suction alone will usually do a great job of pulling out all the dirt.

A few tips that will extend the life of your rug:

• At least once a year, rotate your rug 180 degrees. This will ensure the rug gets even exposure to light and wear and will therefore maintain a consistent look over time. Any fading will be spread evenly and no pile will be worn down more than any other.
• For braided and flatwoven rugs, also flip them in addition to rotating. They are made to be reversible, so reverse them to even out the wear. This will literally double the life of the rug.
• If you ever encounter a pull or loose thread on your rug, go to the drawer, get a pair of scissors and carefully trim the offending fiber close to the surface of the rug. DO NOT PULL! Remember, a rug is a very intricately woven product. Pulling out a tread can do more damage than you can imagine to the entire structure of the rug.
• Many people opt not to put a quality pad underneath their rug. We hear lots of excuses why, but none of them are valid. A rug pad does much more than simply keep the rug from slipping on a wooden floor, although this is an extremely important safety concern. It also cushions and protects the rug - and keeps it looking new much, much longer. Instead of crushing the rug into the floor with each step you take on it, the pad absorbs the weight - not the rug's fibers. Kind of makes sense, huh? So please put a pad under your rug - especially if it's going to be placed on a hardwood floor.

See how easy it is to care for your fine-quality area rugs? You don't need a lot of tools - just a good vacuum cleaner and a pair of scissors - nor do you need to invest a lot of time to keep your investment in rugs paying you back with many years of comfort and enjoyment.

If you would like to shop for area rugs at the nation's leading source, Rugs Direct, please click here.

Spills Are Inevitable - Stains Are Not

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It happens to everyone. You finally find the perfect area rug for your home (at Rugs Direct, of course); you carefully position it on the floor in just the right place; your rearrange the furniture so everyone can get a good look at your new treasure - and sure enough, someone spills something really nasty right in the middle of it. Don't panic. If you know what to do, it's possible - even probable - that you'll be able to prevent a permanent stain. But you must resist that temptation to grab a towel and start scrubbing the spot. Nothing could be worse for your beautiful rug.

Here are the proper "first-response" actions you should take to treat the most common household spills that have the greatest potential for damage.

One note of caution: These instructions are primarily intended for use on typical wool rugs. For any synthetic fiber, a Resolve® or Woolite® carpet spot remover spray will work on most stains. Follow product directions closely. Do not use either of these cleaners on a natural fiber rug, including wool, cotton and sisal.

Blood

1. Add cold water and blot.
2. First solution: Mix one teaspoon of Dawn® dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of warm water.
3. Blot stain.
4. Last solution: Mix 2 tablespoons white vinegar with above cleaning solution.
5. Blot.

Please notice nowhere were you told to "rub" the stain. Blot - and continue blotting until it comes out. Do not rub. I repeat - DO NOT RUB!

Ink

1. Mix one teaspoon of Dawn® dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of warm water.
2. Blot stain.
3. If stain does not disappear, blot with isopropyl alcohol.

There are commercial ink-removers on the market that can do an excellent job, but be sure to test an area of the rug first. They sometimes also remove color from the rug as well.

Drinks - wine, coffee, soda, juice, etc.

1. Add cold water and blot.
2. Mix one teaspoon of Dawn® dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of warm water.
3. Blot stain.
4. If stain does not disappear, mix one teaspoon of white vinegar with Dawn mixture and try again.

Nail Polish

1. Blot with a cloth containing either hairspray or isopropyl alcohol.
2. If stain does not disappear, mix water and nail polish remover on cloth and blot.

Make sure you test the nail polish remover/water mixture on a small corner of the rug. Of course the best recommendation here is don't have an open bottle of nail polish anywhere near your new rug - but I guess that's pretty obvious.

Food - ketchup, mustard, chocolate, sauces, etc.

1. Mix one teaspoon of Dawn® dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of warm water.
2. Blot stain.

Again, do not rub! That is only going to work the stain deeper into the rug and you will most likely never get it to be completely invisible.

