Area Rugs Blog

You say to yourself, OK, that area rug in the living room is creeping me out. It used to look like a lovely painting years ago when I first bought it but now looks more like a rodent ran over by a semi-truck. So you start looking online and find the perfect rug which you think will lively up that drab floor of yours. But there is a problem! The rug is back ordered for six weeks! Ohh no!!! So what should you do? Frankly, I don’t know what you should do as I’m unaware of your specific circumstance. However, here is a piece of advice and something I would do. Ask myself some questions and give them honest answers then make my final decision based on that.

* Have I looked around for this area rug online enough? Does any other online rug retailer have this one?

* How badly I need to have that rug (or rugs)? Is there a big family event coming up before it arrives? Could that event wait?

* How important is the rug in my home color scheme and decor?

* How often I change my home decor?

* For what purpose am I buying this rug for? Is this rug going to be something of dear value to me such as an art piece? or just a piece of utility rug?

* Am I getting a great deal ( on sale ) which I may not be able to get at if I make a purchase at a later date?

The answers to these questions should make it easier for you to decide weather to order the rug and wait it out or just move on to a different rug with similar attributes.

I’m personally passionate about area rugs and admire them for so many reason. Here is what I would do. I normally buy a rug when I fall in love with it so therefore if I have to wait for a reasonable amount of time (up to a year depending how much I really love it), I would wait.

Hope you find this post helpful and it make it easier for you what to do when in that situation. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about area rugs.

All the best!

Skye

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Posted on August 24th, 2009 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, on sale, rug, rugs. Comments: 1

DECORATING WITH A BLACK AREA RUG

When it comes to choosing a color for your rug some people find it a daunting task while others respond to it as being not that big of an issue. Most often by the time it comes to picking out a rug they have run out of enthusiasm and sometimes money and will end up buying the first one they come across. In these cases as in many others, the black area rug may be the ideal solution.

Also, remember the shape of the rug will give a totally different appearance as well. You may feel that a square black area rug will not be fitting for the room, but try to visualize what a round or oval black area rug would look like. It may make a total difference to how you perceive the color black.

With home decorating there are so many decisions to be made. Choosing the rug color is one of them and in order to get the color that is most suited depends on many factors. To begin with, do you want to go with a solid color such as a black area rug or do you want something with a pattern or even just a blend of colors?

As hard as it may seem to believe most often choosing the carpet colors after the decorating has been done is easier then trying to plan the decor around the rug itself.

A black area rug can be the ideal solution for many decorating problems but there are some things you must keep in mind when using a black area rug, which we will discuss.

If you have a room that you have used a lot of different colors in even if its earth tones then you have to be very careful with the colors in your rug. If you have a predominant color that overshadows the room and you go too strong with this in the rug then the color itself will overpower the room and downplay the other items such as furniture and accessories. In this type of situation, a simple black area rug will certainly suit the purpose. Again though it will depend on the size of the room, how it is decorated and the placement of the black area rug.

Some people feel that a plain black area rug has no character. When it is used correctly, it has the capability of making a room look simply elegant. For the multi colored rooms, it doesn’t interfere with the decor but adds warmth to the room.

Then the other side of the coin is the room that has basically no major color and the color is only provided by accents. Starting with a totally white room and perhaps a heavy reliance on chrome type furniture opens the door to utilize a black area rug to make this room a showroom of good taste. In this type of decorating, it is more pleasing if just one other color is used to accent the black area rug. For example, the walls could be white. The furniture ultra modern in the chromes and white leather. The floor with the black area rug then shades of red or even one vibrant shade of red for the accents such as the pillows and other accessories such as the drapes or window coverings. This gives the perception of a very high quality clean prestigious look.

Also, remember the shape of the rug will give a totally different appearance as well. You may feel that a square black area rug will not be fitting for the room, but try to visualize what a round or oval black area rug would look like. It may make a total difference to how you perceive the color black.

