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People Love Rugs That Appeal to Senses

Copyright © 2007 AnnaRae Mills

Using rugs here and there is a decorative way to add charm and personality to your home. Rugs help you create the look and feel you want for each room. But, it goes beyond that. Rugs are more than just floor coverings - they can also appeal to our senses.

The most obvious sense that rugs impact is sight. Rugs can create visual interest with eye-catching designs or bold colors. A rug can also be it's own focal point or it can help draw attention to something nearby. It might be a piece of furniture or a feature of the room that is highlighted because of the rug's placement.

Touch, or feel, is another major sense that many rugs appeal to. Anyone who has ever been barefoot on a cold bare floor and then stepped onto a rug has felt instant relief. I was raised in an area of the United States that has cold winters. No matter how much warmth the furnace pumped out, the bare floors were cold in our old house. New slippers were a welcome gift.

Certain types of rugs, such as shag, Flokati, and sheepskin rugs, have a remarkable feel thanks to the longer-than-usual material. When I say shag rugs, I am talking about the newer versions, not the out-dated ones from the 1970s. If you want to have a rug with cloud-like fluffiness, there's nothing better than a Flokati rug or a sheepskin rug. These rugs are just right when you want to lay on the floor in front of the TV, curl up in front of the fireplace, or just wiggle your toes in the thick, lush fibers.

In addition to the physical senses of sight and touch, many rugs can also appeal to our emotions. Rugs often convey a feeling of hospitality to guests by making a room feel warm and inviting. Many types of rugs will often generate some pleasant reactions:

Some braided rugs give people a cozy, down-home feeling.

A richly detailed, ornate rug might make one feel more regal.

Whimsical themes or cartoon characters can induce smiling.

A wildlife scene may remind someone of a favorite camping trip.

Floral or animal designs might appeal to one's love of nature.

Rugs allow you to express yourself and show off your decorating style with the designs and colors you choose. And, to a lesser extent, your decorating expertise is revealed in the placement of your rugs. A rug can divide a room or it can bring the different elements of a room together. A rug can highlight a sitting area or help identify the traffic pattern from one room to another.

Many of us decorate the rooms of our homes based on what we have and where it fits. With the right rugs, we have the opportunity to create any mood or look we want in our rooms. Best of all, there are plenty of rugs to pick from to meet almost any budget.

About The Author:

AnnaRae Mills is wild about rugs! She has a goldmine of tips and information to share with you. Decorating ideas, shopping tips, and much more. Find out how to pick the right rugs for your home. See pics of all rug types at http://www.Area-Rug-Tips.com

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service

Selecting Rugs to Fit a Theme

Copyright © 2007 AnnaRae Mills

In the world of interior decorating, few design elements are as versatile as the rug. Rugs are at home everywhere - from humble, country kitchens to grand, neo-classical entryways. Rugs bring warmth, comfort, and color to bare floors and add new life to lackluster rooms and hallways. Whether you're decorating a brand new home, or remodeling your lived-in bungalow, rugs are an easy, affordable way to add charm, character, and style to any room.

When some people think about decorating, they imagine hordes of furniture, gallons of paint, and an endless array of curtain swatches and wallpaper samples. Furniture and color schemes certainly play an important role in creating a total look, but they're not the only element of interior design.

Some home decorators overlook rugs and don't yet realize that rugs are a highly fashionable and flexible decorative element. Using a rug that complements the other elements of your room can really transform your living space. It's also a lot more fun than lugging around cans of paint when you're looking for a quick way to change the flavor of a room!

There are many ways to decorate with rugs. The best way to get started is to think about the look and feel you want for the end result. Maybe a bright fruit or floral motif to open up a stuffy kitchen, or perhaps a classic gold and crimson Persian medallion rug would add the final touch of elegance to a formal dining room.

Using rugs as part of a theme is one of the most satisfying (and easiest!) ways to spruce up a room. If your living room has Southwestern furniture and/or art, then a complementary Navajo or Southwestern style rug helps to carry the design elements throughout the entire room. If a child's room has carnival colors, a modern polka dot rug adds to the overall look and feel. It's easy to find rugs for almost any theme and these rugs offer more than just color and shape.

If you're thinking about a rug to enhance a certain theme, the first step is to decide what your "official" theme is. That might sound silly, but with some decorating styles, a theme could be hard to pinpoint. If the room has an obvious theme, narrowing down the rug choices becomes far easier.

If a room's theme isn't well defined, you can pin it down by looking at the elements (furniture, art, etc.) of the room and finding common aspects. Ask yourself a few questions: Which colors are most noticeable? What patterns or designs stand out? Does the room have a classical feel or more of a contemporary feel? Are there antiques and/or curios in view? Does the room remind you of a serene country setting or more of an urban locale? Hey, maybe it's not so hard after all!

Even if you're not able to clearly identify a theme, you'll still be able to select the right rug(s). Think about your responses to the questions above and pick a rug that matches or complements the more noticeable elements of the room.

You can also create a different look/feel in a room by using a rug that draws attention to itself or a nearby object. An eye-catching color or bold design will surely get noticed. On the other hand, a rug with a subtle design or a soft hue does not detract from other items.

As you think about how the aspects of a rug (color, pattern, size, and texture) help contribute to the overall effect, you'll realize that your decorating palette has no limits!

Reflecting back on our earlier examples, if your home has a Southwestern style, a Navajo or Southwestern-inspired rug is just right for that bare spot in front of the fireplace or the open area near the entryway. Likewise, if you have a comfy, down-home country kitchen, a cheerful floral or fruit patterned accent rug will add new life to that space.

Whatever your taste or desire, you can achieve any look you want with the wide variety of rug styles that are available. Decorating with your favorite styles of rugs is a satisfying way to achieve first-rate designer results.

About The Author:

AnnaRae Mills is wild about rugs! She has a goldmine of tips and information to share with you. Decorating, rug shopping, and more. Find out how to pick the right rugs for your home. See pics of all rug types at http://www.Area-Rug-Tips.com

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service