Pet Stains

Rugs and animals typically do not mix. But when your cat or dog ultimately decides your area rug looks an awful lot like a public toilet, here's what you should do.

1. Soak up as much as possible, applying pressure with many, many paper towels.
2. Mix one teaspoon of Dawn® dishwashing liquid. one teaspoon of white vinegar and one cup of warm water.
3. Blot stain.
4. Blot stain.
5. Blot stain.
6. Repeat.

There are commercial pet odor eliminators that you should consider using once you are finally able to remove the stain. The main reason is that if Fido can still smell any trace of his handiwork with his incredibly sensitive nose, that will simply signal to him that it's OK to do it again. (I suspect he secretly enjoys watching you down on your hands and knees cleaning up after him, but that's another topic for a future blog.) More rugs are ruined by pets than any other single source, so do your best to prevent the problem from ever happening in the first place.

Of course if all else fails there's a good chance most of these stains can be removed professionally, but there are no guarantees. The longer a stain is allowed to set, the harder it is to remove it. That's why quick action while the spill is still wet is critical.

Team Rugs for All Football Fans

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To many people autumn means much more than cooler weather, shorter days and the kids going back to school. No, it means one thing and one thing only - FOOTBALL!

The college and pro seasons are under way, and there is not better way to show which team you root for than by displaying a rug with the logo of your favorite team on it. Fortunately there is a great resource available to you where you are sure to find it - Rugs Direct.

In the NFL collection from Milliken there are 96 different rugs available. Each team comes in three different designs - a repeat logo, a centered logo on a football field and a large, centered logo.

These rugs are made in the USA of 100% nylon and feature Stainmaster protection for those inevitable, uh, "spills" that happen during the exciting moments in the 4th quarter. They come in multiple sizes, from a basic door-mat all the way up to one that will fill the entire rec room.

If college football is more to your liking, Rugs Direct has over 350 rugs available, featuring the logos of almost any school that participates in the sport. Again, multiple designs and numerous sizes are available, so you're sure to find a great way to display your school spirit for many years to come.

Good luck this season. We hope your team does well!

Rugs for Anywhere - Including the Great Outdoors

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This time of year people naturally gravitate to the outdoors. This is especially true in more northern regions of the country where we know that only too soon the cold air and snow will return! With the current economic situation and the prevalence of "staycations" - it's only natural that more and more people are decorating their patios and deck areas for maximum summertime use. And the #1 decorating tool this season - outdoor area rugs.

Sometimes referred to as "all-weather rugs," they can make any outdoor space feel more like an extension of your home. But gone are the days of having to accept a bland, rubberized mat as a covering for your outdoor "floors." Today you have literally hundreds of choices in a wide range of colors, patterns and styles. And they are more durable to stand up to the elements than ever before.

Before you buy an outdoor rug, think about how it will be used. It may make logical sense to purchase a natural fiber rug - such as one made of bamboo or jute - for outdoor use, but in reality these don't do well if left outdoors permanently. For a covered porch, entry way or sunroom, they make an excellent choice. But they tend to deteriorate if they consistently get wet.

Instead, you should buy a rug made entirely of polypropylene, including the backing and any trim. This will not only stand up to the weather, but polypropylene also resists mold and mildew. When it gets wet and then dries, it will maintain its size and color.

By the way, a common name for polypropylene is olefin. Same thing. Just easier to spell and say!

In the world of textiles, fabrics and fiber manufacturing there is something called moisture regain. It is a measure of how much water something like a rug will absorb. Cotton, as you might well suspect, is basically off the chart. When it gets wet, it absorbs it all and does a great job of retaining it. Polypropylene, on the other hand, is at the other end of the scale with a rating of 0.05. There are some specialty fabrics intended for outdoor use that drop to 0.01.

Another benefit of polypropylene for outdoor rugs is how easy they are to clean. You can use a mild detergent and a scrub brush, although most people tend to just spray them with a garden hose. As mentioned previously, it will hold its color and shape without a problem.

