Rugs Direct

Antique or New?

© 2007 Rugs Direct^®

Frequently when people begin thinking about making an area-rug purchase the question comes up, "Should I buy an antique rug or a new one?" Of course there is no simple answer, but several factors to consider in making your decision.

Most importantly you must consider your overall design preference. If your tastes are more contemporary or modern, you may have difficulty finding an antique rug that you will like. Most true, handmade, antique rugs are only available in the more traditional styles usually described as Oriental or Persian. Reds and blacks are going to be the dominant colors.

But suppose your taste is more traditional. As you begin shopping you're going to find that you are still limited to a much narrower range of designs and colors than what is currently being produced. And, as with furniture, automobiles or any other antiques, what you seek isn't going to always be available if the current owner isn't interested in selling. You may have to go with what you can find rather than what you want.

You also need to consider how you are going to use the rug to determine if an antique is right for you. Do you have a spot to display a beautiful but probably somewhat fragile artifact? A lower traffic bedroom might be suitable, but probably not your main entryway. Most antique rugs really are for show - not daily use.

Suppose you do find an antique rug that you feel is "right" for your application. How do you determine what it is worth? If you have the knowledge and expertise to identify and evaluate a fine antique, excellent! But most of us do not. Not that there are unscrupulous rug dealers out there waiting to swindle you out of your hard-earned cash, but the admonition of caveat emptor applies to the purchase of antique area rugs as much as it does to any other  one-of-a-kind transaction.

Lastly there is the issue of rug wear or damage. The chance of finding an antique rug that shows no signs of use is almost nil. You need to either be prepared to live with whatever imperfections the rug has, or invest in some level or restoration. Know how much this is going to cost before you invest in the rug. You could be surprised how expensive this great find could suddenly become!

Of course if you decide to purchase a new rug instead of an antique, your choice of style, color and fabric is almost limitless. Plus you can select the type of construction that is best suited to the traffic level of the area in which the rug will be placed. And the issue of pricing becomes much less of a concern, because you can comparison-shop among numerous reputable dealers to be certain that you are paying fair market value for your investment. Rugs Direct is a good place to start this process. It's also where you will probably end it, since you're not going to find a better price anywhere in the country on a fine-quality area rug - no matter what your decorating style!

Thanks to Nourison University for much of the content of this article.

Bed-in-a-Bag Makes Decorating Simple

Copyright © Rugs Direct®

Some people enjoy decorating a room item by item, piece by piece, carefully selecting and coordinating each element with every other one. Although this can be incredibly rewarding and aesthetically pleasing, it takes a long time and requires a special eye for color and style than many of us do not possess. It can also be very expensive! If you have the time, temperament, skill and funds to take on this kind of home-decorating project, this article is not for you. But if you're looking for a quick, easy and affordable way to revitalize and decorate your bedroom, please read on.

The idea of buying a complete set of bedding - the concept behind "bed-in-a-bag" - has been around a while, but originally there were very few options available and, quite frankly, they were awfully plain. Today all of that has changed and you can find some very exciting, coordinated pieces in a variety of sizes, styles and patterns.

The biggest advantage to buying a complete bed-in-a-bag set for your bed is that you are assured the colors and patterns are going to match exactly. Plus you are going to save a significant amount of money over buying each piece individually. And, as mentioned above, today you are going to find some of the hottest designer-inspired themes in beautiful, contemporary, easy-care fabrics.

The three most popular sizes for bed-in-a-bag collections are Queen, King and the new California King. Typically you will find the following components included in the "bag":

• Comforter
• Tailored Dust Ruffle
• Euro-Sized Pillow Shams - two or three
• Standard Pillow Shams - two or three
• Decorative Pillows - two or three
• Coordinating Neck Roll

If you're wondering if the actual sheets, bed pillows, pillow cases or mattress pad are included in a bed-in-a-bag set; they are not. Just remember, if it doesn't show when the bed is made, it's not a part of the package!

In addition to permitting you to easily decorate the central focus of a bedroom, bed-in-a-bag packages also make it extremely practical to periodically change the look of your bedroom. Simply switch to a different coordinated bed-in-a-bag set, and you instantly have a brand new look! Change it with the seasons - or your mood - and the bedroom's decor will never bore you. They can be a bit hard to find, but there actually are some reversible bed-in-a-bag sets available.

Another advantage of using a bed-in-a-bag set comes from the fact that most all of them reach the floor and make it impossible to see underneath the bed. This gives you a tremendous amount of out-of-sight storage space for things like shoes, seasonal clothing, flat luggage, photo albums and just about anything else that will fit. However, please don't just shove things under the bed. Use specially designed storage boxes - some of which even have wheels - to keep things tidy and organized.

Rugs Direct recently introduced a complete collection of bed-in-a-bag sets in its online store. Prices range from around $275 to less than $450 for a complete 10-piece set. Compare this to department-store prices or the cost of each piece individually, and you'll see for yourself why bed-in-a-bag has become such a popular decorating choice for people looking to energize their bedroom decor!

Your Rug's Hidden Enemy

Copyright © 2007 Rugs Direct^®

It's almost a cliche, but there is an unseen enemy just waiting to destroy your precious area rug - the every-hungry moth - enemy to all things woven!

Moths can cause extensive damage to rugs by attacking the pile, fringes and knots on the back of the rug. However, it's not the flying adult moths - like the unique Polyphemus Moth (antheraea polyphemus) shown above - that do the damage. Instead it is the larvae that hatch from their eggs that will consume almost anything, including wool, fur, feathers and silk.

Moths and their larvae thrive in dark, undisturbed areas such as the underside of a rug that doesn't see much traffic or is rarely vacuumed. A large infestation can leave a cobweb-like blanket in the area of the damage, along with fine, sand-like debris. It is pretty much impossible to repair the damage to a fine rug once moth larvae have decided to make a meal of it.

It's fairly easy to avoid letting moths feast on your fine Oriental rug. Simply rotate the rug periodically and be sure to vacuum it at least once a week. It can help to expose the rug to light and air, which will aid in deterring the moths to lay their eggs. If your rug is not used very often, you can guard against moths by spraying the front and back of it with a readily available insecticide for this purpose. Do so every six to eight months. Check with your local hardware or home-improvement store for what it best to use in your climate. And be sure to dispose of any unused chemical safely and properly.

If you must store your rug, wrap it in a breathable fabric, not plastic. The lack of air can lead to rot or mildew. If possible, place the wrapped rug in a chest with a moth deterrent. This is the ideal storage solution. And be aware of the ambient temperature of the room in which you store the rug. If it is damp and humid, you may still find mold growing on the rug even if it is wrapped in a porous fabric. This will weaken and discolor the fibers. Conversely, in a hot and poorly ventilated storage area the base of the rug will dry out and will become brittle. Ultimately this could destroy the rug's strength and durability.

Moths can be beautiful, fascinating creatures - outside, fluttering around your backyard or garden. Plus they can find much better things to eat there than your valuable area rug. So take steps before the moths attack and deposit their eggs under you rug. Because by then, it will be too late to prevent the inevitable damage.