Rug Tips and Facts
Choosing the right rug for an area requires planning. Home, work, play or a retreat area should make a statement. If you are working with an empty area, built from the foundation up, choose the flooring first, then the paint, furnishing, fabrics and accessories around the floor.

• Imagine the total look of the room or space you are creating.
• What will the area be used for?
• Area with high traffic should have a pattern in mid to darker tones to down play traffic patterns.
• A sitting area could have a lighter more fragile pattern.
• Lighter rugs will increase the perceived size of the room.
• Darker rugs will create a warmer, intimate decorum.
• Color, style & texture of the rug will set the "personality" of the room.
• Consider the existing floor & size of the area when determining the size of rug. Do you want to play down the existing floor? Then get a larger rug with an overall pattern.

Benefits of Area Rugs
Beauty
Area rugs can set the character, mood or period of a space and provide the means to personalize an environment. Contemporary area rugs are an excellent method to incorporate an artistic air into a home, and are a good technique to simply add color to a room. Contemporary area rugs come in a variety of styles, including traditional patterns that have roots in Oriental, Persian and Native American designs.

Comfort
Area rugs provide comfort and warmth in addition to beauty. Consider area rugs when designing a space around children or seniors. Area rugs are a perfect method to soften hard surfaces and make them easier on the ears as well as the feet.

Safety
When used with an underlay or rug pad, area rugs provide a stable and non-slick surface to help prevent slips and falls and protect against impact. Area rugs can minimize injuries from falls to children, seniors and other family members.

Sound Reduction
Hard surfaces within a space reverberate noise, especially with the introduction of stereos, televisions and telephones into the modern home or office. Area rugs help absorb and reduce noise. Traffic noise between house floors may be reduced with area rugs. When used beneath tables and chairs, area rugs provide insulation against furniture movement in addition to providing warmth and decoration.

Durability
Area rug durability is generally determined by the material, construction, and amount of traffic in a space. By carefully considering where the area rug will be placed and how it will be used, you can anticipate its longevity. The chart below helps demonstrate the life you can expect from an area rug of various constructions placed in different spaces.

L = Low Traffic (bedroom, bathroom, formal areas, etc.)
M = Medium Traffic (dining room, office, etc.)
H = High Traffic (hallways, family room, entry, etc.)

Remember that the type of material used in area rug construction will also affect its longevity (eg: machine made area rug of tufted wool will last longer than a man-made hooked area rug in a medium traffic area).

Area Rug Construction
There is a variety of area rugs constructed from different materials and patterns. Your area rug should perform well in addition to looking great. To find the best area rug within your budget, consider the right combination of density, twist and fiber.

Density: refers to the tightness of the tufts, or knots. The denser the weave, the better the area rug will wear.

Twist: refers to the amount of yarn spirals. A yarn twist that is tighter provides added durability.

Fiber: for area rugs may be from a variety of synthetic or natural materials, which will help determine performance and appearance. Natural fibers provide soft, low luster colors and long-term performance. Synthetic fibers provide brilliant colors, softness, easy maintenance and value.

Area rugs may be machine-made, hand-hooked, hand-tufted, hand-knotted, a flat weave or braided.

Hand-Made Area Rugs
In addition to traditional hand-made area rugs, Asia and other countries also produce many hand-made contemporary area rugs. There are different types of hand-made area rugs: knotted, tufted, hooked, looped and flat weave. Rug construction alone does not dictate area rug quality, factors such as density, material and weave should also be considered when selecting an area rug.

Hand-Knotted Area Rugs
Hand knotted area rugs are woven by hand; and depending on size, construction and density, one area rug could take a year or more to complete. Hand-knotted area rugs are secured to the foundation by knotting, versus gluing, producing exceptional den­sity and quality.

Hand-Hooked Area Rugs
Using a pattern and a hooking device, yarn is punched through a canvas cloth creating a looped pile. The yarns are then glued in place in lieu of knotting, and a cloth is attached to the back.

Hand-Tufted Area Rugs
Hand-tufted area rugs are usually created by punching yarn in a cloth that is attached to a frame, and then gluing the backs with latex after hooking the yarn. The surface loop pile is then sheared to produce a flat surface. This process creates an area rug that is very plush, generally less expensive and easier to make than hand-knotted area rugs.