One of the leading manufacturers and importers of indoor/outdoor or all-weather rugs is Capel Rugs, based in Troy, North Carolina. Their Capel Anywhere^TM line, introduced in 2007, includes several beautiful collections of durable, polypropylene rugs for porches, patios, decks, verandas and pool areas. They're also perfect for high-traffic areas inside the house.

Rugs Direct has close to 100 Capel Anywhere rugs in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Again, gone are the days of buying a small rubber mat and calling it an "outdoor rug." Today you will find beautiful, durable "anywhere" rugs in sizes up to 7' x 10' to truly transform your outdoor spaces into an enjoyable, usable extension of your home.

Your Area Rug's Best Friend

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Most people who purchase area rugs for their homes want them to last a long time. Yes they are a very economical way to decorate a room and certainly are a lot easier to change than wall color or furniture, but it's not unreasonable to expect them to provide many years or comfort and enjoyment. With proper care, this is more than possible.

A vacuum cleaner is by far your rug's best friend. This type of maintenance alone can add years of life to your rug and help maintain its new appearance for a long, long time. But it must be done regularly - and correctly - for best results.

First of all, keep in mind that your area rug is made of fibers. It is not a solid sheet of material, such as linoleum, nor is it an impervious material such as is used in tiles. Dirt and moisture can work themselves into - and under - the fabric of the rug and can even cause it to separate. This is why it is important to vacuum your rug regularly. How often? That completely depends upon where it is used and how much foot traffic it gets. Near a busy entry way or door, you may need to vacuum several times a week. In a spare guest bedroom, probably once a week is more than enough.

The point is, you don't want dirt to be ground into the fibers of the rug. Frequent once-overs with your vacuum cleaner will prevent this from happening.

On a side note, we've all seen photos or scenes in movies where someone hangs their area rug on a clothesline or over a fence and beats the dust and dirt out of it with a broom or tennis racket. There is absolutely nothing worse for your rug than this! (Well, there actually IS one thing worse, but it involves misbehaved animals who don't know the difference between your rug and the great outdoors - but that's a whole other issue.) Do NOT beat your rug to clean it! First of all, it's not very effective or efficient. You're not going to be able to get all of the dirt out this way. But more importantly, it could ruin the rug. It will most certainly shorten its life. You may cause the threads to loosen and damage the backing to the rug. It might be a great physical workout for you, but it is devastating to the structural integrity of your beautiful floor covering.

There is debate in the world of area-rug care as to whether you should use the beater bar on your vacuum or not when cleaning a rug. At Rugs Direct we are of the strong opinion that sometimes you should and sometimes you shouldn't. If the rug is tightly woven and of heavy materials, then the beater bar is probably necessary to get it clean. Set it for as short a pile height as you can so you don't run the risk of tearing any of the fibers loose. Otherwise, use the standard hard-floor attachment and be sure to anchor the rug (or stand on it) so that it doesn't get pulled up into the vacuum.

If your rug has fringe, make sure you don't inadvertently run the vacuum over the edge. Don't be lazy and think this is OK - especially if you simply push the vacuum away from the center out past the fringe. Some of it is going to get caught and torn eventually. You will ruin your rug. You are also going to have to unwind a bunch of fabric that is wrapped around your vacuum's beater bar. Harder to remove than hair. Don't do it!

It's also a good idea to vacuum the underside of the rug. Yes, I know this is a lot of work, but not all of the dirt is going to be removable from the top surface of the rug. Also dirt that gets underneath the rug can actually cause it to wear unevenly from the bottom up. So maybe not every time you vacuum, but at least once a month, turn the rug over and vacuum the bottom too. Again, this will add years to the life of your area rug.

