Posts Tagged ‘rugs’

Choosing The Right Size Rug

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

How do you decide on the size of your area rug? For seasoned professionals with their experienced eye, this comes naturally. But for those who are still finding their way in the home decor business, it could become a bit of a struggle.

Let’s start by deciding the role area rugs can play in your interiors – as the focal point, the accent or accessory to the focal point, and the practical aid. All these factors will help you in coming up with the right size.

Focal point or central decor area rugs can be bigger than the usual size you often see, which are mainly for accenting a centerpiece. Area rugs that are made for practical reasons will rely on the specific need for the rug’s purpose, such as protection for a high-traffic zone, floor covering, skid protection, etc.

Now consider the area rug used under a piece of furniture like a coffee table. This type of rug will obviously be one to serve as a focal point, especially if the coffee table’s top is made out of glass (in other words, it is transparent) but also if it is surrounded by other furniture. In terms of size, it should be bigger than the coffee table (even if it isn’t a focal point rug) but small enough to leave a bit of blank space between its edges and the surrounding furniture. The reason is that it will focus the attention even more on the central focal point (the coffee table).

That being said, what else is there to cover? Well quite a lot, actually. You see, a coffee table is just one type of furniture and the rules change somewhat when choosing something like an area rug to be placed under the dinner table or even under the bed.

For spicing up your dining table with an area rug, including all other pieces is vital. You just don’t put the area rug under the table alone. You have to allot space to accommodate the chairs and some more not to wobble when the chairs are pushed back. As a guide, get an area rug that goes about 4 feet from all sides of the dining table. This is enough space to guarantee you of a well-proportioned look.

As for the bedroom, you can practice liberty in size. It all depends on the ambiance you want to create for your room. You can have one big area rug in the center of the room, or you can place two smaller rugs in strategic locations like at the foot and center of the room or at the side of the bed and near the door. Some people place an area rug by their closet or dresser. Two same sizes or different ones can also be used. The possibilities are endless. Ascertain however, that your home will have a put together look. Balance is the key and aptness is a must.

Keep up with current trends in rug decorating and enhance your home with transitional rugs for sale.

Choosing Carpet For Your Home Flooring Needs – Seven Practical Reasons Why

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

There are many flooring options available on the market today. You might prefer to have hardwood or laminated floors decorated with area rugs here and there. Hardwood surfaces are very enjoyable to the eyes, but they are not always enjoyable to the feet. If you have kids who run thru the house, they can simply slip on an area rug that is placed in a strategic location. Hardwood tends to show each step a person has taken if you live in an area with lots of dust. Hardwood is pretty though, when sorted and appreciated by all who live in the household.

Another flooring option that’s reasonably popular is carpet. Carpet offers a massive variety to homeowners. There are so many selections you can make re carpet style and color alone.

Why do people select carpet over hardwood? Here’s a list of 7 actual reasons to choose carpet to meet most of your flooring wants:

1. There’s a big difference between standing on hardwood or carpet. Carpet invites your feet to dig in. It is warmth and comfort rolled into every step. In winter time, this is definitely a treat for your feet.

2. As previously mentioned above, carpet offers variety. You may have something standard and sublime for the living area and yet, decorate the kid’s rooms with colourful and frolicsome colours and designs.

3. It can be simply replaced in a short quantity of time. This is a definite and if you don’t desire your house torn to shreds for a serious length of time.

4. You can relax on carpet ; lay down and read a book to the youngsters. Yes, you can do the same on hardwood, but it’s not nearly as comfortable.

On the more practical side of selecting carpet for all your flooring needs are these reasons:

1. Pricing is one of the things that must be taken into consideration. Carpet comes cheap and costly. You can have nice carpet installed without having to spend all you have. Actually, installation is cheap.

2. It isn’t difficult to clean! Most carpet these days is stain resistant. Each day cleaning doesn’t require more than a vacuum. For the person on restricted time, vacuuming is less time consuming than sweeping and mopping.

3. Carpet is analogous to area rugs in the way that it can transform a room from uninteresting to eye-catching. It’s flexible and resilient.

