Types of Area Rugs

We all know that area rugs add warmth and finesse to any room with its rich colors and elegant look. Carpets are made in different ways. They are either machine-made or handmade. Rugs allow self-expression while providing proportion to a room. The following are important factors when it comes to area rugs: construction, design, and fiber materials. However, when choosing area rugs for your home, there are several things you should keep in mind, colors, overall theme of your decor, and the space available in each room are all important considerations.

Machine-Made Area Rugs

Machine-made area rugs are creating in massive quantities using power tufting machines and looms with almost any type of yarn. They can be made quickly and easily with different textures, styles and sizes - therefore are less expensive than handmade rugs. There are many differences between tufted and woven rugs. The woven carpets have the pile face woven along with the backing, which makes them strong and hard-wearing. In the construction of tufted carpets, the pile is inserted into the backing material with needles.

Handmade

Handmade rug vary with the amount of people who are involved in its construction. Sometimes it starts with one person using a tool to tuft the rug by hand. Other times it might start with a person who is actually spinning the yarn and knotting each rug one yarn at a time. In cases such as these, a single 6'x9' rug can take 9 months or longer to create. Handmade rugs are made with natural yarns like wool and silk. Some antique silk and wool rugs can be very valuable and have been sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Chinese Rugs

Chinese area rugs are traditionally made from wool or silk. The pile surface is sometimes sculpted for a relief effect. Colors can be light such as peach, white, yellow and shades of blue. The patterns are widely spaced with more background color showing. Unlike most oriental rugs, the motifs on Chinese rugs do not unite in order to create one design; they stand alone. Also, unlike most oriental rugs, Chinese designs are very literal rather than decorative; most motifs have very exact meanings. Some Chinese sub-styles include Ningxia, Baodou, Gansu, Peking, and Mongolia.

Persian Rugs

The finest Persian rugs were woven between the 16th and 18th century. True "Persian Carpets" are made in Central Asia. They feature wool or silk and the Persian Knot construction. Patterns are intricate and highly detailed. The basic background colors are deep reds or blues. Persian styles are the most diverse styles worldwide. There are over fifty different Persian styles woven in Iran and other countries such as India, Pakistan, China, and some European countries.

Dhurrie Area Rugs (Indian)

Until recently, dhurrie rugs were considered little more than the cheapest. In the United States, the dhurrie gained a kind of eye-rolling recognition as the standard furnishing of dorm rooms and apartments. However, thanks to some textile scholars and rug experts, dhurrie rugs have gained popularity and now are widely used in home decorating. Dhurrie rugs were traditionally woven on flat, horizontal looms. The warp, or the lengthwise yarn that is attached to the loom, is never visible in dhurrie weaving, except as fringe. Even when different colors are introduced to create a pattern, the basic technique results in an unbroken woven surface. Another characteristic of a dhurrie weave is that it produces a rug that is reversible.

Aubusson Rugs

Aubusson rugs are originated in 18th century France. This type of rug is a tapestry-like flat-weave rug. This weaving technique was flourishing during this time and Aubussons were abundant. Today the art of Aubusson making is flourishing again with many skillful weavers learning this ancient master craft. Our Aubusssons are handcrafted using 100% wool. Each rug consists of up to 40-70 different shades of colors, thus creating clarity and dept not found in other Aubussons. They are soft and colorful and will add life and luxury to any living room, dining room, or bedroom.