Lastly, always use a good quality pad in between your rug and the floor. There are some serious safety concerns for doing this, but it will also make caring for the rug much easier. It's almost impossible to completely vacuum a rug that slips and slides as you try to clean it. A pad will keep it in place and insure that your vacuuming does the greatest good. If by some chance the pad gets soiled, many of them can be cleaned by simply tossing them into the washing machine - something you'd never want to do with the actual rug. Rugs Direct sells high quality rug pads in sizes that match all popular area rug sizes. If you didn't buy a pad with your rug, consider adding one now.

So make sure your area rugs and your vacuum cleaner are well acquainted. They will learn to love one another for a lifetime! Good luck.

A New Look at Eco-Friendly Bamboo

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With the renewed focus on renewable resources and eco-friendly products, we thought it was time to take another look at one of the most incredible plants on the planet - bamboo.

Bamboo is a generic name for literally thousands of species of plants belonging to the grass family. What differentiates bamboo are the hundreds of uses to which it can be applied, along with the fact that is is the single fastest growing plant on Earth. Some varieties grown up to two feet a day and it seems a new bamboo forest can spring up literally over night. The record for a one-day growth spurt stands at just under 48 inches.

In many areas bamboo is rapidly becoming an excellent replacement for hardwoods such as oak. It can take 40 years for an oak tree to grow to the point where it is suitable for harvesting. An equivalent amount of bamboo can be grown in just a couple of years. Plus, the harvesting of bamboo does not destroy the root system. A new plant can emerge without the need for additional planting. Talk about a renewable resource! And unlike many commercial crops, bamboo requires no fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides.

Bamboo also is good for the planet in other ways. For instance, it absorbs five times the amount of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases - and releases 35% more oxygen back into the atmosphere than an equivalent stand of hardwood trees. Plus, there are almost no waste products associated with the harvesting of bamboo. Literally every portion of the plant has some use or another. Here are just a few examples:

Food
Not only Pandas eat bamboo shoots. Throughout much of the world bamboo is a major ingredient in recipes for soups, condiments and vegetable dishes. The leaves make a great wrapper for rice and beans, and can be fermented to make a sweet wine. Bamboo is nutritious, low-calorie and a good source of potassium.

Construction
When treated, bamboo forms a construction-grade wood that is lightweight and extremely durable. Because bamboo fibers are much stronger than most traditional wood fibers, it is less prone to warping. Some companies have begun converting bamboo into flooring with great success. The only drawback is that bamboo wood must be treated with a wood preservative to prevent insect infestations.

Wood Replacement
Bamboo is a great material for fences, bridges, furniture, decks and many other items normally made with wood from various tree species. A great many musical instruments, toys, cooking utensils, fishing rods and decorative artwork also can be made from bamboo. Although it's not very common in modern times, bamboo has traditionally been a source of high-quality papers as well, especially in China.

Fabrics
A long time ago East Asian artisans developed a way to make yarn from bamboo pulp. There are a huge number of properties of bamboo fiber that make it highly beneficial for textiles:

• Soft
• Antibacterial
• UV Resistant
• Absorbent
• Thermo-Regulating
• Hypoallergenic
• Naturally Organic
• Sustainable
• Eco-friendly
• 100% Biodegradable

Rugs
Coarse bamboo rugs have been used as floor coverings for centuries. However, there is now something unexpected as a result of refinements to the yarn-producing processes. It is called Bamboo Shag. Created by the Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Company, Bamboo Shag is actually softer and silkier than traditional shag rugs made from wool or polypropylene (olefin). The look and feel of this type of rug is due to its yarn blend that consists of 80% bamboo and 20% cotton. 

Because bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic, these rugs have very little effect on allergy sufferers. Plus, Anji Mountain uses a non-toxic, Azo-free dye to produce the rich colors in Bamboo Shag rugs. There is also minimal shedding, which can be an ongoing problem with traditional shag rugs.

Rugs Direct carries a complete line of bamboo rugs from Anji Mountain, including the revolutionary Bamboo Shag. Take a look by clicking here.

Bamboo Shag rugs from Anji Mountain

If you are interested in learning more about the history, features and uses of bamboo - or if you want to explore how to grow and cultivate you own plants - visit the American Bamboo Society.

