Rugs Direct

The Ultimate Area Rug Glossary

Copyright © Rugs Direct ®

The terminology and jargon used in the world of area rugs can be confusing. The more you learn about the fascinating world of rug-making, the more intricate and complex you discover it is. So to help those of you interested in the many words used to describe the various styles and attributes of area rugs throughout the world, we present to you The Ultimate Area Rug Glossary!

ABRASH
The word used to describe the variations in color found within a single color in an Oriental carpet. Abrash is commonly seen in tribal nomadic rugs and in reproductions of them. Mild Abrash is caused by variations in yarn diameter native to nomadic dyeing and yarn spinning. Heavy Abrash is caused by the change over to a new dye batch. Generally Abrash is desirable in tribal carpets and undesirable in urban carpets.

AFSHAN
Named for the Afshar, it describes the presence of silk pile in an urban carpet.

AFSHAR
A Turkic speaking nomadic group living mostly in southern Iran known for fine quality of their rugs.

ANTIQUE WASH
A chemical bath that tones down colors to simulate aging.

ARDABIL
Home of the 14th century tombs of Sheik Safi ad-Din and Shah Ismail. The city that shares the name of The Ardebil Carpet one of the finest and most famous objects of Islamic art. There is controversy, though, as to whether the carpet was actually made there. Modern era carpets from the region are generally of dubious quality.

ART SILK
Also called artificial silk it describes a yarn for weaving made from mercerized cotton that attempts to take on the appearance of silk. The fiber is very soft to the touch and is used to create a price category for smaller budgets whose tastes run toward expensive silk rugs. Rugs sold as silk as given a burn test to check for the presence of cotton.

AUBUSON
Fine flat carpets woven in France from the 15th to 19th Centuries. They were derived from Moorish weaving with the assistance of Architects and Artists of the royal court.

AXMINISTER RUG
A complex machine made rug woven to a flexible cotton frame that can contain up to 70 colors of wool. Its invention in 1882 in the midst of the industrial revolution practically destroyed the handknotted rug industry. It was thought that mechanized items were all going to be of superior quality, a theory later shelved.

BAKHTIYARI
A nomadic group of southern Persia. This tribes weaving is popular among collectors and the rugs themselves tend to be of unusually durable construction lasting as long as 200 years in heavy wear environments. The most popular design feature a square grid with a floral vase in each.

BALUCH
A nomadic tribe living in Afghanistan and bordering countries who produce a large volume of commercial weaving. Their rugs are generally brown, black, and gold.

BIDJAR
The rug design named for the Bidjar region of Iranian Azerbaijan. Originally the design was Kurdish featuring hundreds of trees and was really responsible for earning the region its fine reputation. Commercial Bidjar are factory woven and feature a distinctive diamond shape medallion. Commercial Bidjar are thought to be the most durable carpets in history as most will last 300 years. This has earned the Bidjar the colorful moniker The Iron Rug of Persia . Both types of Bidjar are still made in limited quantities.

BUKHARA
The capitol of Usbekistan and the traditional trading center for Turkmen tribal carpets. Today, rugs called Bukhara are generally commercial copies knotted in Pakistan and India. Actual Turkmen carpets are called by their tribal names to ease confusion with their popular reproductions. Commercial Bukhara carpets are available in about twenty quality gradations, though surface appearance may be similar. Commercial Bukhara carpets are the best selling hand-knotted rugs in the world.

BURN TEST
A small tuft of fibers from a rug may be burned to test for its content. For example cotton has a vegetable smell when burned. Wool smells faintly like hair. Silk smells distinctly like human hair when burned.

CHANTED RUGS
A technique used for the duplicate manufacture of the finest urban rugs. The colors of the pre-dyed yarn are chanted rhythmically to assure that rugs are more perfect than rugs made with other techniques. Most fine carpets from Tabriz and Isfahan are made this way.

CHI-CHI
The often derided name for Caucasian type rugs made in Chechnia and Dagistan.

CHIN WOOL
The fine whiskers from the chin of sheep that are sometimes set aside a special ceremonial carpet. Chin wool carpets are considered finer than silk ones but are very rare. Turkmen tribes most notably use this fiber for their finest carpets.

