1. Adding a designer rug to your home can be an excellent way to add
splashes of color, texture and mood.
2. Rugs vary in price and style. Some can be simple and cheerful, like
rag rugs or braided rugs and others valuable and costly like certain
antique Persian carpets.
3. Choose a rug the way you choose furniture. Don’t invest in a
valuable Persian carpet if your budget does not allow it, or if the rest
of your furnishings are inexpensive, disposable pieces. Like minded
pieces should be teamed up together. This focus on sameness in quality
creates harmony and balance.
4. If you love a particular pattern in a broadloom or wall to wall type
product, ask your carpet retailer to create an area rug from it. Nice
finishing on a piece of broadloom like this can be your own personal
treasure. It’s also a great solution for odd shaped rooms or baby
nurseries.
5. Countries which offer fascinating “Oriental Carpets” include the
following countries: Iran, Iraq, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan, Tibet and China. Each of these countries offers patterns
and images on their carpets which have meaning, stories and historic
folkloric ideologies. When investing in any of these carpets it’s
always a good idea to learn as much as you can about the meaning of the
carpet. Your piece will then always represent a fascinating bit of
cultural romance which will probably make you love it even more.
6. Cabins, country retreats guest rooms and children’s rooms are often
best done in rugs that are either casual or less expensive. Save your
really fine carpets for areas that are either very well used and
appreciated by lots of people or special areas in your home, living
rooms, dining rooms or hallways.
7. A beautiful woven carpet, like a Persian can easily be layered over
a simple broadloom in a neutral tone. If you’ve chosen fine wool sisal,
but would like to add a splash of color and texture to the room, toss
your treasure atop the broadloom. If you’re worried about the carpet
slipping or buckling you can add a special pad designed for just this
purpose. Any good carpet retailer will offer this special carpet pad
product.
8. Area rugs and carpets can look stunning when angled in a room over
bare hardwood, marble or broadloom. It’s not important that all pieces
including furniture and rugs be lined up like little soldiers. Angle
rugs or put them under certain pieces of furniture like coffee tables,
especially those with glass tops, to create areas of interest in the
room.
9. If you’re looking for investment pieces, you might just want to
check out antique rug stores or high end auction houses. Rugs can live
for centuries, and only those over 100 years old are officially
“antiques”. Antique rugs generally have a lovely patina that is a
result of age. Be sure that you are dealing with a reputable carpet
dealer or auction house. Antique rugs are valuable and costly and you
don’t want to be paying for a cheap reproduction. A rug that is 50 years
old or older is considered “semi antique” These are a lovely option if
you can’t afford a true antique.
10. All carpets and rugs require special care and maintenance.
Traditional carpet cleaners, detergent and chemicals can ruin a valuable
rug. Always check with a reputable carpet dealer in your city to learn
the best way to care for your carpets. Some ethnic carpets from overseas
are made with natural vegetable dyes which explain their beauty and the
elegant patina that occurs over time. These carpets may run if cleaned
using regular commercial methods or DIY cleaning systems. Always consult
a specialist and you’ll enjoy your treasures for years to come.