Rug Attributes Part Seven - Synthetic Pile

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As discussed in our last entry, pile is the word used in the area-rug world to refer to the material or fiber used for weaving a rug. Obviously antique and most hand-made rugs are woven of natural piles such as wool, silk, cotton and other plant fibers. However, with a century of advances in chemistry and manufacturing, there are now a large number of synthetic fibers that can be used to make beautiful and durable floor coverings.

Here then is a survey of the many types of synthetic pile you will encounter when searching for an area rug.

Synthetic Pile

Acrylic - Without getting too technical, acrylic fibers are made from a polymer called polyacrylonitrile. A rug - or any product made from this synthetic fiber - must contain at least 85% of the acrylonitrile monomer to be called "acrylic" in the United States. It was invented in 1941 by the Dupont Corporation, which trademarked it under the name Orlon.

Acrylic is lightweight, soft and feels a lot like wool. It is also extremely warm when used in clothing. It has even found acceptance as an inexpensive alternative to cashmere! Acrylic fibers accept dyes very well and hold their color and shape under most conditions. They resist shrinking and wrinkling. Acrylic rugs are resistant to moths, oils and chemicals. They also don't fade or deteriorate when exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.

The disadvantages of acrylic rugs are that they tend to fuzz or pill rather easily. They also tend to store static electricity and, for people with sensitive skin or eczema, acrylic can be rather irritating. This is more of a problem with clothing made of acrylic than rugs, obviously.

Alkene - If you managed to get through Organic Chemistry you probably learned that an alkene, olefin or olefine is an unsaturated chemical compound containing at least one carbon-to-carbon double bond. No? Well, now you know. Impress your friends!

The alkene that is important in the world of area rugs is olefin, which is also known as polypropylene. (Sometimes this is shortened to polypropene and given the abbreviation PP.) This synthetic fiber is one of the most widely used in the world today. You can find it in packaging, ropes, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive parts, thermal underwear (Under Armor), textiles and, of course, carpets and area rugs. One of the beauties of polypropylene is that it is recyclable.

Polypropylene is basically synthetic wool when it is used in area rugs. It is durable, resists soiling, is easy to clean and does not build up static electricity. Many people consider it to be the perfect pile for area rugs with almost no drawbacks. Homes with pets or small children benefit greatly from this unique synthetic fiber.

Nylon - This is a generic term for a large family of synthetic polymers that were first produced in 1935 by a chemist working for the Dupont Corporation. It is a very silky material and, in fact, one of its first uses was as a silk replacement for parachutes during World War II. In addition to rugs, nylon can be found in paint brushes, women's stockings, rope and the strings for musical instruments. Many screws and gears in machines are now made of nylon too.

The Federal Trade Commission has a complex definition of what nylon technically means, but when it comes to shopping for an area rug, it is easiest to simply think of it as synthetic silk. It resists insects, mold, mildew and many chemicals. It resists abrasion and, despite its light weight, is extremely strong. A big safety feature of nylon is that it melts instead of burning when exposed to a flame.

Polyester - Although this term has been used to describe a lot of different materials, to be absolutely correct it only refers to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyester products are used throughout the manufacturing world and in liquid form it is an excellent top finish for high-quality wood products such as guitars, furniture, pianos, yacht interiors and fine-quality wood floors. Fabrics made of polyester include clothing and a wide variety of home furnishings such as sheets, bedspreads, curtains and drapes.

Rugs made of polyester tend to be a little stiffer and feel less natural that ones woven from cotton. However, they offer resistance to wrinkles and increased durability. For this reason, it is very common to find rugs that consist of a blend of polyester with a natural fiber. The best of both worlds!