Sometimes black area rugs get a bad name because they are considered high maintenance. This is true but only depending on where they are used. If you are going to use them in the main traffic areas of your home or in the kids’ rooms then yes, you are going to be spending a lot of time vacuuming and cleaning them. In a room where their isn’t major traffic they are actually quite easy to maintain and require no more work than any other rug you might use.

Keep in mind the size of the plush to the black area rug as well as the thickness of the plush gives various types of unique looks. Small pile may not be all that attractive for the area but a thick plush black area rug may be magnificent.

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Posted on June 12th, 2009 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, black, rugs. Comments: 1

LEARN ABOUT ANTIQUE RUGS BEFORE BUYING ONE

When buying rugs some people prefer to buy an antique rug because of its history, faded and unique design inherent in handmade antique rugs. Beware, some dishonest dealers might try to convince you that a rug is an authentic, handmade antique. You should educate yourself first through books and online resources such as search on Google to watch for ways to spot a fake antique oriental rug from a real one. Learn about antique rugs and ways to discover the value and authenticity of a rug before you purchase it. One place we highly recommend is RugRag.com where you can find a wealth of information about oriental rugs.

Blow-Torching method used on a new wool rug (before wash) to achieve an antique look.

If you enjoy the aged, antique look of a rug but prefer not to pay an arm and a leg for it, you may look into one of high quality machine made rugs from Karastan. TeaWash™ is a unique finishing process invented by Karastan and used on rugs, see the famous Karastan Samovar Collection. This multi-step technique transforms wool colors from a lustrous into a vintage patina, giving rugs a faded appearance that usually only comes with age.

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Posted on May 13th, 2009 under Area Rugs. Tags: Antique Rugs, area rug, Karastan, rugs. Comments: 1

SAFAVIEH RUGS, PAST AND PRESENT

Safavieh is that singular transition from middle Asia to the New Land that can be compared to any major new cultural discovery. People in both the old and the new world had always been aware of Persian rugs as things that the common man could only dream of while the extremely rich could afford to step on with consummate negligence. But there was a gap - created mainly by lack of means – that also did not bring the middle Asian land closer to the common occidental man, and things of luxuries from these lands remained just that – luxuries; until the arrival of manufacturers like Safavieh Rugs with their exquisite and authentic rug creations.

In the last 30 some years, the Safavieh Rugs has won award after award for its exquisite area rug collections.

Safavieh was a great name even in the land of the carpet masters; established in 1914 in the capital of Persian rug manufacturing, the company quickly became a famous brand in that land of famed area rug brands. In 1978, after two generations of slow and steady goodwill hunting, it was time to expand to larger shores, and the family decided to move business to the United States.

In those days in New York City, there were few authentic Oriental rug manufacturers. There were, of course, indigenous American rugs that were mostly machine made in Axminster, and though these were good, they did not have that ethnic touch that only a master from Persia could create. Safavieh opened up its factory in the city and decided to give the American area rug market just that cost effective but authentic Persian touch it needed to come of age.

Shah Ismail I, the founder of Safavid (Safavieh) dynasty.

In the last 30 some years, the Safavieh brand has won award after award for its exquisite area rug collections, and has taken the area rug market by storm by regularly bringing out imperishable designs and works of art in some of the finest collections of area rugs ever designed by any single manufacturer. Its area rugs collections range from antiques and reproductions of original classics to the most modern and contemporary outlooks. Safavieh designs a wide range of transitional and accent rugs of both Oriental and contemporary designs: wool, hand-tufted Classics, Shaw Hampton and Soho contemporaries that are of beguiling design and taste. Safavieh also produces a variety of rug designs from American Country styles and 19th and early 20th Century European Art, as well as high end imitations of tribal rugs from middle Americas. At any time, Safavieh has over 450 designs in 8 different styles and sizes that are ready to be shipped to any continental customer- hooked, tufted, Gabeh, flat weave, Tibetan, hand knotted vegetable dyes and silk and wool rugs of breathtaking variety and beautiful design.