It’s very important to select the flooring that’s going to best fit your lifestyle. Your local flooring expert can assist you further with your flooring decision-making.

A Few Ways To Buy Wholesale Flooring

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Flooring can frequently take up a good deal of a home’s reworking budget. Whether you choose to go with carpeting or hardwood floors, laminate or ceramic tile, realize that you are going to putting a great deal of money out for this project. Don’t become deterred when you see the price of flooring as there are ways that you can save cash on this acquisition. A way to save is to get wholesale flooring. A variety of places offer this sort of flooring so you only need to grasp where to look. Here are the top three ways to purchase wholesale flooring.

3. Distributors

When in the marketplace for wholesale flooring, think about going to a distributor of the product of your choice. Regularly they have the lowest prices around other than the maker who will require that you buy in bulk or place a minimum order. Distributors,eg this St Louis flooring outlet, do not have these requirements. Although the price could be slightly higher than it’d be if the purchase were made right from the manufacturer, there will not be much of a markup. You’ll be ready to purchase the floor of your preference at a much deeper discount than a conventional retailer’s asking price.

2. Importers

Wholesale flooring could be purchased from an importer who manufactures items overseas at lower production costs. Here you’ll need to consider shipping costs as well as any other costs that are incurred when buying from a foreign company. Also, realize that your product may take more time to arrive than if you ordered from a national retailer. Ask for references before making this kind of purchase so you can be assured of quality and client service before cash is exchanged. In addition, be certain to use a method of payment, such as pay pal or a Mastercard, which is traceable in the event of any Problems.

1. Liquidators

Certain companies specialize in overstock, canned or closeout wholesale flooring. This kind of company is known as a liquidator and can be a great source for your flooring needs . Be sure to order enough of the product at the time of primary purchase. You do not need to discover, mid-project, that you don’t have enough to complete the job as more may not be available. Thanks to the low pricing of these products, your position may not even notice the bigger purchase . One thing that has to be considered when purchasing from a liquidator is their return policy. Learn, prior to making a purchase, whether you can return the product if there’s a problem. Some liquidators may sell as-is and this must be known up front.

Simply because you can attain this type of savings though doesn’t relieve you of the responsibility of being an informed consumer. You need to satisfy that responsibility at every point to get the very best deal.

Whichever source you choose to purchase your wholesale flooring from, be certain to know the details of the sale before you proceed. This type of deal is available from most credible flooring companies so your complete office or home complicated can have new floors at a small fraction of the pricetag you would pay thru a retailer.

Up Close & Personal With Persian Rugs

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

When you think of a Persian rug you think of luxury, craftsmanship and yes the detail. Each fiber that is put into a Persian rug is made with only natural ingredients. The addition of a Persian rug to a room will add a lot to the decor.

Persian rugs were actually discovered in a tomb of a famous Scythian prince in 1949. The archaeologist’s found them and tested what they could of the data as far back as 500 B.C, this was during the period of Achamenid. They used a technique of weaving with wool, silk, and cotton back then to create these gorgeous rugs. The weaving technique has two different depictions one on each side, deer and Persian horseman. The center is usually a deep red. The first rug found was measured at 9.3 x 6.5ft.

There were many designs and patterns of Persian carpets back in the day. They either were medallions, cloud bands, scrolling vines, or arabesques which were usually exported to the west. They were never really in demand in the Iranian market at this time.

Persian rugs are classified into three groups according to their size. Farsh is one sized larger than 6×4 feet. Qalicheh, with its literal meaning of rug, is one sized 6×4 or smaller. Kilim is nomadic carpet.

The design of a Persian rug is made up of one or more motifs. Motifs are designs which have different interpretations to each. The common ones around are the Herati, Shah Abbasi, Boteh, Rosette, Mina-Kahani, and Gul.