DHURIE
A low grade kilim from India. They are generally a product of the Indian prison system. It is also a term used to insult the quality of Kilim from other places.

ERSARI
A large mostly settled tribe of northwest Afghanistan who make both urban and tribal rugs. They are renowned for the quality of their nomadic saddles and tent gear.

FLAT WEAVE
A catchall term that describes any rug without pile including Soumaks, Kilim, Verneh, Sozani, and Dhurie. Aubuson carpets are also flat but are excluded due to their extreme complexity.

GABEH
A fluffy long piled rug used by nomads as a mattress. They have only been sold commercially in the West since 1990. Gabeh usually have a simple colorful design often with a pastoral scene. The Gabehs charm has only been appreciated recently and they now are being produced commercially for export.

GILEEM
See kilim.

GUL
Persian word for flower, it describes the common ornaments found in Turkmen carpets. Guls are the design element often mistaken for elephants feet.

HEREKE
Turkish city famous for its factories where the most elaborate silk rugs in the world are made. Though Hereke is in Turkey they use the Persian Senneh knot in rugs made there.

HERIZ
A large city now located near the border between Iran and Azerbaijan. The geometric medallion rugs woven there in the early 20th century were extremely popular in Europe and the U.S.A. Commercial carpets bearing the Heriz design are woven in every rug producing county in the world. The Heriz design is the most popular Persian design in the west.

KASHKULI
An element of the larger nomadic Qashqai tribe of southern Iran famous for the quality of their rugs.

KASHMIR
The name for the fancy village carpets made of silk or mercerized cotton in the Islamic region of India. Kashmir are woven with a Persian knot and mimic the designs of newer urban carpets from Iran with an emphasis for Indian tastes for brilliant color. Coloration used in these rugs is unique to India.

KAZAK
The people of Kazakhstan and the Turkish style rugs of that region.

KILIM
Any pileless carpet in which the pattern is formed by the colored weft strings being wrapped around the warp. In Farsi the word is Gileem. The word is also used to describe the pileless side of nomadic bags and saddles.

KNOT
There are two basic types of knots used in oriental rugs:
Persian Senneh - A fine asymmetrical knot used in fine urban and complex tribal carpets. Observers will notice that these rugs have a light and a dark side.
Turkish Ghiordes - The symmetrical knot used in most tribal carpets it makes for a higher pile heavy wearing style of rug. Chinese carved carpets also feature this knot.

KURD
A tribal people who live in eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, and the Kordistan region or Iran. They produce what are commonly thought to be the finest tribal style rugs in the world. Kurdish rugs are a passion among rug collectors and connoisseurs and bring the highest prices at market.

LUR
Formerly nomadic people of south western Iran. They are renowned for the quality of their rugs and kilim.

ORIENTAL
Traditional word that means of the Eastern World or of the land found by ship when Africa has been circled , it has come to more accurately describe characteristics of Turkey, Iran, India, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan. The modern definition excludes characteristics of China and Indochina now classified as Asian.

OTTOMAN
A powerful Turkish dynasty that ruled most of extended Persia from 1290 to 1924. It was named for its founder Osman.

QASHQAI
Name of a former politically confederation of southern Iranian nomadic tribes mainly: Shesh Boluki, Kashkuli Bozorg, Amaleh, Derrehshuri, Farsi Madan, and Kashkuli Kuchek. The regional trading center for these tribes is Shiraz. Most Gabeh carpets sold in the west are of Qashqai origin.

SALOR
A Turkmen tribe famous for the quality of its rugs that has been virtually wiped out by military conquests. Modern era rugs from this group are rare and highly prized among collectors.

SARYK
A Turkmen tribal people known for the quality of their older rugs. Newer units are of dubious construction and design.

SAVONERIE
The name given to French piled carpets made until 1890 that look similar to Persian Kermans. These rugs were more foot friendly than their cousin the Aubuson and had an impressionist quality many find very appealing.

SEFAVID
A Persian dynasty remembered for Shahs Tasmasp and Abbas who were great patrons of the arts and ambassadors for Persian rug weaving to the rest of the world. They are credited for the enduring international popularity of Iranian style carpets.