Rayon - In the strictest definition of the term, rayon is not truly a synthetic fiber. That's because it is manufactured from naturally occurring polymers, namely cellulose. It is more accurately called a semi-synthetic fiber. It is a very versatile material and many people find it as comfortable as most natural fibers. Through various processing methods it can be made to mimic the texture and appearance of silk, wool, cotton or linen. Rugs made of rayon pile are soft, smooth and usually have a sheen or luster to them. Rayon does not recover well when it gets wet and is not very elastic, so it requires a bit more careful treatment and placement than many other rug materials.

The word viscose is sometimes used to describe rug piles, but technically this is an organic liquid used in the process of creating rayon. If you come across a rug described this way, it is actually just another way of indicating the rug's pile is rayon.

Vinyl - Although vinyl can be woven into area rugs, many times they resemble floor mats more than true rugs. It is a very rugged material that will withstand weather and water extremely well, making them ideal for use outdoors. Most people agree that their function outperforms their form and vinyl rugs aren't all that attractive. Still, it is an important option to consider when decorating your home because of the huge practical benefits it provides.

Rugs Direct carries a wide selection of area rugs in all synthetic piles. Click on any of the underlined links in this article for more information, or to go directly to the Rugs Direct home page, please click here.

Rug Attributes Part Six - Natural Pile

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Pile is the word used in the area-rug world to refer to the material or fiber used for weaving a rug. Just about anything that can be transformed into a strand of yarn can, and has, been used to create an area rug. Sometimes the effect can be stunning. There are both natural pile fibers, which have been used for centuries to create rugs, and within the last 100 years or so, scientists have developed a tremendous amount of synthetic fibers.

Here then is a brief survey of the many types of natural pile you will encounter when searching for an area rug.

Natural Pile - Plant Origin

Bamboo – There are about 1,000 different species of bamboo plants on the planet and most all of them have been used to create area rugs. Because it is the single fastest growing plant on Earth it is also one of the most eco-friendly in that it is rapidly replaced after harvesting. Bamboo rugs are popular not only because of their unique look, but their durability. About the only drawbacks are that they tend to not be very soft underfoot and are rather difficult to color. Fortunately most people in the market for a bamboo area rug want it to look like what it is!

Coir – (pronounced KOY-er) - A rug made of coir fibers is basically a coconut turned into a floor covering! Coir is found between the husk and the outer shell of this unique seed – that’s right, a coconut is not a nut or a fruit – it’s a seed. Coir consists of a lot of cellulose, which makes it very durable and strong. It is extremely waterproof and one of the few natural fibers that is resistant to damage from salt water. There are actually two types of coir fibers; brown coir is harvested from a fully ripened coconut. It is thick and resists abrasion, but also not very flexible. White coir comes from a coconut before it is ripe. These fibers are finer and easier to fashion into yarn, but also a bit weaker than the brown variety.

Cotton – Although 100% cotton area rugs exist, it is used more frequently as an important fabric for the foundation and decoration of many rugs. It is used to add strength and shape to many other natural fiber rugs, and it can also add a degree of softness to an otherwise coarse rug. Obviously cotton is an easily renewable resource that is extremely easy to clean and maintain.

Hemp – Industrial hemp is used for making ropes and a variety of area rugs. Usually it is blended with other fibers such as flax, cotton or silk. Pure hemp is very strong, but also extremely coarse. Like bamboo, hemp is a rapidly growing plant and can be replenished quickly. It also is a very healthy plant, requiring no pesticides or herbicides, thereby making it one of the most eco-friendly of all area rug piles.

Jute – This is a long, soft, shiny fiber that comes, surprisingly enough, from the jute plant. (Officially it’s the corchorus – but who can pronounce that?) It is very inexpensive to grow and harvest. Jute is naturally heat and fire-resistant and is not susceptible to stretching or shrinking. It is also highly biodegradable. Usually the more shiny the fiber, the better its quality, although there are plenty of uses for low-grade jute yarns. You might be more familiar with what we call pieces of fabric that are made of jute – burlap.

