Rugs

RUGS: practical, functional objects to cover the floor

RUGS: works of art that expresses your individual taste

RUGS: a gaze into ancient civilization

RUGS: finishing touches to a new room or a way to revitalize a not-so-new room

However you define them, versatile rugs are all the rage when it comes to home decorating! Rugs change a boring space into an interesting and attractive one. Rugs create an atmosphere that reflects your personal style. Rugs make a statement. Rugs help absorb the noise level in a room. Rugs add warmth and charm. Today, there is a myriad of rugs to choose from. Select modern, contemporary, ancient or traditional rugs; woven, tufted, bordered, sculptured, braided or textured rugs; Persian, Indian, Turkish or Oriental rugs; country or city rugs; all shape rugs; children's rugs; southwestern, northern or tribal rugs; designer luxury rugs; cheap discount rugs, and many, many more.

Rug making or weaving has been practiced since ancient times. Traditional rugs were not only beautiful, but their designs reflected cultural themes and practical concerns of day-to-day life. The oldest hand-woven pile rug in existence dates from the fourth century BC. This carpet, known internationally as the Pazyrk Carpet, was discovered in 1949 in Siberia. Many experts believe the Pazyrk carpet was woven in Caucasus (where present-day Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia intersect). Other experts cite ancient Persian roots. No matter where the rug was woven, the technique of creating a soft pile by knotting wool yarn is the same technique used by rug weavers today.

Today's most valuable and exquisite rugs are made by hand. Hand-made rugs are the golden standard in the rug industry, although machine-made rugs can imitate hand-made designs at much more affordable prices. Hand-made rugs are usually made from wool or silk or other natural fibers, while machine-made rugs can be made from both natural and synthetic fibers. The most common natural fiber being used to make rugs today is wool.

It is the fibers and the texture of rugs that influence their performance, appearance and cost. Natural fibers provide soft, low luster colors and long-term performance. Synthetic fibers provide brilliant colors, easy maintenance, and great value. Typical rug fibers include nylon, wool, olefin (polypropylene), polyester, acrylic, cotton, and blends of the above fibers. The prices for rugs vary, depending on factors such as hand vs. machine made, synthetic vs. natural fibers, and size. Growing in popularity today are area rugs, attractive, versatile and economical alternatives to wall-to-wall carpet.

In practice, the rug-weaving process has not changed much over the centuries. It still begins with the warp: a vertical stretching of threads on a loom - the frame on which a rug is created. Knots are hand-tied horizontally across the warp row by row to create a design. Asecond series of threads known as weft, interlace with the warp at right angles. The pile of a rug is formed from various types of knots, the most common of which are symmetrical and asymmetrical. It is the color and thickness of the knots, as well as the actual knotting technique and construction, which determine the appearance of a rug.

Rug colors are created by natural or synthetic dyes. Natural dyes are derived from organic sources such as plants and insects and convey earthy, lustrous tones. Modern synthetic dyes create an infinite range of colors. These chrome dyes are stable and permanent ("colorfast"). Many quality rugs are made with a mixture of natural and chromatic dyes.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RUG

Ideally, you should build the decorative components of a room around your rug, since it is easier to find furniture, fabrics, wallpapers, and paint that will go with your rugs than to find rugs that will go with your furniture and finishes. Professional interior designers usually start with the rug. If this is not possible, your rug color and design should be carefully selected to coordinate with the existing environment. One way to select rugs for a furnished room is to find a color combination that ties all of the colors together, or that pulls together the dominant or accent colors. Still another way is to select a rug in one major existing contrasting color that will set off the other colors. Or, to make rugs the center of attention, choose rugs with bright colors. Consider a border type rug or rugs with a less-busy design in a room full of busy patterns. Light colored rugs make a room look more spacious, while deeper color rugs help make a room feel cozy. Rug shape is another consideration. For example, a round, oval, or octagon shaped rug in a roomful of square furnishings can make a bold statement.

Additional rug selection factors include the volume of traffic rugs will receive, and under what light they will be viewed. For high-traffic areas you may want a durable, patterned rug. In general, the denser the pile (with closer knots, tufts or stitches), the more durable your rug will be. A frequent question when purchasing rugs is whether to buy antique or new. Since antique rugs are usually only available in traditional styles, this selection limits your choice to a narrower variety of rugs than are currently available on the rug market.

TIP: To accentuate separate living areas, try using several different rugs to decorate! Select rugs that create an ambience of luxury, entertainment, quiet relaxation, or family warmth.

TIP: Since the atmosphere of your home cannot be duplicated in a rug showroom, most quality dealers will allow potential buyers to try a rug at home before purchasing!

