Area Rugs Buying Guide

Area rugs have a dramatic influence on décor and are a great way to personalize your space. The difference in a room between a subtle neutral tone area rug and a richly patterned Oriental rug is remarkable. Area rugs add style, warmth, perhaps a burst of color, and pull together areas of furniture into defined groupings. They can highlight and protect the beauty of hard wood floors, stylishly cover up flaws in flooring or stained wall-to-wall carpeting, add comfort, and decrease noise.

Whether you view your rug purchase as a long-term investment in a valuable heirloom (the case with handmade Persian-style rugs) or as a fun way to update your décor without too much effort or expense (easily done with machine-made synthetic or cotton rugs) or somewhere in between, you will find a rug, or perhaps several rugs, that suit your taste and make your home that much homier to you.

Buying an area rug should be based to some degree on your gut instinct when you see one. They often are truly beautiful, akin to artwork for your floors. Like a framed painting or other accent, you should find a rug attractive, appealing, and feel drawn to it.

This may be your place to be bold especially if you've chosen fairly neutral furniture. With furniture, simple is often the safest bet. However, in buying area rugs, it is actually more practical to go with a colorful and intricate pattern, since it will camouflage stains better than a solid one. Whatever rug you choose, it will have a great influence on your living environment. There are many specific style considerations outlined in a following section.

In addition to your taste and style, there are some practical issues to consider as well. Rug size should be chosen carefully to work with your room size and furniture. Material and workmanship should be considered since they influence the longevity of the rug. You should always have an appropriate rug pad to protect both your flooring and your new rug. These details are discussed below.

Material is an important decision since it plays a major role in the rug’s longevity, stain resistance, look, and feel. There are popular natural fibers, including wool, sisal, and cotton, as well as synthetic options. Your decision will be based on appearance, texture, quality, rug location (in particular, low traffic vs. high traffic,) and budget.

Natural Fibers

There are many natural fiber choices. Some of the most popular options are outlined below. Overall, wool is widely regarded as the best pick for quality and longevity, with most natural fibers being more desirable than synthetic options.

Wool Wool sets the standard for top of the line rugs. High quality wool is durable, long lasting, pleasingly soft to the touch, and beautiful. It is easy to clean and ideal for high traffic areas. It holds dye well, which for the consumer means brighter, richer, and more fade-resistant colors. It is also naturally resistant to dust mites, making it a great choice for people with allergies. In addition, it holds its value unlike any other choice. Antique rugs are usually made of wool, demonstrating the quality inherent in the material. Of course, in line with its quality, the price of wool rugs, especially handmade ones, will be higher than other options. Wool is used in the best Oriental and Persian-style rugs, as well as in other high-end styles.

Silk Silk is another high quality natural fiber. It is a beautiful and upscale choice. However, silk is delicate and must be treated with care, so it isn't ideal for high traffic areas. Silk is often included in handmade Oriental rugs to add luster and shine.

Cotton Like wool, cotton is a soft fiber choice, but it is less durable and doesn't wear as well. It is used in a variety of styles, shapes, sizes, textures, colors, and patterns. It is much less expensive than wool, making it a sound choice if you are buying a rug more for immediate look and style than as a lasting part of your décor. Cotton can be a good choice for a children’s room or anywhere else where you might want an updated rug within a few years. Care is simple; you can often throw smaller cotton rugs in a washing machine. Wool/cotton blends are also available and are a good choice, since you'll get some of the benefits of wool’s durability with a lower price tag.

Sisal and Seagrass These are durable and firm natural fibers that are well-suited for heavy traffic areas. They generally provide a more casual, subtle, and earthy look than other options. They often have a latex backing to prevent slipping. Fabric borders are also common. Rugs made of sisal and seagrass are significantly less costly than wool and are an attractive natural textile choice.

Jute Jute rugs are soft and come in interesting textures, at lower prices than wool rugs. Though less durable than wool, jute is more resilient than cotton, making it a nice option for a soft and fairly long lasting natural carpet.

Synthetic Fibers

There are numerous synthetic fiber choices. They do not meet the standard set by wool, but they have a proportionately and significantly lower price tag. Keep in mind that they also do not hold their value like a wool rug. In general, though you may get the style that you want in a synthetic fiber rug, you won't get the quality or softness available with wool and other top natural fibers.

