Caring For Your Area Rug

Authors Website: Shop for Area Rugs

An area rug is a great way of brightening up a room but how do you go about choosing the right one for you? An area rug can be a great investment that will last for years so it is important to choose wisely.

Placement

First decide on which room the area rug will be placed. If it is a lounge or dining area a large rug will be required. If it is a kitchen or bathroom a smaller area rug like a braided rug would be better suited.

Size

The size of the rug will of course be determined by the room size and where in the room the rug will be situated. If you require an area rug to cover the majority of a wood floor then ensure that you leave about 8 to 10 inches of wood showing around the rug.

Color and Design

The color and design is really up to you but consider the following:

• Ensure that at least one or two of the colors in the area rug match the colors of your walls or furnishings.
• Choose a design that matches the feel of your room – for instance, choose an oriental or Persian rug for a room with antiques and a braided rug with bold colors for a more contemporary home.

Texture

The texture of the area rug is another personal preference. Braided rugs look stunning in a room with a country feel; sisal and contemporary rugs suit bright modern rooms and hand-woven oriental rugs suit almost any room.

Rug Care

A rug is a great investment that will last for years if looked after correctly. The advantage of buying a rug as opposed to wall-to-wall carpet is that you can take the rug with you when and if you move house. Whether you have expensive oriental or Persian rugs or beautiful sisal or braided rugs, it is important to look after them well.

When to clean your rug will depend on the amount of traffic that is brought into your home. Cleaning your rug yourself is an option but if you have a hand-woven or an expensive rug you would probably be best to leave it in the hands of professionals. Vacuuming your rug will be as required but ensure that you vacuum under the rug as dust and dirt can accumulate. Avoid using the beater bar of the vacuum on the fringes as they can easily be pulled loose. Use a broom instead to dislodge the dirt.

Rotating your rug regularly will ensure that it has an even distribution of wear. This is particularly so if you have the sun shining onto the rug which can cause fading or if you rug is in a high traffic area of your home.

Rug repair is a proper trade and the work that some rug repairers can do is amazing. If you own a hand-woven oriental or Persian rug and notice even just a small hole then it is imperative that you take it in as soon as possible to be repaired. Even very large wholes or breaks can be repaired. To prolong the life of your rug, purchase rug pads to cushion your rugs and provide a softer base to walk on. Rug pads also provide a means of preventing the rug from slipping particularly on hard wood floors.

Article provide courtesy of http://www.shop-4-area-rugs.com/ – your online source for everything in area rugs.

Editors Note: Online shopping for area rugs and other information are available on the authors site.

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