Despite what many people think, there is a vast difference between carpets and area rugs. At one time, the terms were interchangeable. That is not the case anymore.

Area rugs and carpets differ primarily in size. The former can be small or large pieces but still considerably slighter than carpets. Carpets cover the entire floor, that’s why there is the term “wall-to-wall carpeting.” Area rugs on the other hand, only cover a certain space. Area rugs are not secured firmly on the floor while carpets are held in place with carpet nails. You can break dance on a carpet all you want and it won’t budge a bit. Let us weigh some more differences between these two floor coverings.

Appearance – carpets are the simpler of the two. The colors are basic, usually in neutral and earth tones. The size is monopolized by four-sides, particularly in rectangular dimension. Carpets are mostly plain and are only expanded in their colors. Area rugs on the other hand, are more diverse in color, size and shape. There are also different patterns from geometric to floral, and fabrics such as wool, cotton, bamboo and synthetic materials. How rugs are made can be hand-woven or machine-processed; knotted or weaved. There is more room for artistic expression in producing rugs as designs vary from Oriental-inspired and Persian to trendy, more contemporary style, or elaborate details to simple and fundamental designs.

You might be surprised to know that there are more expensive area rugs than carpets despite their difference in size. Looking at authentic Persian and Oriental rugs and you might as well be paying for several carpets. Why the higher price? Rugs have more benefits in functionality and aesthetics. The choices are more diverse and their usage wider than those of carpets. The artistic factor is also more evident in rugs.

With all these said, carpets have good qualities as well. For one, they are sturdier and more resistant to stains because of their thicker texture. Carpets don’t move around, it stays put, so you don’t have to worry about slipping and breaking a bone accidents. Carpets feel luxurious especially the thicker ones that walking barefoot is always tempting. Some carpets are cheaper than rugs. Carpets can make the room look more formal and sophisticated. Cleaning one may take longer because of its size, but if you have the right equipment, you’ll be doing the chore without much trouble.

Practicality – bigger and more elaborate area rugs are as meticulous to clean as carpets. But carpets can also be vacuumed and brushed just like with area rugs. Both will benefit much from a professional cleaning service. The disadvantage of cleaning carpets is that it’s only in the surface, unless you pull them off in order to clean the floor underneath them. The weight is not as lift-friendly as area rugs. Cleaning time can also be longer than their smaller counterparts. Meanwhile, area rugs, especially the thinner and smaller ones can be easily thrown in the laundry and dries just as quickly. Some don’t even require washing, just a good dose of old-fashioned shaking and thumping to beat off the dust. Area rugs are also lighter to roll and carry, as well as very easy to change for an instant room makeover. Carpets require more work in removing and installing. However, carpets are safer in a way because they are securely fastened on the floor no matter how much you move or how waxed the floor is. Area rugs, without a safeguard pad can be hazardous, especially for kids playing around as they can cause slipping accidents.

Laying down the pros and cons of carpets and area rugs will hopefully give you a better idea which floor decoration suits your lifestyle, home interior and personal style. I hope this article enlightened you on which floor covering is perfect for your home.

This Home Decorating article was brought to you by Abigail Foster from HouseofAreaRugs.com – your authorized area rug store for flokati area rugs.

A strong cup of coffee, an unfinished book held firmly in your hands; you enter your study which is full of books, a huge window, a comfortable seat and a cold floor. A cold floor? It just doesn’t work! You need a rug to complete the picture. Even if you have all the other accessories, the right drapes, furniture, lamps, paintings, the look and feel of a room lacks a certain something without a rug.

Rugs are great means to beautify a room and to match all the other existing decorative items. They add character and a semblance of the mood you want to convey. It’s all about strategic placing, buddy. Putting your rug in the right place can do its magic trick. Read on and learn a thing or two on how to maximize proper placement.

Obviously, your preference will reign control on the choice of color, design and material. The style is really up to you. No one will berate you for going too bright or too dark. No one will object if you prefer big patterns to intricate ones. I mean, you are decorating your own home, aren’t you? So the worst you’ll get are annoyed but still full of love reactions from family members. No sweat.

