Rug Types And Terminology Lesson

Rugs are a diverse bunch of decorative and functional items. From the variations in materials and range of colors to the collections of designs and assortment of shapes, rugs are indeed versatile decors you should never do without when beautifying your home. This article is for you to find out more about these amazing decors.

The idea of picking out one or a just a few can be frustrating. It would be best to know helpful facts about area rugs, so you can better make a choice of a rug that will fit best your home.

Area rugs made of synthetic or acrylic fiber – these rugs are highly durable and resistant to stains, mildew and sun damage, as well as being water repellent therefore, ideal for outdoor use or for high-traffic areas. Compared to other kinds of fiber, synthetic rugs are considerably cheaper. Among the different synthetic materials, Polypropylene and Olefin have the highest resistance level against stains. Nylon is another type and popular for its easy maintenance and durability.

Then there are natural fibers. Wool is extremely dyeable, durable, soft, and clean. Wool is considered to be the superior fiber and tends to be the standard to which all other rug materials are measured. Cotton is softer than wool but cotton rugs are not nearly as durable as their wool counterparts. Jute is not a very common material used whenever it comes to making rugs It is the softer than cotton, possibly softer than any other natural fiber. Unfortunately whenever Jute is exposed to direct sunlight it can either darken or fade in color and whenever it is exposed to moisture for long periods of time, it will eventually disintegrate.

Now that you have been familiarized with natural and unnatural fibers here are some words that every rug shopper should be familiar with. Whenever you go to a rug store you will end up feeling more confident about your decisions and will possibly impress the sales person.

Stitches and needle counts – this means the number of loops of yarn. When the rug has a higher needle or stitch count, it becomes thicker and richer in fabric. This is preferred by many because the rug lasts longer as it doesn’t easily succumb to wear and tear compared to a loosely-woven rug, the result of fewer needle and stitch counts.

Warp yard – this is the stationary threads and is actually the sturdiest fibers.

Hand-carved – this is a design made from hand shears.

Border – this is the group of designs that are repeated in one direction in the border or outer lining of the rug.

Warp yard is stationary threads. This are the strongest fibers used in rug making. They are intersected with wefts, which is the filling material. These are woven through the warps.

The border refers to the composition of the decorative designs that are repeated in one direction all around the outside of the rug.

Knowing the basic terminology of rugs will help tremendously when it to navigating a rug shop looking for the perfect rug for your hearth and your home.

Now that you know all about choosing rugs, it’s time to shop for your very own wool braided rugs. We suggest you start looking at www.HouseOfAreaRugs.com.