Flat Weave Area Rugs
Flat weave area rugs are less expensive, easier to make and are usually made of wool, cotton, bamboo, or nylon. Because they are looped, flat weave area rugs do not have a pile and are reversible. This category also includes Kilims, Dhurries and Soumaks.

Braided Area Rugs
Braided area rugs are constructed in several different ways, including tape, tubular, yarn and flat. In the tradition of early America from which braided area rugs were created, these area rugs may be woven with many different materials such as wool, clothing, old blankets, nylon and blends.

Machine-Made Area Rugs
These area rugs are made on power looms by hand, machine or computer. The loom is strung with a cotton or jute warp, and then woven using nylon, polypropylene, wool or other material. Computer operated machines produce a number of contemporary designs in various sizes and colors from a predetermined design. More than 40 shades can be achieved in a sin­gle area rug using a cross-weaving technique. Machine-made area rugs have become very popular due to the variety of sizes, colors, designs, lower pricing and availability. Machine-made area rugs are woven on Wilton, side-woven Wilton and Gripper Axminster looms.

Wilton Woven
Wilton looms are situated face-to-face and feature computerized electronic heads. The loom needles loop the yarns in two synthetic backings. Loom size and structure vary based on number of color capacities. Two identical area rugs emerge from the loom once the weaving process is complete and the rug is cut in half.

Wilton Side Woven
The Wilton side-woven area rugs are woven in a similar fashion, but at a-90 degree angle to the above area rugs. On occasion, cotton backing is to give these area rugs a softer feel.

Axminster
Axminster more commonly refers to a type of carpet rather than a type of loom, although the Gripper Axminster loom was created to mass produce carpet in 1927.

Information and Facts about Area Rugs
Decorating with Rugs
The rug pulls all of the design elements of a room together. Here are some hints to pick the right rug for your home.

• To place a room-sized rug on a hardwood floor, choose a rug which allows eight inches of wood to be exposed around the rug's perimeter.
  
• For cozy nooks in large rooms, create small sitting areas by gathering furniture around a 4' x 6' or 5'x 8' rug.
  For a dining room rug, measure your table top. Add four feet to the width and length to find the minimum size of your dining room rug. This extra length and width facilitates pulling chairs out from under the table.
  
• Brighten up small areas, like your foyer, bathroom or kitchen with an accent rug using either a 3' x 5', 4'x 6', or 6' Round Rug
  
• Keep your family safe by making sure that rug corners do not extend into high traffic areas.
  

We always recommend using a rug pad under all rugs. This will help keep your rug in place and also extend the life of your rug. Rugs wear from the bottom not the top. Since the friction is on the bottom when being walked on, using a rug pad will help keep your rug in good condition and last for many years.

Decorating with Patterns
Putting a pattern in a room adds color, texture and design to your room without being overwhelming. Unlike solid colors, patterns have a ‘chameleon’ effect: they readily blend with other colors in the room. This makes it easy to decorate from the floor up or match patterned carpet to existing upholstery and wall colors.

• Geometric with Floral
  
• Floral patterns provide pleasing contrast with geometric designs
  
• Simple with Complete
• Busy intricate patterns pair nicely with less complicated designs.
  
• Small with Large
  
• Large patterns and small patterns couple well.

Selecting an Area Rug
A number of considerations surround area rug selection including design, comfort, construction, size, materials and price. We offer a variety of area rugs that provide accessory possibilities to fit any decor and personal taste.

Area Rug Selection Tips
Design. An empty room may be designed around an area rug, or a rug may put the final touches on an existing room. When designing a room around an area rug, use the rug colors to decide upon furniture, paint or paper color. A well-chosen area rug can coordinate patterns, furniture, and wall prints to complete a room design.

Color
Furniture may be selected around rug colors and design. Area rugs are an effective method to mix patterns that have the same color palette. Deep colored area rugs provide warmth and intimacy, while light colored rugs can open a room and provide a more spacious feeling. When selecting an area rug around existing furniture, bring a swatch of the predominant pattern in the room.

Size
Evaluate the size of the space and the area to cover. Larger area rugs provide comfort and benefit acoustics in a large space. Area rugs also enhance areas in bedrooms, kitchens and other smaller areas that may require a splash of color or warmth.