Nylon Nylon is the most popular synthetic fiber choice. It is durable, stain resistant, easy to clean, and requires little maintenance, making it a top choice for high traffic areas. It is available in numerous styles and can mimic the look of wool pile. If you can't afford wool but want its look, nylon or a nylon blend is probably the way to go.

Acrylic and Polypropylene Both of these synthetic materials are very resistant to sunlight, stains, and mildew, making them sound choices for areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms or mud rooms, as well as for indoor/outdoor use. These materials are also used for typical indoor decorative purposes.

There are many styles of area rugs available. The best bet is to choose one that reflects your taste. Also take into consideration your furniture style, the room the rug will be in, the rug’s purpose, and your budget. A rug can act as a beautiful and striking centerpiece to a room, a subtle and comfortable addition, or an interesting accent.

Are you drawn to a particular style, such as country, traditional, or contemporary? A richly colored and patterned Oriental rug is a great, long lasting traditional choice, with an antique one the most formal and precious of all. A muted solid color rug is a tasteful contemporary statement. A colorful braided rug provides a casual, country, and homey look. Jute or sisal rugs reflect an earthy sentiment and style. Cotton throw rugs are a versatile, go anywhere choice. Of course, only you can decide what style rug complements the rest of your decor--eclectic styling (mixing various design elements) is another great way to go.

Consider the room for which you are buying a rug. Is it a heavy traffic area? Will it experience spills and stains, such as in a dining room, children’s room, entry way, or mud room? These answers will influence your rug choice. Heavy traffic areas require durable materials, such as wool or synthetic fibers, and stain prone areas do best with a pattern for masking them. Formal low-use living rooms may be an ideal showplace for a delicate Oriental rug made with silk.

Also review the decorating purpose of the rug. Are you trying to brighten a room with color, create a focal point, or provide an interesting accent? Do you want more than one area rug to define distinct furniture groupings? Colorful and bold rug patterns make a statement and sometimes work best with more neutral furniture. Different patterns and colors of rugs and furniture can mix well, but try to have one color or other unifying element tie them together. If the rug will be a focal point, a pattern with a center medallion can be a good choice. If the center of the rug will be under furniture, such as a coffee table, a uniform pattern is a better pick. To pull together various furniture groupings, rugs of different sizes and textures add interest. For small accent rugs, cotton throws can be a fun and interchangeable choice.

Don't forget the practical reasons for rugs. They provide warmth on otherwise cold wood or tile floors, hide imperfections and stains on old flooring and wall-to-wall carpeting, and reduce noise. And especially under a dining table, they protect your hard wood floors from the inevitable scratches from dining chairs. For floor warmth, pile rugs, in wool, cotton, jute, and some synthetic fibers, are cozy and soft options. For use under a dining table, a patterned rug will hide food and drink stains best. Sizing is a key consideration for dining room use and is covered in its own section.

A word on patterns: florals, geometric designs, stripes, and a vast array of other choices, in just about every hue and color combination imaginable, abound. There are some prevalent pattern elements. Rugs often have a decorative design forming a border along the edges of the rug. A center medallion (a round or oval design in the center of the rug) is another popular feature. Enjoy exploring your options, and pick something you love. You might even end up with more rugs than you planned to buy.

Below are some style and rug type overviews. Rugs are truly an art form, and many defy classification.

Oriental and Persian Rugs Oriental rugs, which are made in Asia, are primarily made of wool and sometimes silk. They are hand-knotted or flat-woven and have colorful and varied patterns. Authentic Persian rugs are hand-knotted and traditionally made in Iran. However, Persian-style rugs are now made in other countries throughout Asia and the term refers more relevantly to the design of the rug, not the country of origin. Persian-style rugs feature bright, rich colors and elaborate designs, with or without center medallions. The more intricate the design, the higher the concentration of knots per inch will be.

Handmade Oriental rugs are true heirlooms, and priced accordingly. Antique Oriental rugs are especially precious and expensive. It is important to buy these rugs from a reputable and experienced dealer in order to ensure that you are getting the quality you expect.