The rug collections of Safavieh range from the “A” of Agra to the “Z” of Ziegler Mahal. There are the traditional rug collections from Aspen, Ancient weave, Dynasty, Empire and others, that remind the connoisseur of age old middle eastern themes and other equally hoary themes from Europe. Then there are the contemporary area rugs – Berkeley, Bohemian, Chelsea, Manhattan and Wilton, those that have that strangely modern mixture of abstractionism and impressionism that creates an avante garde look and appearance in both the area rug and its setting. Finally there is the transitional – Anatolia, Bergama, Ganges River, Jewels of India and Marrakech – that, as the name implies, provides a smooth transition from the ancient to the modern.

All these rugs are manufactured in one of the many available processes – hand knotted, hand hooked, hand tufted, hand woven, machine made and shag rugs. Each of these processes has its own typical texture and style that differs considerably from its brethren. Yet all these various construction types and styles coalesce together to form the brand of Safavieh area rugs that is commonly bound by the threads of exquisite attention to detail and ethnic authenticity.

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Posted on March 11th, 2009 under Area Rugs, Safavieh. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, Chelsea, Oriental Rug, persian rugs, rugs, Safavieh Area Rugs, Safavieh Rugs, Tibetan. Comments: 2

Nowadays, with the coming of websites where you can buy area rugs on sale, buying area rugs online and at discount prices has become so easy. You don’t even have to step outside your house. You can buy area rugs online at affordable discount prices simply by finding the best price, or a coupon, and shopping  from some reputable website. Discount coupons are widely available online. With them you can purchase beautiful rugs from popular manufacturers, who keep rugs of all varieties of latest designs and styles from authorized dealers, at discount prices. All these you can do from the comfort of your home, because in these days of computers and the Internet, you can buy area rugs for discount sale online.

Area Rugs on Sale are not so hard to find.

An online area rug sales event is the best time to buy top brands such as Karastan Rugs or Momeni Rugs. A sale actually happens when either supply exceeds demand or when a manufacturer wants to advertise its area rugs. And, sometimes the economic downturns and slow sales will help in finding great deals as many dealers and manufacturers are in need of some quick cash. Such an event is obviously an opportunity for the consumer who wants to buy area rugs online to purchase good quality area rugs for sale at very low discount prices. This explains the huge rush that is always seen at online sales of area rugs. Coupons are distributed online and customer service networks work around the clock advertising their area rugs for sale in aggressive and modern-day advertising. Needless to say, people are satisfied making purchases from such genuine sales held by original manufacturers, and keep looking out for and returning to area rugs sales online because it is only at these sales that they get such discount prices that they cannot get anywhere else.
However, you must be careful while buying from these online sales sites or else you will end up buying low quality fake area rugs for sale carrying big brand names. These fakes only look like real, but they are not really so, and most often they are not even from the manufacturer they purport to be. They do not last long. They shed color on even careful washing and very soon begin to show signs of wearing out. Only experts can tell the difference between a genuine product and a fake. Since most casual buyers are not experts, they must be very careful so that they are not cheated out of their money at these fake discount online area rug sales.

One common misleading tactic used by many online area rug merchants is claiming to offer the consumer certain amount of percentage, I’ve even seen some ‘Up to 80% Off’ and if you don’t do the math for yourself, you may end up paying more compare to an “18% Off” coupon from AreaRugsClub.com. I encourage you to try this for yourself to see what I’m exactly talking about.