SEROUK
The factory woven carpets woven in the vicinity of Serouk in Iranian Azerbaijan are some of the most beautiful ever made. Most were manufactured with intent to export to the United States. They were frequently found in the lobbies of fine hotels and in American living rooms in the post WW2 era. Serouk rugs often remind people of their grandparents or a relative visited during the holidays.

SHAH ABBAS
Design element that features swirling feathers and Lotuses named for the Shah who commissioned its design. Its found in most modern urban Persian style rugs.

SHAHSAVAN
The once powerful confederation of Turkic speaking tribes living in Azerbaijan. They are decimated by military losses and now mostly make kilim.

SOUMAK
A heavy flat woven rug made with a weft wrapping technique. This technique is also used in commercial rugs that are designed to look like antiques. Most traditional Soumak are made in the Caucasus region.

SOZANI KILIM
In Farsi Sozani translates as Laundry Bag . They are heavy flat woven carpets similar to soumak with an additional embroidered design on the surface. They have been the rage in recent years with the increased popularity of tribal carpets. Sozani are the most exotic type of flat woven tribal carpets and are even being made in silk.

TALIM
A special notation used to record and reproduce the designs of Kashmir carpets.

TEKKE
The largest Turkmen tribe in the 19th century thought to make the finest rugs made in the Turkmen style. The Tekke carpets are among those most highly prized by collectors.

TUFTED CARPET
A mechanically assisted technique for manufacturing rugs in which tufts of wool are punched through base fabric to color in a silk screen design painted on the base. The back of the base is then painted with thick Latex glue and covered with a sacking material. Mostly this method is used in China to produce inexpensive versions of their handknotted rugs.

VERNEH
A Shahsavan type of soumak rug featuring interlocking birds.

VILLAGE RUG
A rug made by a variety of people working on the clock on a loom located in the center of a village. Usually some form of day care is provided. Most large size tribal carpets are made this way.

WILLIAM MORRIS
The English design firm named for its founder that specialized in adopting middle eastern designs to western tastes. Most of their beautiful designs were used in institutional settings like Grand Hotels and Government Buildings. They actually made Persian style carpets in London from 1890 to 1914 with labor imported from Pakistan.

WILTON RUG
A machine loomed carpet with a limited color palette. Most today are made of synthetic fiber and have dubious durability. Well made wool wiltons can last as long as 15 years of more. Most Wiltons are made in time sharing factories that manufacture wiltons for many companies at the same time. Modern Wiltons are the first type of rug to be computerized and automated.

YURUK
The Turkish word for nomad. It is used to describe any nomad living in Turkey.

So there you have it! Too much information? Perhaps. Probably all you really need to know is that Rugs Direct has over 100,000 area rugs available in hundreds of styles so you are cetain to find the perfect one for every room in your home. Shop now - and get free shipping on your entire order.

Area Rugs Made in USA

Copyright © Rugs Direct ®

Many people believe that the "best quality" area rugs are made in Asia by hand and the only way to obtain one is to import it. Historically this may have been true, but modern advances in machine weaving technology make it possible for you to now buy an incredibly beautiful, durable rug that is 100% made in the United States of America. Case in point - the American Star brand available exclusively at Rugs Direct.

American Star area rugs are machine-made in Anderson, South Carolina of olefin/polypropylene. This gives them the look and feel of wool rugs, but with the increased durability of synthetic fibers. They are manufactured to look good - and last even in the most high-traffic locations in your home.

No compromises have been made in terms of variety or style with American Star rugs. Currently there are eight different collections that cover all of the popular styles from casual and contemporary to traditional Oriental:

• Lexington - interesting patterns in transitional designs
• Miami - neutral patterns and shapes
• Monterey - featuring solid colors
• Princeton - contemporary florals and intricate patterns
• Santa Monica - contemporary patterns with amazing eye appeal
• Savannah - neutral transitional rugs that can be used indoors or out
• Tahoe - a mix of traditional and transitional in a neutral pallette
• Winchester - classic traditional rugs in beige and burgundy

Currently there are over 85 American Star rugs available, but the collections are rapidly expanding.

If "Made in USA" is important to you, then you most certainly need to explore the American Star collections at Rugs Direct, the nation's leading source for area rugs.