There are also machine-made rugs in the Oriental and Persian-style. These are a cost-effective way of achieving the traditional and beautiful look of these rugs, and they meet the expectations of many buyers. If a machine-made rug is 100% wool, it should still be a high quality choice.

In addition to their beauty, Oriental rugs are a practical choice. The patterns hide dirt well, and high quality wool rugs are strong, long lasting, and hold their value well. These rugs are meant to be used as well as treasured.

Braided Rugs A colonial tradition, flat braids weave the rug’s outermost strands over and under inner strands, creating the homey look of a braided rug. Wool will provide the longest lasting quality, though braided rugs of cotton and synthetic fibers are popular as well. They are usually reversible, a desirable trait if one side becomes heavily soiled. You will find bright colors, earth tones, pastels, and choices with high or low contrast. These rugs fit in well with a country or rustic style.

Shag Rugs Once a 70s era staple, shag rugs are back in style. Soft and lush with a thick pile, a shag rug can create a fun look with a cozy feel. The highest quality shag rugs are 100% wool, but a mix of wool and synthetic fibers will lower the cost significantly without a drastic decrease in quality or softness.

Natural/Earthy Rugs As discussed in the Materials section, jute, sisal, and seagrass are earthy, casual choices with interesting textures. These are often sold in their natural color with no added dyes, since their inherent imperfections and color variations are part of their appeal and character.

Contemporary Rugs Contemporary rugs span a variety of styles and materials and are difficult to classify. As with other rugs, the best will be made of wool. They can feature muted or bright solid colors, geometric designs, interesting textures, and unique shapes.

Rug size is an important and relatively straightforward decision. As a general rule, at least a foot of flooring should be exposed around an area rug to highlight the rug, furniture, and flooring. If a rug is under a coffee table, all of the legs should fit on it. However, it is acceptable for other furniture to have front legs on the rug and back legs off, as long as the pieces are still balanced. For use under a dining room table, measure the table and add up to four feet to each dimension to ensure that chairs can be pushed back from the table without edging off the rug. Room and rug sizes vary greatly, but there are some common choices. 6’ by 9’ is a popular size for a rug that is under a coffee table and being used to bring together a seating area. Under a dining table, an 8’ wide rug is usually required. Accent rugs can be as small as 2’ by 3’.

As with any quality product, workmanship will influence the value and longevity of a rug. Handmade (including hand-hooked, hand-knotted, and hand-loomed) rugs are always higher quality and more valuable than machine-made. In handmade rugs, higher knots per inch indicate higher craftsmanship and will exhibit more refined details. Top quality Oriental rugs can have up to 1,000 knots per inch, with 100 to 300 knots per inch sufficient for defining most designs. In all cases, designs should appear distinct and well-formed. Rugs should be woven tightly and evenly, and have clean finished edges. Any fabric trims, common in sisal rugs, should be attached firmly and smoothly. If the rug has a fringe, it should be even. Dyes should be high quality and colorfast. Materials such as wool, cotton, and jute should feel soft to the touch, while materials such as sisal should feel firm and dense.

Rug quality is often difficult for a consumer to judge. Because of this, if you are buying an expensive, investment-quality rug, such as a hand-knotted Persian one, it is important to buy from a reputable and established rug seller, as well as seek out well-known brand names. Always avoid going out of business sales, since they are usually an outlet for getting rid of inferior quality products. A Certificate of Authenticity may be available when buying a Persian rug and is a good document to have, particularly for insurance purposes.

A high quality rug pad is essential for the protection of your rug and your floor. It will increase the life of your rug, protect your floor from scratching as well as staining if the rug is not entirely dye-fast, provide pleasant cushioning, and increase sound control. It will also prevent slipping and wrinkling of the rug and make it easier to vacuum. Rug pads come in a variety of sizes and shapes. A rug retailer will often also sell rug pads and guide you to one that is most appropriate for your rug.

Rugs span a large price range, from under $100 well into the thousands. Prices depend on style, material, workmanship, and size. Handmade wool rugs are most expensive and generally cost thousands of dollars. Machine-made synthetic rugs are among the lowest price options. The larger the rug, the more costly it will be.

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