Material
There are a variety of area rugs made from synthetic and natural yarns.

Construction
Machine-made area rugs are less expensive, yet similar in appearance to handmade area rugs.

Shape
Circular and other uniquely shaped rugs can present a design alternative to rectangular or square shapes.

The Space
The type of light and amount of traffic in a room will affect choices of area rug material. Some man-made fibers resist fading better than natural fibers, so consider the amount of direct sunlight an area rug will receive.

Durability
An area rug with the right combination of pile density (closer stitches or tufts) and fiber will resist wear. Area rug pads will reduce wear on the area rug and provide additional noise absorption.

Design Considerations
When considering a room-sized area rug for a hardwood or tile floor, allow at least eight inches of floor material to be exposed around the area rug perimeter.

In dining rooms, measure the top of the table and add four feet to the width and length. Use this measurement to determine the size of the dining room area rug. The extra footage provides a comfortable area around the table for pulling out chairs.

• Do not extend area rugs into high traffic areas.
  
• Divide a large space into more intimate sitting areas by placing furniture around 4' x 6' or 6' x 9' area rugs.
  
• Floral patterns can accentuate and blend with more contemporary geometric designs if the color palettes are similar.
  
• Pair less complicated designs with more intricate patterns.
  
• Small and large patterns pair well.

Frequently asked Questions
Q: What are the different fibers in area rugs?
Wool
Wool fiber is available in both machine and hand-made rugs. Wool is the traditional fiber used in fine hand made Oriental rugs. Wool not only wears longer, it also keeps its good appearance and stays new-looking longer. Wool resists dirt, retains its appearance, and stays cleaner longer. Its ability to absorb moisture prevents a build up of static electricity and therefore wool does not attract lint and dust from the air. Furthermore, the crimp in the wool fiber and the scales on the outside of the fiber assist in keeping dirt from penetrating the surface - the same qualities also make it easier to clean - Each wool fiber is made up of millions of "coiled springs" that stretch and give rather than break, and so wool is extremely durable. Wool rugs absorb dyes differently than synthetic rugs giving them a more authentic look. There are many grades of wool. Long staple wool from New Zealand is considered to be most effective for area rugs.

Worsted Wool
An extra step in wool processing that combs out shorter fibers resulting in durable and lustrous yarns.

Synthetic Fibers
Synthetic fibers are used exclusively in machine made rugs. One of the greatest advantages of synthetic rugs is a byproduct of the fiber being non-porous. This means that it is inherently stain proof and resists soiling and staining from almost any chemical. A very durable fiber that feels soft and still easy to maintain.

Cotton
Cotton is a natural fiber of great durability and strength. This natural fiber is arranged in a way that gives cotton unique properties of strength, durability, and absorbency. Each fiber is made up of twenty to thirty layers of cellulose coiled in a neat series of natural springs. When the cotton boll (seed case) is opened the fibers dry into flat, twisted, ribbon-like shapes and become kinked together and interlocked. This interlocked form is ideal for spinning into a fine yarn.

Polypropylene or Olefin
Polypropylene or Olefin fibers are petroleum products, derived from propylene and ethylene gasses. The polypropylene fiber is characterized but its resistance to moisture. It is strong, abrasion resistant, quick drying, colorfast, mildew resistant and soil and stain resistant. Its fibers have the lowest density of all manufactured fibers giving olefin textiles a very lightweight quality.

Heat-Set Polypropylene
Heat-Set Polypropylene is a man-made fiber that is created by a process called extrusion. Extrusion involves the pre-dyeing of pellets that are then melted down and extruded into continuous fibers. As a man-made fiber, polypropylene has several built in features that make it attractive for use in rugs.
The heat-set twisted yarns are treated with heat to retain their "permanent wave" for better performance and appearance retention.

BCF Bulk Continuous Filament
BCF: Bulked continuous filament yarns are synthetic yarns processed by a mechanical means to fluff them out before tufting or weaving.

Nylon
Nylon is a durable synthetic fiber which also has good dyeing characteristics. Nylon yarns can be solution dyed, skein dyed and/or space dyed.

Rayon
Rayon is made of cellulose, which is in the walls of all plant cells, and is the main substance of wood.