 

Stunning Wildlife Impressions for Your Floor

Copyright © Rugs Direct ®

American rug manufacturer Milliken has long sought to put more on their floor coverings than beautiful patterns and colors. With their Wildlife Impressions Collection they have managed to capture some of the most stuffing wildlife art from two of the country's premier studios on area rugs that are now available to you from Rugs Direct.

The Hautman Brothers

James, Robert and Joseph Hautman have established themselves as America's foremost family of wildlife artists. All three brothers have received numerous honors and awards, and have been a dominating presence in many state and national duck stamp competitions.

At last count, the three brothers have seen their art featured on over 50 state and federal conservation stamps. Jim, Bob and Joe are the only brothers ever to win the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp Contest. The talents of the Hautman Brothers as well as their unique family gift were mentioned in the motion picture "Fargo." They have received national accolades on television and National Public Radio, and from newspapers such as USA TODAY, The Washington Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune and The St. Paul Pioneer Press, as well as TIME, US News & World Report, Sports Illustrated, U.S. Art and North American Hunter magazines. The Hautmans' creations have been displayed in the Oval Office of the White House and at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Milliken has placed close to 30 of their top designs on area rugs that are available in two different sizes - a small 2'8" x 3'10" and convenient 3'10" x 5' 4" size. Unlike many rugs featuring fine artwork, some of the Hautman Wildlife Impressions rugs are available in what is known as "portrait" orientation. That is, the image is taller than it is wider. The decision was made to honor the vision of the artists and create the rugs in the style of the original artwork. This gives you many more options and possibilities when deciding where to decorate with one of these beautiful rugs.

The Milliken Hautman rugs are made of 100% nylon for durability and longevity. They are suitable for an entry way, although for obvious reasons, many people don't like to place these rugs in areas of high foot traffic. Another great location is in front of a fireplace - although it's not uncommon to see one of these rugs hung on a wall in a den, family room or lodge-theme living room.

 

Eddie Leroy

Well-known wildlife artist Eddie Leroy comes from Eufaula, Alabama. His career as an artist began in college in 1986 when he entered an Alabama Wildlife Federation art contest in Birmingham. He did not win but a collector purchased his painting, his first art sale. Just two years later, he won that Alabama contest and has been chosen as the artist for a number of stamp-print programs since then.

About of dozen of his most beautiful wildlife paintings are available in the Milliken Wildlife Impressions Collection. Interestingly, Leroy is known for "painting from life." That is, each picture he paints is from an actual place in North America and there is a factual story behind the image.

To explore the complete line of Hautman and Leroy Wildlife Impressions rugs from Milliken, take a look at Rugs Direct.

 

Educational Rugs for Kids

Copyright © Rug Direct ®

Teachers have long know that children learn best by repetition of an idea or concept, combined with a visual presentation of it. That's why you see so many posters and charts in classrooms. But there's no need to neglect the floor as a potential canvas to reinforce learning. With the wide variety of educational rugs available today, the options are almost limitless. But why stop at only using educational rugs at school? There's no reason learning can't be reinforced at home as well. In fact, some people think it might even be more impactful and long-lasting.

Rugs Direct has close to 100 different styles of rugs that are ideal for a child's bedroom, playroom of the family den. They not only provide a great deal of color and style to the room, but also will help your child master important educational concepts.

For example:

This rug, from the Funtime Collection by Kids Play, is call "Multiplication." It's a colorful chart that can be used to help your child master his or her multiplication tables, and also to understand how division works. It comes in two sizes: 5'3" x 7' 6" and 8' x 11', so it is certainly large enough for the child to lie down on top of it and interact with the various numbers and squares. It's 100% nylon for durability.

Here's another great example:

This rug is called Phonics Fun and comes from the Educational Collection of Joy Carpets. It's a great way to introduce a child to the alphabet, the sounds of letters and words beginning with those letters, and numbers from 0 to 9. It comes in three sizes: 3' 10" x 5' 4", 5'4" x 7'8" and 7'8" x 10'9". It is treated with Stainmaster and FX Carpet Shield, which means most all food and beverage stains don't have a chance of ruining it.

How about a rug to teach world geography?

Again from the Kids Play Funtime Collection, this rug, called The World Around Us, shows a representation of the world with all the continents and oceans highlight in different colors. It shows the equator and lines of latitude and longitude as well. Two sizes, both in 100% nylon, are available and it comes with a one-year warranty from the manufacturer.

