A Contemporary Rug can Sweeten or Sour Almost any Room
The first step is choosing a rug that fits the décor of the room, and matches the colors and furnishings. Although color pallets can vary from person to person, it is widely agreed that an area rug should be an accent to the room, not an overbearing focal point. Contemporary rugs use modern designs and color combinations, but they should blend, not distract, so choose your colors and patterns wisely. Brands like Shaw, Momeni and Sphinx all produce a wide array of affordable and high quality rugs in the contemporary style.
Besides being a visual presence in a room, a contemporary rug can be used to protect a rooms flooring, muffle footsteps, or trap dirt and debris. Deciding what the rug needs to accomplish in addition to adding aesthetic appeal is also important, and can help you choose what the rug is made of. There are two major types of materials that make up the fibers used in area rugs: synthetic and natural based, and each one offers specific benefits. Synthetic rugs are made of either nylon or polypropylene fibers and are water, stain and UV light resistant, so they hold up well in high traffic areas and generally retain their colors longer. They are also less expensive than the natural based rugs, which is important if you change your décor often. On the other side of the spectrum you have the rugs that use natural elements like plants (cotton, bamboo, sisal, jute) or animal materials (wool, silk) to make up their fibers. Besides being eco friendly and biodegradable, the plant based rugs are usually machine washable and just as inexpensive as their synthetic counterparts, but they tend to break down quicker and fade faster. Wool and silk on the other hand, hold up very well (decades of use from a wool rug is not uncommon), and tend to be naturally stain resistant. They also cost quite a bit more though, so if budget is a concern wool or silk may not be the best options.
Once you have decided which type of rug material is the best for your needs, finding a quality level you are happy with is the next step. A high grade rug will be hand knotted and have a high knot count per square inch (like sheets with true thread count, the higher the better). Lower grade rugs use a method called “hand tufting”, which is deceptive since these rugs are usually machine made and hand finished. Hand knotted rugs will be more expensive, but if you are unsure of the difference, check the underside of the rug: hand knotted rugs will have the same pattern on the top and bottom, while hand tufted rugs will have a backing material on them.
After finding a design, color, material and quality level that will work for you, the next step is purchasing the rug and enjoying it. If you have taken the time to choose the right setup to fit your needs, being in the updated room will leave you satisfied and content like a fine meal. Purchasing a miss-matched, poor quality rug on the other hand, will give you and your guests interior design indigestion. So do your research and choose wisely.