Faux Silk
"False silk" is usually a synthetic, such as polyester fibers such as viscose/rayon. Mercerized cotton is also used as a silk look-alike. Also called art silk, faux silk is usually used as small accents or in a short, dense pile construction.

Q: What is a Tufted Rug?
A: Hand-tufted area rugs resemble more expensive hand-knotted rugs in intricacy of design, detail and coloring. A hand tufted rug is constructed by pushing yarns through a heavy canvas backing, then shearing the face of the rug to create a cut pile. These rugs are very heavy and extremely dense in weave.

Q: What is a Hooked Rug?
A: A rug making process by which craftsmen insert yarn, which can be any fiber, into a backing with a hand held needle tufting tool. The machine is often called a "gun." The rug's pattern is stenciled on primary backing material. After the tufting is complete, a latex backing is attached to protect and anchor the stitches. The pile of a hand-hooked rug is made up of loops. Rugs may also combine cut and loop techniques.

Q: What is a Hand-Knotted Rug?
A: A Hand-Knotted rug is made by weavers who knot pile yarns around the warp fibers that run the length of the rug. Generally, the more knots per square inch, the more valuable the rug.

Q: What is a Tibetan Hand Knot?
A: Tibetan Knot is a distinctive rug weaving technique now used in other regions as well as in Tibet. A temporary rod, which establishes the length of pile, is put in front of the warp. A continuous yarn is looped around two warps and then once around the rod. When a row of loops is finished, then the loops are cut to create the pile. This method produces a slightly ridged surface.

Q: What is a Machine-Made Rug?
A: A machine-made rug is constructed on an electrically powered machine, now usually computer controlled.

Q: What is a Needlepoint Rug?
A: A needlepoint rug making technique made with wool yarns worked on canvas using the same method as a needlepoint pillow.

Q: What is a Flat Weave Rug?
A: A Flat Weave is weaving in which no knots are used. The weft strands are simply passed through the warp strands. Dhurries are flatwoven rugs that originate in India and are usually made of cotton or wool. Kilims are generally finer, tapestry-like flatweaves.

Q: What is Warp and Weft in an Area Rug?
A: Warp is vertical strands of fiber, which stretch from the top to the bottom of the rug. Knots are tied to the warp yarns to create face pile. Weft is horizontal strands of fiber that are woven through the warps. The weft anchors and secures the knots.

Q: How long will my area rug last?
A: Area rug durability is generally determined by the material, construction, and amount of traffic in a space. By carefully considering where the area rug will be placed and how it will be used, you can anticipate its longevity. View an expected longevity chart.

Q: Do some countries produce better area rugs than others?
A: Every type of area rug from different countries has the potential for excellent quality as well as problems.

Q: What area rug size do I need for my room?
A: There are no precise guidelines for selecting an area rug for a room, other than a dining area. A good method to determine the right size is to spread bed linens as a substitute to approximate the size, take measurements, and choose the closest size available. In a dining area, measure the table and provide at least four additional feet to the length and width. In this manner, the chair legs remain on the area rug when pulled away from the table.

Q: Will my area rug fade?
A: Synthetic dyes last longer than natural dyes. In areas with high sun exposure, some fading may occur, so consider the space in which you will place the area rug. Most area rugs will provide years of vibrant color that do not fade under normal light conditions.

Q: Is an underlay (rug pad) necessary?
A: We strongly encourage the use of an area rug underlay to protect your area rug from abrasion, impact and cleaning. A quality underlay can add years to the life of your area rug while providing additional safety and acoustic benefits.

Q: My area rug just arrived, and it appears to be creased. Do I have a problem?
A: During shipping many area rugs develop creases or the pile gets compressed, which usually disappears within two weeks.

Care and Cleaning
Vacuuming
It cannot be stressed enough, vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Area rugs receive a lot of abuse from dirt, sand, dust, oily cooking residue, various spills and foot traffic. Vacuuming an area rug with a good machine will go a long way towards prolonging the appearance and life of your carpet. Vacuuming is the primary defense against dry soils that can quickly build on area rugs.

Cut pile area rugs
The cut pile area rugs are well constructed and durable. A vacuum with a rotating beater bar to agitate the area rug pile and strong suction to remove loose particles is well tolerated by our area rugs. If your vacuum does not have a beater bar, it may remove surface dirt well but may leave imbedded soil that can damage area rugs through abrasion.