There are so many kinds of sales these days: holiday sales, pre-holiday sales, early bird sales, post-holiday sales, etc. With so many sale ads on TV or on the Internet it’s not always easy to decide who to buy from or which deal is the best deal. Some merchants may offer the rug of your choice on a “sale price”, but only for a limited time, some may discount it at a price lower than the “sale price”, some may not have free shipping or return policies. There can be various options and restraints like these, and one needs to be very cagey to be able to choose the right online area rug sale to buy from. Some items may have a “quantities limited” or a “not available at all stores” tag. So read advertisements carefully. Take very thorough stock of a sales situation, ask around, get in touch with other local area rug enthusiasts who might have visited such sales, get feedback – in other words, before you go and spend your money, do your homework right. How frustrating it is if you drive to a shop located far away only to find that the item you are looking for is out of stock!
One should be very careful when purchasing online. Only retailers who have secure websites with a “locked” symbol at the bottom which indicates they have been verified by authoritative agencies like Verisign may be trusted. Buying from retailers without secure websites may not be safe; your credit card information may get stolen, your personal information may get stolen, or you may not get the right merchandise that was advertised in their discount online area rugs sale websites. These are often online hackers and swindlers. One should note down the physical location and phone number of the online retailer before ordering from them using credit cards. Also check out the shipping and return policies, for some people forget that they should figure in shipping costs, if any, and delivery time, and not just take note of the price, when buying area rugs online. So many of them provide the facility of free shipping. So why should one not avail themselves of this wonderful money-saving facility online. When there is free shipping, delivery is hassle-free. You are not only spared the cost of transportation but also the trouble associated with it. Buying out-of-state will also save you money on taxes, which could be hundreds of dollars, depending on the amount you spend. A smart shopper can find great deals on area rugs and save a bundle!

I hope you find these tips helpful. Your comments and questions are always welcomed.

James

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Posted on December 13th, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, Area Rugs Free Shipping, Area Rugs on Sale, Area Rugs Online, Coupon Code, Discount Area Rugs, Discount Coupon, karastan rugs, momeni rugs, rugs. Comments: 8

Area Rugs vs Carpet

Some people cannot make a distinction between area rugs and carpets and sometimes they use the terms interchangeably. When floor covering professionals talk about “carpet“, almost always they mean wall to wall carpet. Both are soft and comfortable floor coverings, definitely a better substitute to tiles, bare hardwood or laminates. However it is not too difficult to distinguish between the two. Both have their own pros and cons:
Unlike area rugs, carpets are secured to the floor, generally tacked or cemented to it, often underlayed with cushion padding. Thus they are slip-resistant. While area rugs cover only a portion of the floor area, carpets cover the entire floor surface. The choice between the two is a matter of preference. Some people want a differently styled covering for each room, one that matches the décor and color scheme of the furniture, one that defines each living space. For them area rugs is the right choice. There are others who go for wall to wall carpeting because they want to be able to walk around the entire house barefoot, or have their children crawl on their hands and knees without having to feel the cold, hard floor surfaces. Besides, they want to give their entire house a unified look. This is definitely an advantage but on the other hand, area rugs can easily be rearranged to suit changes in furniture arrangement, or wall colors.
Carpets are more appropriate for drier climates only, because dirt and moisture stick to them, which can turn into mildew. For people living in a humid climate, large washable area rugs on top of any type of flooring other than wall to wall carpet is advisable.
Wall to wall carpets are hard to clean, so they are not a good choice for people with dust allergies. For them it is better to use polypropylene or washable area rugs.
However, both are not suitable for kitchens because food spills would make them look and smell pretty bad.
If one wants to “install” carpet over hardwood floors one would need to install smooth edge (tack strips) around the perimeter of the room, and that would damage the hardwood. The only way to cover hardwood floors without damaging the wood floor and keeping parts of the floors visible at the same time is by laying area rugs over the hardwood. However, they should be laid over a special type of pad designed for area rugs, which will help protect the hardwood and also keep the area rug from “crawling”.
Unlike wall to wall carpets, an area rug placed in an appropriate position can introduce structure to an open concept floor plan or link disparate furnishings.
If you are looking to bring colorful patterns and designs into your room without overwhelming it, area rugs are a better choice over wall to wall carpets because the latter are look best in neutral colors.
There is one practical consideration to take note of while choosing between wall to wall carpets and area rugs, which has little to do with decoration. Area rugs are yours to keep once you buy them, unlike wall to wall carpeting. You can take them with you if you move. So if you ever fall in love with a wonderful, expensive handmade rug, you can say: “Hey unlike wall to wall carpet, this is an investment and I will get to take it anywhere I want.”
One can use area rugs even if one has wall to wall carpeting. They can be laid on high traffic areas to protect the carpet or used to tie a sitting area together.

