Rugs

Although most people nowadays say they prefer a wooden floor or another type of uncovered flooring, motivating it is easier to clean and retains less dust to be later released in the atmosphere, there are many good reasons why some people opt for rugs instead – if not the nostalgia they bring about, then motivations of an utterly practical nature. One would be the moderate insulating property, for instance when living in a house made of materials which keep the temperature of the floor rather unfriendly during the cold seasons. Therefore, when covering a cold floor, rugs will provide more comfort and coziness to your everyday life, in addition to a classy aspect to your home. Moreover, people find rugs not just aesthetically pleasing but also necessary when having young children such as babies and infants, who are at risk of hurting themselves if the floor they often fall on isn’t covered in a soft rug.

If you have decided to buy one or more rugs or replace your old ones, needless to say, the first thing to take into consideration is the colour scheme of the rooms the new rugs are purchased for, in order to make sure each rug fits the pallet you have chosen for its corresponding room, in order to maintain an affable colour balance. Just as important is the size, and you will notice that rugs come in an infinity of sizes, to suit any area you would like to place them on. You will be amazed by the multitude of patterns as well, ranging from intricate floral motifs to simple, one-colour rugs which are an etalon of sophistication according to many customers.

In terms of classifications, rugs are divided into various categories in concordance with a series of factors, such as the fabrics they are made from, the manufacturing process, their shape, size, design, colour and finally, sometimes, their origin, as rugs from certain parts of the world are known to share certain style particularities unique to those regions.

Akin to many household items which have evolved over the centuries, rugs are now made of a diverse range of fabrics. Whereas many centuries ago they were exclusively made of fabrics of natural derivation, namely wool, which underwent long and laborious manual processing, modern times have allowed the use of artificially created materials as well, such as polyester, polypropylene and nylon. Polypropylene and polyester are frequently used and known to be fairly economical, and in addition to that durable, which gives them the upper hand on the market in terms of rugs intended for areas with intense circulation, such as offices and business headquarters. But by far the most widespread fabric used in the manufacture of rugs in this day and age is nylon, a petroleum derivate which is renowned for its resilience and which grants an increased wear-out resistance to the rugs it is used for. Wool remains the classical and perhaps most endeared fabric for manufacturing rugs, as it is completely natural and the processes it undergoes are pretty much the same as they were hundreds of years ago, only simplified by the use of machines instead of human labour. However, combinations are not uncommon, especially involving a mixture of wool and nylon, to preserve the qualities wool provides and add to that the buoyancy given by the nylon fabric, to make the rugs last longer and look newer for an extended period of time, as the only downside to wool is that it wars out quicker than other fabrics.

In addition to the fabrics used in their manufacture, rugs can also be categorised according to the manufacturing process itself, as along the centuries many techniques emerged and are being practiced to this day. The most widely spread rug manufacturing process nowadays is tufting, which is a relatively simple and automated process and takes less time than traditional, manual rug making methods, and this is why it has become so prevalent. One of the techniques producing the most durable rugs is known to be weaving, which uses a multitude of coloured yarns and is an intricate, very long and painstaking process, which justifies the significantly larger prices. These carpets are extremely durable and are true works of art, worth every penny one pays for them. Another type of very hard-wearing rugs is referred to as needlefelt, as the technique of putting these rugs together uses an complex technological process, which makes the rugs particularly compact and resistant to intense everyday use. However, ancient methods, such as knotting, have not disappeared and are passed down through generations in certain parts of the word, for instance in the Far East. What you will find in stores nowadays might not be hand-made and perspiring ethnical character through every fiber, yet considering the modern lifestyle, that would probably not be indicated at all. What most people look for today are beautiful yet practical rugs, which are easy to clean and maintain and are accessible in terms of price.

In terms of colours, shapes and designs, the sky is the limit. You will find anything from traditional floral patterns, which are preferred by many on a floor covering, to up-to-the-minute innovative designs, combining colours and shapes towards visually impacting yet balanced effects. Simple rugs are becoming increasingly popular as well, as that gives more leverage to decorate the rest of the room with various patterns and colours without overdoing things. Striped rugs are also among customers’ favourites, as the pattern is uncomplicated and pleasant. Rugs are different in terms of texture as well, some being thinner and more suitable for certain areas such as offices, whilst others are more voluminous and fluffy and provide the feel of coziness most people want to create in their home.

There are so many designs and styles you will surely be impressed by the diversity of the offer. For every purpose, taste and pocket there are many ranges to choose from, and you are guaranteed to be charmed, as they are so attractive and advantageously priced that they practically sell themselves.