Mountain Grass – This is a very specialized pile that isn’t very common. It is made from a special plant that grows at high altitudes of mountains on the Pacific Rim. It’s closely related to hemp in many of its characteristics. Mountain Grass rugs require a great deal of care because they are highly susceptible to mold and mildew if they get wet. With their unique and beautiful Earth tones, they serve a much more decorative function than practical one and need to be placed where they won’t receive much traffic.

Seagrass – As the name implies, this fiber comes from plants that grow in saline, marine environments. There are some 60 different species worldwide, but only the ones with long, narrow leaves are used to create area rugs. It tends to be woven in a style resembling rattan furniture and is probably better described as a floor mat than a true area rug.

Sisal – (pronounced SEYE sul) – This fiber comes from the agave plant and its main industrial use is for making twine and rope. It’s frequently called hemp, but it is not. Today most sisal is grown in Brazil, although it originally was cultivated in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. The main port for worldwide export was Sisal; hence the name. Sisal is strong and resists deterioration from all types of water. It also takes dyes readily, which is rare for natural plant fibers. Sisal rugs are very popular for their appearance, texture and durability.

Natural Pile - Animal Origin

Cowhide – Technically cowhide is not a pile that is sewn into an area rug. Nevertheless, cowhide rugs are popular with people who want to create a rustic or cabin look in a room. Shapes tend to resemble the animal rather than a traditional rectangle. Cowhide can be dyed, but most people prefer the look of the original breed of cow from which it was tanned.

Leather – Unlike cowhide, leather can be cut into strips of yarn and sewn into a rectangular area rug. There are many processes used to tan leather, but they all result in a rugged fabric that is flexible, water-resistant and often nicely aromatic. Leather also has great use as a border or accent pile in many area rugs. The combination of leather with wool can be stunning.

Silk – Although it is expensive, silk is one of the most beautiful and popular piles used in making high-quality area rugs. It comes from the cocoon of mulberry silkworms, which, unfortunately, kills the larvae. Some animal-rights proponents urge people to consider some of the artificial silk alternatives to the real thing. Silk is one of the strongest natural fibers, but loses up to 20% of its strength when it gets wet. It has poor elasticity and when stretched tends to remain that way. In addition, silk can be damaged by prolonged exposure to sunlight and can be attacked by insects. So with all of its many drawback and limitations, why are silk area rugs so incredible popular? There is no other pile that has the beauty, sheen and feel of real silk!

Suede – This is a special type of leather with a napped finish. (The word comes from the French for Sweden…and I have no idea why we call it this!) Suede leather is made from the underside of the skin of lambs, goats, pigs, calves, deer and cows. It is softer but less durable than standard, or full-grain leather. Often you will see suede combined with leather in a woven area rug, which tends to give the rug the best of both worlds.

Wool – By far this is the most commonly used pile in both ancient and modern area rugs. It is soft, durable, easy to weave and relatively inexpensive. It also takes dyes better than most any other fiber on the planet. Because it comes from sheep, it is completely renewable and totally eco-friendly. Coarse wool is more durable than fine wool, so generally it is agreed that the wool from sheep that live and graze at high altitudes is superior. New Zealand wool is among the most popular for area-rug making today. It is also relatively easy to combine wool with other pile materials, giving the rug maker an unlimited number of options for creating fine works of art for the floor.

Rugs Direct carries a wide selection of area rugs in all natural piles. Click on any of the links in this article for more information, or to go directly to the Rugs Direct home page, please click here.

Rug Attributes Part Five - Knots

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Ask any Boy Scout and he'll tell you how many dozens and dozens of different ways there are to tie pieces of rope together or to other things. There are hundreds of books on how to tie knots and organizations dedicated to studying the art, science and beauty of them. There are even university scholars who study the theory of knots and write mathematical formulae to describe their structure.

When it comes to creating beautiful area rugs, there are also a wide variety of knots used. But before we examine a few of these, we need to understand a very important attribute of all area rugs. It is what is referred to as knot density.