When Persian rugs are made it’s not a quick make. They can take anywhere from a few months to a few years depending on the size and pattern chosen. The process of weaving starts with a passing a certain amount of wefts down a bottom warp to begin the base. You then have the piled knots of colored silk or wood loosely around the successive sets of adjacent wraps. While additional rows are added the pattern will form to make the rug. There are usually fringes at the end of the rugs which feature a weft-faced look or a braided look.

The industry of Persian carpets has increased exponentially as consumers gain appreciation for the craftsmanship and quality the carpets offer. Iran itself accounted for exporting $420 million of hand-woven carpets in 2008. There are approximately 1.2 million weavers in production in Iran.

Persian rugs remain a classic in home decor.

Decorating experts all agree that it is essential to start with a quality oriental rugs; our favorite place on online is www.HouseOfAreaRugs.com.

Braided Rugs – Inexpensive Floor Coverings That Last

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

The humble braided rug is one of the most enduring floor covers ever created. The early settlers found that they could provide some basic home comforts by fashioning braided rugs from old clothes or any other discarded items that could be scavenged during those early days of the American frontier. From those earliest times, people of modest means found the braided rug to be practical, durable and most importantly, affordable. This made it perfect for their needs.

The enduring appeal of the braided rug is due in large part to its simplicity. Strips of fabric are criss-crossed together to form a thick braid that can be wound into a spiral, growing outwards from the center to form a mat. Adjacent braids are then stitched together using a strong thread so as the everything stays in place. The earliest rugs were nearly always oval as this was the natural form produced from the coiling process. It was also the easiest to make as it did not require any additional steps or complex skills. Later, more advanced techniques were perfected and braided rugs could be produced in a wide assortment of shapes, including circular, square and even heart shaped.

These days, braided rugs are once again seeing a resurgence in popularity as a new generation of frugal homeowners are rediscovering the charm and practical nature of this quintessential American handicraft.

The first thing to consider before making a braided rug purchase is to decide if you want something hand made or machine made. Hand made braided rugs were the only option until mass manufacturing methods took hold during the first half of the 20th century. These days, hand made braided rugs are mostly limited to artisans and home enthusiasts where the original methods and techniques are still practiced. The best places to look if you want a hand made original are the art fairs and garage sales. There is also a thriving market on the popular auction sites. With such limited supply price can be significantly higher than the machine made alternatives. This is even more so for the rare antiques.

Machine made braided rugs first appeared in 1910 when a converted shoelace machine was used to produce the basic braid. This automation process dramatically lowered costs and within a few years braided rugs were being sold in large numbers. Modern manufacturing methods in use today have built on those early innovations to make available a huge array of different shapes, materials and styles to choose from.

From country farms to suburbia , braided rugs have been a popular option for busy homes for decades. Long lasting and sturdy, they are perfect for high traffic locations like kitchens, hallways and bathrooms. Plus they are reversible and can normally be cleaned with nothing more than a vacuum cleaner.

Braided rugs were most often paired with traditional country-style decors, or to compliment American colonial themes. These days they have been cropping up in more contemporary settings, juxtaposing the minimalist look of the modern aesthetic to add their own unique blend of visual interest.

From its humble beginnings over a century ago, the braided rug has withstood the test of time to become a classic piece of Americana that is still in widespread use today.

From the classic oval, braided rug shapes today span the full range of geometric forms, from round to rectangular. With a little care, a braided rug will provide a lifetime of beauty and service to fit any occasion.

Eco-Friendly Rugs

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

In society today it’s all about making everything friendly to the environment, and that can be done with decor in your home too. Though most people will think that getting green in your home will make the rooms look dull, it’s not as true anymore. There are a larger variety of items that you can purchase to make your home more green and help out the environment. So follow some of the ideas listed in this article to make your home eco friendly.

At times a simple area rug can be added to the room, it will change the room to a more comfortable and cozy setting. They are coming out with fabrics that are friendly to the environment and make some wonderful looking rugs too. There are many colors you can choose from and whatever you pick will surely add to the decor.

Go for natural materials when going for the green. Wool and cotton not only feel nice to the feet, but they can also provide a bit of warmth when the first breath of winter finally sets in.