There are also rugs that show the states of the United States, dinosaurs, clocks and musical scales. Just about any early-learning concept can be enhanced with an educational rug from Rugs Direct. Take a look for yourself and see to which concepts you would like to expose your child. Who knows, you might just learn something - and have a big of fun - yourself!

Click here to visit Rugs Direct, the nation's leading source for area rugs.

Rug Buyers Love Videos

Copyright © Rugs Direct ®

Buying a highly "visual" product like an area rug can be difficult over the Internet. The many colors and color variations in a rug can be hard to represent in a photograph, especially at the image resolutions normally used on websites. On top of that, much of the appeal of a rug has to do with the touch and feel of the fibers - something that is simply impossible to convey on a computer screen - yet!

So to better give customers a sense of the variety availabe in many area-rug collections, and to help them visualize the rug in an actual living space, Rugs Direct recently introduced high-definition video presentations of selected rugs on its website. These have proven to be a tremendously popular success!

The first video presentation was for one of the most popular collections of all time from Sphinx. Called "Generations" this collection features some 26 different styles in a wide range of patterns and colors. Prices start at around $49 for a small throw rug and go up to $849 for a large room-size rug. Homeowners love this collection, but its range of options can be overwhelming. Now, in one 90-second video, shoppers can view and visually compare most of the different styles Generations has to offer. They can not only see the individual rugs, but also get a better idea of the rug's applications by viewing a number of room scenes. It is proving to help people imagine the rug in their own living or dining room, thereby bridging the gap between an online image and the real thing.

Following the success of the Sphinx video, Rugs Direct quickly produced similar presentations for a number of other popular collections. Now available are videos for:

• Surya Aros
• Surya Caesar
• Surya Cosmopolitan
• Kaleen Home & Porch
• Jaipur Blue
• Jaipur J2
• Jaipur Poeme
• Momeni New Wave

The videos are hosted on YouTube and are a part of the new Rugs Direct Channel that can be found there. Plans are to greatly expanded the library of videos over the next few months, so that customers can better envision the huge range of decorating options available to them when using area rugs.

On the main Rugs Direct website there is now a page that features all of the rugs for which videos are presently available. It can be reached by clicking here.

Beginner's Guide to Decorating with Area Rugs

 

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

Copyright © Rugs Direct ®

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!

A New Look at Eco-Friendly Bamboo

Copyright © Rugs Direct ®

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 Six - Natural Pile

Copyright © Rugs Direct ®

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

Copyright © Rugs Direct ®

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.

Rug Attributes Part Four – Style

Copyright © Rugs Direct^®

People often start their search for the right area rug based upon style; not necessarily the style of rug for which they are searching, but the style of the room or home in which it will be placed. This makes perfect sense. Everyone has his or her own personal tastes in decorating and the style of rug you purchase should naturally reflect the style of the décor.

It’s not difficult to classify area rugs according to their style. What is a bit more problematic is to make a comprehensive list of all area rug styles. It’s easier to start with the rug and describe it than it is to make an all-inclusive catalog of styles. So what we will do here is specify the generally accepted main styles of rugs and indicate the many different types that might logically be included as a subset of them.

Traditional Rugs

This is by far the most common, well-known and popular style of area rug on the planet. And it has been for literally thousands of years. Any rug patterned after the ancient masterpieces of the Old World can rightly be described as traditional in style. But if only it was that simple!

First of all, you have antique or original rugs that are hand-made by individual craftsmen. These are usually extremely expensive but retain their value incredibly well. In many ways they are collectible art rather than a practical floor covering. These are balanced by the many modern, manufactured rugs that replicate the ancient designs, colors and patterns. Often traditional rugs are further categorized based upon a particular feature or style element that is endemic to a particular country or region. Some examples:

Traditional Persian Rugs
There are at least 50 different, distinct Persian styles, not all of which are woven in Persia (Iran). The one thing they all have in common is a unique border that serves to set off and emphasize the main pattern of the rug. Persian designs can be traced back some 2500 years and remain to be immensely popular all over the world today.