  Knot density is a fairly simple concept and calculation. You take one square inch of a finished rug and count the number of horizontal and vertical knots in each dimension. (The technical terms for these are warp and weft and are usually only visible on the underside of the rug.) In the metric system, obviously different units are used and the number calculated will be different. Both centimeters and decimeters are used to specify knot density.

You multiply the two numbers together to get the knot density. However, since the two numbers are usually the same in a handmade rug, you can just square the count of knots in a linear inch.

A high knot density doesn't necessarily mean that one rug is better than another. This is particularly true of antique rugs for which the value is based upon other factors. In addition, knot density isn't a clue as to the durability of a rug. Instead, knot density is directly related to how sophisticated the design on the rug can be. In order to make intricate curves and patterns, a high knot density is required. Interestingly, it's complete analgous to things such as photo resolution and print dpi (dots per inch).

With handmade rugs too, knot density is directly related to how long it takes to actually weave the rug. Since it takes a skilled rug-maker approximately 10 seconds to tie each knot, that translates to only six knots per minute. A 9' x 12' area rug at a rather modest 150 knot density is going to have a staggering 2,332,800 knots. Depending upon how many hours a day the weaver spends working on the rug, this can take over two years to create!

In case you're interested, here's the calculation:

• 9 feet x 12 feet = 108 square feet = 15,552 square inches
• 15,552 square inches x 150 knots/square inch = 2,332,800 knots
• 2,332,800 knots divided by 6 knots/minute = 388,000 minutes = 6480 hours
• 6480 hours divided by 8 hours per work day = 810 days = 2.2 years

Some area rugs have knot densities of up to 1000 knots per square inch. These are very rare, usually made of silk and incredibly expensive - not only because of the amazing craftsmanship, but because it probably took a team of weavers many years to make.

A little important terminology:

As mentioned previously, the terms warp and weft are used to describe the vertical and horizontal strands of fibers in an area rug. Warps are important because the knots are actually tied to them, while the wefts are passed through them. It's critical that the tension on the warp strands be kept consistent or the rug will wrinkle. If a rug has fringes, it is an extension of the warps that creates this.

Wefts are the horizontal strands and unlike warps, are added as the rug is being woven. They separate each row of knots and pass over and below the warp strands. Another term related to wefts is selvedge. This is each side of the rug where the wefts begin and end.

The material used for the warps and wefts is usually the same, but it is not necessarily the same as the yarn used to weave the rug. It's not uncommon to have cotton warps and wefts - collectively referred to as the foundation - in an otherwise all-wool rug. Then again, for consistency, many rug artisans prefer everything to be the same.

There are three types of knots primarily used in the creation of handmade area rugs today.

The Persian knot - sometimes also called the Senneh knot - falls into what is classified as an asymmetrical knot. It is common and popular in Iran, India, China, Turkey and Egypt. It is rather simple and easy to tie. The yarn is wrapped around one warp strand and than passed under the neighboring warp.

The Turkish knot, or Ghiorde knot as it is sometimes called, is a symmetrical knot favored in parts of Turkey, the Caucasus region and by Kurdish craftsmen. To form a Turkish knot, yarn is passed over two neighboring warps. Each end of the yarn is then wrapped behind one of the adjoining warps and brought back to the surface in the middle.

The Tibetan knot is not as common as the Persian or Turkish varieties because it is much more difficult and time-consuming to tie. However, it is very distinctive and gives rugs using it a unique look and texture not otherwise attainable. To tie it, a temporary rod is placed in front of the warp. The thickness of the rod can vary and establishes the length of the pile. A continuous piece of yarn is looped around two warps and then once around the rod. When a complete row of loops is tied, they are cut to complete construction of the knots.

An ancient knot called the Jufti knot was popularized in the Khorasan region of Iran. There are multiple varieties of it and it usually involves looping a singly yarn through four warps at a time. It is rarely used today.

Now it's time for you to show off a bit. Ask an area-rug salesperson what kind of knot was used to create that gorgeous rug you are considering buying. Start that quest by visiting Rugs Direct.