Carpets need to be installed and you can't take them with you.

When wall to wall carpets wear out the house eventually becomes patched with different carpeting as worn out carpets in different areas are replaced. Using area rugs instead can save money because cost of replacing area rugs is relatively less especially if you find area rugs for sale when shopping for one. That shouldn’t be too difficult.
To conclude, the choice between area rugs and wall to wall carpets is as much a matter of personal taste as suitability. Being in business of area rugs, we could tell you to go with area rugs however, none of the two is better than the other in absolute terms.

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Posted on November 6th, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, Area Rugs For Sale, Carpet, pad, rugs, wall to wall. Comments: 3

Area Rugs: Handmade vs Machine-Made

Have you ever wanted to be able to tell if a rug is handmade or machine-made? If so, look no further! We have put together an easy to read article as well as images, and a video to teach you the basics which always give away how a rug was constructed. We tried to keep it brief and  hope you find it helpful and fun! Go here to learn about Area Rugs: Handmade vs Machine-Made.

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Posted on October 27th, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, handmade, learn, machine-made. Comments: 2

Bedroom Area Rug

No bedroom decoration is complete without the addition of an area rug because it brings warmth to the room and comfort under the feet. An area rug of the right color and design can make your bedroom seem larger, brighter, cheerier or darker.
A rug is something that can reflect your personality and taste. It is thus a window to your inner being. Each rug comes with an identity associated with it, so the choice of the rug and its placement gives you space to be creative. It lets you explore your aesthetic side and individuality.
The practical uses of an area rug can hardly be overemphasized. One of the most popular rugs for bedroom is a wool rug. Wool rugs help keep rooms cool and warm due to their insular properties. They also mitigate bacterial growth and control allergies. As they are extremely resilient and resist dirt, no matter how rough your children play, they are likely to hold up for a long time.
An area rug not only covers the floor but its touch has a soft feel that charges you with a sense of comfort and coziness. Don’t you think that’s the feeling a bedroom should exude? If you have a dog in your house it will simply love it because dogs love sleeping on anything that’s soft.
Before you buy an area rug for your bedroom you have to consider not only the taste of the person but also the color and design of the walls and the floor. The rug should match its surrounding or it will seem in congruent. Here are some rules of thumb to follow:
•    Avoid large patterns if the room is small. They are likely to make it seem smaller.
•    Do not use busy small patterns in a large room. They will make the room feel too cluttered.
•    If your bedroom is dark for lack of light, choose warm, sunny tones. They will brighten the room.
•    To set off the stark lines of contemporary or modern furniture, pick bright abstracts in primary colors.
•    Contemporary designs really shine in children’s room. Bright or pastel colors, simple designs and easy care fabrics are ideal.

Shag rugs are very popular for bedroom.

For children’s bedrooms, it is advisable to choose a rug made with polypropylene— because it is one of the easiest materials to clean and wash—or pick a stain resistant rug or treat your rug with a stain resistant finish. Additionally, if your kids happen to destroy the rug, you know it didn’t cost you a fortune. Tempting though it might be, it is better to avoid popular cartoon character patterns. Children’s tastes and favorites change rapidly as they grow. So instead, pick a bright pattern with colors that can coordinate with a wide variety of styles as your child grows and develops his own tastes.
For fun, pick up a small area rug in a street or checkerboard design. Your child will spend hours playing on a street map with toy cars, or setting up checkers and chess games with friends.

Sometimes multiple smaller area rugs are more appropriate in the bedroom. Place one at the foot of the bed and one or two on each side of the bed. Using multiple rugs can not only cost less but sometimes they also better complement your furnishings. Besides they are easy to adjust and rearrange in case you want to make changes to your furniture arrangement.
When a large rug is used in a bedroom, the rug does not need to be centered, but it should have the same amount of floor space on two or three sides of the rug if possible.

A room-sized Persian rug or oriental rug in the bedroom is also a popular choice. Because much of their pattern will be hidden under the bed, medalion designs are not recommended. Some less busy, wool area rugs from Karastan, Momeni or Shag rugs seem to always be in style when it comes to bedrooms. Don’t miss the Karastan Sale going on right now!