Traditional Oriental Rugs
This style of rug has a reputation of being extremely durable and lasting many generations. Almost all of them are made of natural fibers, most notably wool, silk and cotton. There is much debate over what the difference between a Persian and Oriental rug is. Often there is none other than the country of origin. An Oriental rug may come from India, western China, Central Asia, southern Russia or Turkey. Technically a Persian rug can only come from Iran.

Traditional Chinese Rugs
Rugs that belong in this category are seldom symmetrical or purely decorative. Instead they contain a message or meaning, often incorporating images from nature. There tend to be more colors in a Chinese rug than one originating in Persia or the Middle East.

Traditional Turkoman Rugs
This style is based upon designs created by nomads in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. They almost always have a red background, include a geometric pattern and what is known as a “gul” in the center. This is an octagonal shape that is based upon a flower. Turkoman rugs may have one gul or many.

There are many more sub-categories of traditional rugs, including Caucasian, which originated in southern Russia; Tibetan, which are among the most bold and bright of traditional rugs; and Indian, which became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and feature many small flowers, plants, rosettes and leaves.

Contemporary Rugs

Bright colors and unusual shapes are what differentiate a contemporary rug from a traditional one. Many people consider them artwork for the floor, and indeed, many of the most popular contemporary rug styles were designed by modern artists. Almost anything goes in a contemporary rug; circles, squares, rectangles or wavy lines are common. Colors from a narrow palette to every shade in the rainbow. Most contemporary rugs are made by machine and can incorporate just about any fabric that can be woven.

The advantage to the homeowner is that a contemporary rug can be found that will enhance just about any décor – traditional or modern. It can be used to coordinate the color scheme of a room, or serve as a central focal point. The possibilities really are endless, as the choices can also seem to be.

Transitional Rugs

Many purists in the world of area rugs feel that there is no such thing as a transitional rug – that is, one that is somewhere in between traditional and contemporary. To them a rug is either patterned after the antique, ancient styles or it is not. However, it is hard to deny that a great many popular rugs today have elements of both incorporated into them. For example, not all contemporary rugs necessarily have lots of bold, bright colors. They may have the common burgundy and earth-tone hues of a traditional rug, but incorporate some unique geometric patterns and designs. Thus they serve the needs of homeowners and designers who are looking to modernize a room’s décor without going to the extremes of placing bright oranges, blues and greens on the floor.

Flokati Rugs

Not to be confused with the more trendy shag rugs of the 1970s, flokati rugs have been a mainstay of Greek culture for centuries. Not only used as floor coverings, these all-wool creations were used as clothing as well. Originally flokati rugs were simply the natural color of the sheep from which the wool was harvested. Today they are dyed to every color imaginable, making them great choices for any contemporary setting. Flokati rugs are easy to clean – they usually can simple be thrown into a standard washing machine – but they also must be combed in order to achieve their desirable “long-hair” look.

Braided Rugs

Braided rugs are an American tradition that came into being for a very practical reason. The homes in early America usually had rough, hard wooden floors. Something easy-to-make and durable was needed to cover them. Hence the braided rug. Usually in the shape of an oval, round or half-oval (hearth rug), braided rugs have today been elevated to the status of an art form. One unique feature of braided rugs is that they are one of the few rug styles that are reversible.

Southwestern Rugs

Sometimes referred to by the alternate name Native American rugs, this style is mainly associated with the type of intricate weaving mastered by the Navajo Indians of the American Southwest. Common among them are stripes and simple geometric patterns; seldom do you see anything but straight lines throughout. They add a unique, rugged lodge-look to any room in which they are used. Many people place them on the wall instead of the floor, which permits their intricate beauty to be appreciated from anywhere in the room.

Novelty Rugs

This is a catchall style of rugs that can include just about anything. Examples would be rugs with animal prints or scenes and shapes that appeal to children. Of course sports themes and team logos are well-liked on novelty rugs. Rugs with a country theme such as roosters or farm animals are also popular and can add a unique flair to an otherwise ordinary kitchen.

When it comes to decorating with area rugs, they sky truly is the limit. If you would like to explore the many styles of rugs available to you in greater detail, please visit the online showroom of Rugs Direct. There you will find well over 60,000 choices to help you personalize and vitalize every room in your home.