Rug Buying Guide

 

Looking to purchase an area rug for your home? Stuck at the beginning of the process? Our Rug Buying Guide will help you through the steps; from first thought to searching, sizing, and ordering, we can help. Here we'll share some of our decades of rug industry and home decor knowledge to help you make the most informed purchase you can.

Overwhelmed? Here's Where to Start.

1. Figure out the room in which you're putting your rug.
2. Try and gauge the size of rug you'll need.*
3. Picture the room complete and imagine what color will suit the space best.
4. Have a budget? That can help narrow down your search.**
5. If a certain style appeals to you, search through those first. ***

• *Quick Tip!
• Lay out a bed sheet where you might place your rug. Use this to determine how big or small of a rug you want.
• **Keep in mind if you want an investment piece or a trendy piece for a shorter life period. Materials like 100% wool will last longer and wear better, with a flipside of a larger initial investment.

• ***Not finding the right style rug? Expand your search to other styles- you never know what may surprise you!

 

Read On to Learn More

 

What's In A Rug?

For thousands of years and across hundreds of civilizations, the rug has developed into the beautiful floor covering and home accent that we know and love today. Here's some information to help guide you.

Rug Terminology: 

• Pile: The raised surface of the rug's loops or strands of yarn. The length of the yarn strands is referred to as pile height, length, or depth.
• Pile Height: You might be looking for a rug with a certain pile height or thickness.
• Machine Made rugs tend to have a pile height of 1/8" to 3/8"
• Hand Tufted rugs are usually 1/2" to 5/8" in pile height.
• Hand Knotted can be anywhere from 1/8" to 1" pile height.
• Shag rugs are thicker, between 1/2" to 4" in pile height.
• Braided rugs are 1/4" to 3/4" total pile height.

Types of Rugs:

• Machine Made: Rugs are woven on power looms, operated by hand, machine, or computer.
• Hand-Hooked: Starting with a canvas cloth, the weaver punches yarn through the canvas with a hooking device. Then a layer of glue holds the back together prior to the addition and stitching of a cloth backing. 
• Hand-Tufted: Similar to hand-hooked, but usually sheared after woven to create a flat pile. Thicker canvas and more yarn is used for these type of rugs for extra durability.
• Flat Woven: Reversible, flat-woven, and pile-less. These are made with warp yarns held in a loom or frame while the weft yarns are woven over and under to create the pattern.
• Braided: An old and versatile technique dating back to early america and textile production from pieces of clothing, blankets, canvas, etc.

Materials in Rugs:

Rugs are often made from yarns of wool, viscose, polyester/polypropylene, cotton, and many others. You can search for rugs by material in our store! 

Rugs are also made with dyes to achieve different colors. Rugs are usually made with either natural dyes, from animal or vegetable sources, or from chrome dyes, which are synthetic. Natural-dyed rugs are great for an antique look as the natural dyes can fade over time. Chrome or synthetic dyes are also great if looking for a wider range of color and an added benefit of colorfastness.

Styles of Rugs

There are many different styles of rugs. Some styles are distinct while others may share elements of similarity. Here are a few of our favorite types of rugs. Click the image to shop the style!

Southwestern	Transitional	Bohemian

Traditional	Contemporary	Geometric

 

Rug Size Guide

Unsure of the size you might need? Here is a helpful mini guide.

Still having trouble with rug sizing? We have a variety of our rugs available in our store with custom sizes! 

Starting Your Search

 Searching for a rug can be a daunting task, but we're here to make it easy. Here are three things you should keep in mind when searching for the perfect rug.

1. Style: Keep in mind the style you are creating in your space. You'll want the rug to match or complement the look you're going for. 
2. Size & Shape: Your ideal size and shape of the rug will likely stay the same during your search. This can help you narrow down the rugs that don't come in the size you want.
3. Color: There are likely a range of colors that work for your space. Consider whether the rug will be an accent color or a main color for your room and decor.

Protecting Your Purchase

When purchasing a rug it is important to consider the longevity of the item. If you want to ensure that the life of the rug is extended as far as possible, you'll want to take proper care of it. A few things that you can do to help keep your rug in good condition are...

1. Purchase a Rug Pad: A rug pad can protect the life of the rug, the condition of your floor, and provide an extra layer of comfort. Additionally, rug pads can help prevent "slip-and-slide" syndrome by giving the rug something stable and secure to rest on. Rug pads can be found in our store!
2. Rotate Your Rug: Minimize and equalize sun exposure on your rug by rotating its placement in your home. This can help prevent sun damage and fading on your rug.
3. Say No to Moisture: Dampness can damage the life of your rug, and result in mildew which discolors and weakens fabric. Keep your rug out of rooms that are humid or with poor ventilation.

Looking for Inspiration?

Want to See More?