Now on to rug placement – rugs are usually placed under furniture. The most common are the coffee table, side table and couch. The rule of thumb is to allot some allowance so that all of the furniture will be taken in on the rug. Meaning, no extra leg is in contact with the bare floor. However, in case of a smaller rug (taking into account the budget), you can place the furniture on the center with two or three inches space behind the front legs. Therefore the back legs of the table will reach the bare floor but because of its centered placement maintains a balanced look.

Selecting a rug is not just based on its beauty and price. The rug size counts as well. It’s an important factor to consider if you want your rug to fit in the room and match the over-all look of the place.

A rug with eight inches of extra space on the floor is an ideal size. It doesn’t look too crowded. Position your rug properly.

For furniture like the dining set, a large rug is necessary to have a coordinated look. It should have twenty-four inches of space past the table’s edges. This gives room for the chairs to fit in as well.

A rug sized 4 X 6 feet, 5 X 8 feet, or 5 to 7 feet with a round or hexagonal shape is good for defining a seating area in a large room. Arrange the chairs in such a manner so that you don’t have more than two feet of rug behind the chairs.

Before purchasing a large rug, don’t ever disregard measurements. Don’t underestimate its importance no matter how boring it may sound. Consider the space or areas to be covered. Will there be enough to get in and out the door without any problem of uneven surface? Will there be an allowance as not to get friction from an electrical output? You can’t just cut and scrap a rug (think about the money spent!) but you can modify through proper placement. Thus, familiarizing yourself with the space is crucial.

Rugs are a familiar sight in many homes. They are wonderful decorating essentials and are available in assortments of colors, designs, sizes and patterns. Your home will benefit from the help of some reliable and handy rugs.

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If you take the time to learn more about Berber rugs, then you will be more likely to understand its value as a great decorating choice. You will also be able to dispel the myths that concern how to clean Berber rugs and be able to appreciate the different construction that gives rise to the unique and minor care when it comes to the cleaning techniques. Berber rugs refer to a wide variety of rugs that takes its look and style from handspun natural fiber made in parts of northern Africa. The very first manufactured Berber rugs that appeared were made of wool since wool often gives an appearance that most resembles original hand made rugs.

This was the only fiber that was used to make a Berber for the longest time. And the process of how they made would make these fabulous rugs last extremely long. They are not cheap though, and that’s why many people who found them extremely hard to keep clean. With the wool there would be natural shades in the weave which make these Berber rugs fantastic. It’s hard to understand though why with so many different advances why Berbers still have this same cleaning myth tied to it.

Everything depends on the type of fiber your decorative Berber rug is made of. Of course there will be several things you will need to learn and know for the good maintenance of your rug, but even Berber may seem difficult to keep clean, the task is not impossible. We tend to be a society that is always demanding attractive products that always keep looking good without a whole lot of bother and fuss. Berber rugs are now a very popular choice to many different consumers.

Berber is very beautiful and durable carpeting when it comes to being used as a rug. It is constructed of looped rugged material that runs in parallel lines. The short loop lengths allow footprints not to be seen and allow traffic patterns to not show wear and tear. The short loop can be a given number of twists that make for such a dense carpet that it is very difficult to remove the dirt that gets deep down.

It’s great because the Berber doesn’t look dirty but it makes the job of cleaning seem like a hapless task. So you vacuum the Berber a lot and don’t use any attachments, this way you will get the soil on top and some of it from deep down too. Cleaning it like this will make the deeper cleanings a lot easier for you in the future too.

Olefin is now the most common fiber that is used to make Berber rugs. It is highly resistant to chemicals and moisture and easily releases the dirt and other soils from the surface. What you are now getting is a rug that one of it main characteristics is its natural resistance to stains and that dries very fast.

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What make area rugs great finds for designing one’s home are their useful and aesthetic qualities. Who wouldn’t want a decoration that looks good while at the same time plays an important role in keeping the house clean and safe? Area rugs are also ideal items to put a touch of personal style and a glimpse of personality in home decorating.

One perfect example is the choice of color and design. An artistic and adventurous person may very well choose an area rug full of colors and big patterns. Geometrically-designed area rugs are favorites of the more gutsy homeowners when it comes to decorating. A person who is more laid back and organized may go for simple colors of earth or neutral tones with clean lines or subtle patterns. Those who are more expressive and straightforward may choose colors that show just that – solid, bright colors that bespeak their personality, whether it’s being cheerful, passionate, sophisticated or somber.