RUG SIZING

The best way to size your rug is to mark out the area with masking tape by placing four pieces of paper where the rug corners will be and simply measuring the size. Don't forget to decide how much floor you want to show around the rug (a general rule of thumb is to allow an area of about one foot around each side of the rug). The correct way to size a rug sitting under a dining room table is leave the chairs pulled out. Then measure a few inches past the spot where the back legs of the chairs are so that the chair legs will stay on the rug. It's up to you if furniture sits entirely or only partly on rugs, however you may have to compromise if the rug you select is available in a limited number of sizes and shapes.

RUG DEALERS

When buying quality rugs, it is important to seek reputable rug dealers who are qualified to properly represent their product. Choose rug dealers who have been successful in the business for many years and who come highly recommended. A quality rug dealer should take the time to fully address all of your questions and concerns. Moreover, quality rugs dealers are a valuable resource when it comes to purchasing rugs. Most quality rug dealers have strong relationships with the best suppliers, and a knowledgeable dealer can help you understand the history and meaning of a specific design and where and when a rug was originally woven. Finally, if you need help in selecting rugs for your space, bring a sofa pillow, fabric sample or paint swatch to a rug dealer. Rug dealers can suggest coordinating rug colors that will enhance your room, and help you make the right rug selection.

Finally, quality rugs are often accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity attesting to the genuineness of your rug materials, and certifying that you are the original owner. Should you wish to sell your rug, a Certificate of Authenticity will enhance its value.

CLEANING RUGS

The safest recommendation for cleaning any type of rug is to have it cleaned professionally every 2 to 3 years. The frequency of cleaning will vary according to the traffic rugs receive. In between professional cleanings, follow these guidelines:

Rugs placed in an area of moderate to heavy traffic will usually need a vacuum-clean about once a week. Rugs with longer piles may be beaten gently from the back to remove any grit that is caught in the pile. For antique rugs, use a carpet sweeper or brush to clean dirt. When vacuuming your carpets or rugs, don't scrub but use a gentle action with a regular rather than a rotary head and work only in the direction of the pile. Never vacuum the fringe!

Don't use foam cleaners, other chemical cleaners or salt remedies. Additional cleaning or repairs should be left to a professional rug conservator.

REMOVING SPILLS

To clean pure silk pile rugs, contact a handmade-carpet-care specialist. It is important to place these rugs in areas where spills are not likely to occur. If not properly treated or left untreated for a period of time, liquid spills have the potential to permanently damage pure silk rugs.

For antique rugs, the condition of the rug will determine how it should be cleaned. Fragile rugs should not be beaten hard, shaken, or forcefully scrubbed with a wet cloth or sponge. With antique rugs that are still very strong and in good condition, however, and for other rugs, the following rules apply.

If a liquid or food spills on a rug, the steps to be taken depend on what material the rug is made of and whether the dyes are colorfast.

For wool pile rugs, spills can generally be cleaned as you would clean a spill on your clothes, i.e. with a cloth and soapy water. The area of the spill should be gently cleaned with the wet cloth and all soap should be removed. The pile should then be smoothed down in its natural direction, and the rug can be hung on a chair indoors or on a fence to dry. If the rug is too large to hang, the wet area can be propped up so that both sides of the rug get some air and are able to dry. A hair-dryer can also be used to speed up the drying process. If left damp for long periods of time, mildew or fungus can form and the rug's pile and foundation could be damaged or weakened.

Most new rugs can be scrubbed hard if need be, but in these cases it is important to know beforehand that the rug's dyes will not run. Some Persian rugs do not have colorfast dyes. To find out whether your carpet's dyes are fast, try the following experiment:

Gently rub a small area of the pile (such as an area of blue or red) with a white wet cloth. Be sure to rub a section of only one color, as you do not want to accidentally spread the color of one area into another. If the color does run, (i.e. the dye is not colorfast) the area of spillage can still be cleaned, but care must be taken not to scrub across sections of the rug with different colors. Also, you must use a new section of cleaning cloth (or a new white cloth) for each section that you are cleaning.

In this case, it is better to dry the rug flat on one side (and then turn it over to dry the other) rather than to hang the rug, in order to prevent the wet dyes from running down into other dyes.

FRINGE AND FACE WASHING

Often, the area that shows dirt the soonest is the fringe, and this can be washed without the entire rug being washed. The fringe can be cleaned with a bit of soap and water, leaving the carpet flat to dry afterward. This usually makes a significant difference in the appearance of a rug without the trouble or expense of a full wash.

Another way to re-new the appearance of an older rug is to give it a "face wash". This involves rubbing a wet cloth over the pile of the entire rug (wetting the cloth as necessary depending on the size of the rug). The rug can then be propped up or hung to dry. (Ensure that the rug's dyes are fast before doing this, and note that silk rugs should not be given this face wash).