The furniture you have in your room can normally go with many different colors of rugs, so just add in a bit of extra color to the room by placing down an area rug.

For your design plans to be effective, however, you must first ascertain the area’s use. What is the room for? Is it a place where you can hang out? Is it by a fireplace? Does it have a large, open area? Is there likely to be a lot of traffic in that area? Whatever the case, the room’s function should be taken into great consideration when selecting your area rug. While you will want hardy, durable rugs for high traffic areas the rug meant for cuddling up in front of the fireplace should be plush and comfortable.

Picking out a rug you need to keep in mind what kind of style you have in the room already. If it’s an antique style, don’t add in a modern looking rug. This will simply distract from the design of the room. Pick a rug that will go with your decor.

In the end, being eco-friendly does not necessarily mean that you are tacky. Remember that a lot of people are starting to go green as well along with consumer awareness, and area rugs play their part too. They give that extra warmth especially around winter, and brighten up a room by bringing out its personality as well as complementing the design of your furniture arrangement. They come in a variety of shapes, styles, colors, patterns, and sizes -so you will never have to worry about not finding that perfect one for your home.

Lucky for you decorating with natural rugs has been made so much easier with these bamboo pile area rugs.

Berber Rugs

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

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.

Lucky for you decorating with area rugs has been made so much easier with these grey rugs.

The Many Benefits Of Installing Hardwood Floors In A House

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Since the big explosion of TV shows whose main focus is upgrading and redecorating homes, it’s no surprise that millions of house owners across the country have invested in any quantity of these DIY projects to enhance the standard of their homes. Except for painting, the feature that’s chosen most frequently to bear an alteration is the flooring.

All too often, the vision of the householder is constrained to simply replacing their flooring – which is quite usually wall to wall carpet – with a different color or fiber style. However , there are those that step out of their private decorating comfort zone and take a different route, for example with the installation of hardwood flooring. For those that change, the decision to switch from carpet to hardwood is generally made after a bit of blue-skying over the pros and cons of each type of flooring. Once the homeowner realizes the benefits of hardwood floors, there’s often no hesitation about dumping the carpet and installing the wooden floors.

One of many benefits hardwood flooring will bring to your house is a reinforced beauty thru all your rooms. With developments in manufacturing, today’s hardwood comes in a multitude of styles and colours that were previously unavailable. Given the diversity of wood floor products on today’s market – from the traditional wood floors made from oak, to the country atmosphere pine will bring, to the glamorous beauty of bamboo and everything between – you will definitely be in a position to find a product to fit both your personal decorating style as well as your position.

Naturally, there are several further benefits, except for the beauty hardwood flooring bring, that make them the flooring choice of homeowners everywhere. For instance, hardwood floors are way more sturdy and last longer than any other kind of flooring on the present market. So while it may appear as if wooden flooring is costly at the beginning, it is quite frequently an one time investment given the ability of wood flooring to face up to the many years of damage a family will inflict upon it.

As a householder, not only will you like the above benefits with the installation of hardwood flooring, but you will be content knowing that you’re using an ecologically friendly material to cover your floors. Since wood is a commonly occurring substance that is also replaceable and recyclable, you won’t have to worry about whether or not your flooring choice is hurting the environment like the production of some synthetic floor coverings regularly do. In fact , plenty of today’s hardwood flooring come from other wood items that’ve been re-purposed for use at home.

From warehouses, barns and old wooden ships, not only are you able to get a gorgeous floor, but you may also get quite a lot of history in the process too. Additionally, installing wood flooring in your house can help provide a healthier atmosphere for you and your folks since it does not trap dust and other allergens. This makes it simpler to maintain and keep clean than vinyl, laminate flooring and carpet.

As you can see, there are a number of benefits you can get by installing hardwood flooring in your home. Hence if you need to use adding worth to your home, and warmth to your hearth, you should visit your local flooring professionals today to see how they can help turn your home in to your house.

Decorating With Area Rugs – Beauty And Functionality In One

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

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.

Area rug decorating just got even simpler with these orange area rugs.

How To Enhance A Hardwood Floor

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

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.