One of the unique things about using area rugs is that they can be felt instead of just seen. This combination of visual and tactile stimuli deepens the experience you get from a simple rug. A smooth rug with short, even fibers is perfect for a formal room, while a rich, plush rug is very comfortable in intimate areas like the bedroom.

There’s so much to praise about the functionality of area rugs. Just as these decorations are impressive in their beauty as home decors, the role they play as floor coverings has so much to admire for. A rug that is a room’s centerpiece or an accessory to a furniture also serves as a floor aide that shields the flooring from damage. See, beauty and brawn in one.

I love area rugs as a hardwood floor cover. Decorative-wise, a brightly-colored area rug is an impressive contrast, an eye-catching piece when placed on a dark floor. Same is true with an area rug with an ornate pattern in the center of a hardwood floor. At the same time, it softens the noise that hardwood flooring emits from the footsteps, especially from my high-heeled shoes. Polishing the wooden floor is also made easier with little or no scratches as the floor is protected by the area rug.

Additionally, if you have a playroom or a child’s bedroom, using an area rug as a floor decor does not only add to the colorful and cheery appeal of the space, but also safeguards your child from injuries, especially concerning slipping and stumbling accidents.

There is much to say about area rugs. The way they make a home more appealing, how they give a relaxing, comforting, cozy, and cheerful or whatever ambiance you want to have, and how they help make the task of cleaning a whole lot bearable are top three picks to rave about. I’m a homeowner myself and I can truly say that I can’t live without area rugs.

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Hardwood and wood-laminate floors are very much in style in new homes and in floor re-modeling projects. The wood comes in all kinds of patterns, board widths and thicknesses. You can get engineered wood that is put down over an under pad and there are other kinds of flooring that can be put directly over solid surfaces or vinyl. Wood flooring also comes in a wide range of prices and it is still possible to replace old wood flooring, carpet, or vinyl economically with well-made, attractive wood flooring. With some study and “how-to” steps from the Internet or the library, you can even install the wood flooring yourself. If you are not handy or have some serious reservations about your ability to handle such a task, it is better to let a professional do the installation part. Wood flooring is a big investment and you do not want to diminish the aesthetic effect with a poor installation effort.

Regardless of the type or style of wood flooring that you select, you will want to protect it. This means doing some research on the right type of wood floor cleaner to use on your flooring. Be sure to get a cleaning product designed for WOOD floors. You will also want to select a good quality wood floor polish and invest in periodic cleaning and polishing of your wood floors in order to maximize their beauty and prolong their life over years of use.

And, of course, you will want to invest in rugs to cover strategic areas of your floors. As wood flooring has grown in popularity so has the use of area rugs. Area rugs offer a first line of protection against damage to your wood flooring, particularly in areas of high traffic. Wood floors can be refinished to eliminate scratches and dents but sanding and refinishing floors is messy and time-consuming and you will want to postpone those activities as long as possible.

Enter the area rug. Strategically placed rugs can minimize damage to wood flooring and can extend the period of time between floor refurbishments dramatically. Wood flooring is being used in every room in the home and area rugs are versatile enough to be similarly used. Rugs come in all sizes and shapes and so can complement your wood flooring whether it is in a bedroom, the kitchen, a bath, or a hallway.

While area rugs do a great job of protecting your investment in your wood flooring, they are also multi-purpose in that they also provide a room-decorating alternative in terms of color, texture, and accent. Rugs can brighten up a dark area with a contrasting color scheme. Large, unbroken areas of wood flooring can be “boring” and a rug will add interest to the area and minimize the sameness of the flooring square footage.

Shopping for area rugs is a breeze. No headaches, no stress especially if you know what color and size suits a room best. An important tip is to go with a color scheme for balance or drama. Same shade creates harmony while contrast gives a dramatic effect. Also, measure the area first before heading out and getting your area rug. The rug should fit the space perfectly for a well-coordinated interior.

If you found this information about decorating with area rugs useful, then you are bound to adore these orange area rugs.