Area rugs with looped textures
To avoid damaging the loops, vacuum regularly with suction and avoid using the beater bar.

Vacuum Tips

• Make sure that the beater bar is actually rotating when in contact with the carpet. A worn belt will reduce rotation when the bar contacts the carpet.
  
• Adjust the height of the beater bar so that it lightly vibrates the carpet, but will not cause the motor to slow.
  
• Check the vacuum bag regularly. A vacuum will become less efficient if the soil bag becomes too full (over half full for most machines).
  

Cleaning Methods
"Oxy" Cleaners
There are many oxygen cleaners on the market that are environmentally safe and work well for spot cleaning various stains on synthetic fiber area rugs. Most of these cleaners are biodegradable and form oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and soda ash when mixed with water. Soda ash is sodium carbonate and has alkaline properties, so do not use this cleaning method on wool or silk and avoid prolonged skin contact. Carefully follow the usage and dilution guidelines for all oxygen cleaning products, rinse the cleansed area well, and be sure to test for colorfastness.

Dry Powder
We do not recommend using dry powders with plush or deep pile area rugs, as the cleaning residue may be difficult to remove. For surface stains on low pile area rugs, use a dry powder to absorb dirt particles and then remove by vacuum. This is a relatively simple method that uses no water and is easy to perform without a professional. If the area rug is heavily soiled, we recommend a different procedure or using a professional.

Dry Foam and Absorbent Pad
Another method that uses little water is light detergent foam that is worked into the pile, then vacuumed out once dry. Use care on looped area rugs that may not tolerate heavy beater bar use or other brushing.

Steam Cleaning
This method is most effective when performed by a professional, although many rug cleaning machines may be purchased or rented. The dangers of performing this method on your own are using too much detergent or water. Some cleaning agents available with rented units leave a heavier residue, so use care or the advice of a professional when choosing a product. Test the product on a small area to check for residue or a sticky feel. Do not use if a residue exists, or if in doubt about a product. Finally, do not use laundry detergents to clean your area rug to avoid possible optical brighteners.

Area Rug Stain Removal
Accidents happen. If an area rug becomes spotted or stained, work quickly. When possible, scoop up solids and blot liquids immediately after a spill occurs. Absorb as much liquid as possible with a white cloth or paper towel without scrubbing the area to prevent matting or fuzzing.

Methods of Cleaning Various Area Rug Fibers
The type of fiber in your area rug should be the primary consideration in selecting a cleaning method. The majority of area rugs manufactured with synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, nylon and acrylic and may be cleaned with most cleaning methods, but we have listed three accepted methods for cleaning synthetic fiber area rugs.

1. Follow the area rug manufacturer's recommendations. When choosing any cleaning method, follow the directions for dilution and application.
2. Never use laundry detergent, automatic dishwasher detergent, or any strong household cleaning products intended for use on woodwork, linoleum, laminate or tile.
   
3. For dried or soiled stains, thoroughly vacuum the area to be cleaned before applying a cleaning method. In some cases, you may want to use a preconditioning solution prior to cleaning to begin loosening soil.
   

Area Rug Cleaning Chart
   A. Cold Water
   B. One teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm water.
   C. One tablespoon of clear household ammonia (3% solution) with
      1/2 cup of water.
   D. A dry-cleaning solvent from grocery or home improvement stores.
   E. Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Break residue into small
      pieces, scrape off and vacuum.
   F. 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water.
   G. Warm Water
   H. Clear nail polish remover without oil or nail conditioners
      (preferably acetone)
   I. Denatured alcohol or methylated spirits. Avoid oil-based mineral
      spirits.
   J. Rust Remover
   K. Absorbent Powder (salt, talc or commercial dry, absorbent powders)

Instructions: Start with the first cleaning method in the far left column. If the first method doesn't work, proceed to Step 2, etc. Be sute to reference the Methods of Cleaning Various Area Rug Fibers to avoid a product that may damage your area rug, and to improve your chances of stain removal.

Solid Food, Other Organic Stains

Liquid Food Stains

Household Cleaners, Waxy, Oily Substances

Inks, Paints, Rust Stains