Why Buying A Rug Is About More Than Just Color And Pattern

Are you looking for a way to decorate your home? Many people see a rug as a way to soften a stone or wood floor or provide a spot to wipe your feet when you come in from outside. Rugs are items which have been in use for thousands of years and are found in many cultures around the world. Their history is often interesting and by looking at rugs you can often view the way the culture that has produced it has changed over the years.

Did you know that early rugs were much more than something to walk on? If you were a woman in a nomadic culture, a rug was furniture, since you sat on the floor to eat, visit and sleep. It showed her domestic skills. A woman was supposed to make rugs to furnish the tents in which she lived and the quality of the rugs she made often influenced how marriageable she was thought to be. It reflected how she saw the world around her and her place in that world. A woman would include the things she saw on a regular basis. These could include domestic animals such as horses or sheep, flowers or religious symbols. She might even put a stylized image of herself or those around her in the rug.

Rugs would often vary quite a bit from region to region and ethnic group to ethnic group. Because early cultures may have been isolated from one another, old rugs often showed very distinct patterns, decorative elements and colors. As trade progressed and there was more mixing between tribes, it became possible to see influence from other cultures as decorative elements. The progression of trade is even evident as well. Early rugs that were produced before trade became available used natural dyes. As synthetic dyes were brought in through trade, they became more widely used and the rugs changed as well.

Any rug is made in the same way, whether it is home-made or machine manufactured. A mesh framework has lengths of dyed wool knotted around it. The knots are at the back and lie next to the floor when the rug is laid out. The lengths of wool at the front of the carpet form the pile and the colors of the wool form the pattern on the carpet's surface. The knots on any rug should be tight and firm so that you don't have to worry about the rug becoming worn or damaged.

Budget can be very important when you are buying a rug. You need to set a budget since the sky is often the limit with rug pricing. You may be surprised to learn that a large, hand-knotted rug can cost tens of thousands of dollars. There are many affordable rugs although these tend to be smaller and are usually machine made.

What kind of style is your furniture? Modern furniture may do well with a more geometric rug. You might want to be careful about very bright rugs as well if your room has other strong colors in it. You do not want the color or the patterning of your rug to clash with your furniture. As both are expensive to replace, it is a no win situation.

Caring for your rug is critical as well. It needs to be vacuumed regularly to prevent damage to the fibers from ground in dirt. It is also important to wipe up liquid spills before they can set in and stain. A professional cleaning service brought in once a year will be good to keep your rug in top condition. Be on the look-out for worn areas or places where the knots are loosening.

Using a rug is a traditional method for dressing your home. It is truly amazing to see how the traditional and the modern can come together in one form and provide warmth and comfort as it does so.