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Posted on October 4th, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, Bedroom Area Rug, Karastan, Karastan Sale, Momeni, rugs, Shag Rugs, wool rugs. Comments: 2

A rug is something that can help your home reflect your identity and taste.

There are certain things that make a house a good home, and a nice area rug such as a Karastan or Momeni would be one of those things (especially if it comes with free shipping). A nice sunlit room with Ivy covered sills and children playing around is a beautiful thing; add a strikingly designed rug to it, in a strategic place on the floor where the soft sunlight falls on its carefully woven texture, and you have heaven.

Rugs and home; both words have an intimate relationship and one adds an extra sense of completion to the other. There are indeed few things that are able to enhance the warmth of your home, and rugs, triumphantly top the list. Why they top the list is not that hard to figure out. They are affordable, or cheap if you will, easy to maintain, keep your feet safe from cold floors and most importantly, they give you the flexibility to change infinitely. Every rug adds something new to your room and with the wide range of area rugs available nowadays, you can’t possibly ever get bored of rugs. Assuming you want to have your house feel like a home which I am sure, everybody that has ever built, bought or lived in a house does, an area rug is something that you cannot do without. A home and a rug that decorates develop a very intimate relationship, such that, over time, you cannot think of your home without remembering that old rug on the floor.

Many brands of rugs are available for your choosing, and they all endeavor to provide you with a variety of classic and modern decoration items for your home. Anybody that has ever wanted to make their home a nicer place to live in and has tried doing it by spending truck loads of money, knows how time consuming, tiring and not to repeat, expensive the procedure is. Rugs are a much safer option than wall to wall carpet as there are no such hassles as buckles on the floor or paying someone to rip it back up. You just need to place your rug somewhere nice that pleases you and have the freedom to move it from room to room or even to your new house! These are the things you would never think of doing with wall to wall carpet.

A lot of the rugs that are available in today’s market are made of wool. New methods and materials have produced new rugs that are machine made and the level of craftsmanship achieved is astonishing. It’s really tough nowadays to figure out which one is a machine made and which one, a handmade area rug.

If you don’t want to compromise on quality and would only opt for a handmade one, then think again. If your grandma didn’t tell you, I will. Karastan is out there to prove you wrong, very wrong. They are the kings of machine made rugs and they’ve been in the business since 1928. Now, that’s a long time and you would realize their good use over time when you see their products and more importantly, touch and feel the area rugs from Karastan. It is not a matter of luck or coincidence that Karastan happens to be the largest processor of wool in America and the only ones to make worsted wool products. Be it Karastan’s Persian Renaissance collection or the Original collection you can be assured that they are products made from the best quality wool and they will not let you down when your neighbor or your mother-in-law comes for a visit.

The great part about buying an area rug for your home is that most dealers ship your rugs direct from the source for free. Your precious rug is delicate and a reliable company would take the utmost care to ship it to you at no extra charge, proof of the fact that it’s something more than business, it’s the start of a new and long lasting relationship every time you opt to purchase a rug.

Rugs and Home

Reputable companies, such as AreaRugsClub.com, know and understand the intimacy of the relationship between you, your home and the rug you choose. They endeavor in every way to maintain that goodwill by offering you the best product and the best after-sales service. Coupled with the advantage of free shipping, the world of rugs has more to offer than anything to help you realize the true potential of your home space.

A rug is something that can help your home reflect your identity and taste. A rug in your home is the window to your inner being because with all the variety available, each rug comes with an identity associated with it while giving you ample space to be creative. It lets you explore your aesthetic side and individuality. On top of that, if you’re in a city like New York, a rug is all the more a necessity because it brings warmth to your home and under your feet while watching the rain and snow falling from your window. A plush, soft and warm rug will complement your favorite warm drink like no other on a cold winter day.

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Posted on September 5th, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, free shipping, Karastan, Karastan rug, Momeni, New York, rugs, Rugs and Home, wool rugs. Comments: 2