Braided Cotton Rugs Pumkin Pie

Charlestown Cranberry Braided Wool Rug, 20 in x 30 in

4′ Round Braided Rug-Blue

Braided Cotton Rugs Seascape

Traditional Brown Verigated Oval Braid Rug, 5 ft x 7 ft oval

Thimbleberries Winter Oval Braided Rug – 42×66″

If you really love the idea of a braided rug, the durability and the thick texture, and would like to incorporate a piece either at the entrance or on a porch or deck, or even in a kitchen or dinning area that gets lots of traffic, but just can’t bring yourself to buy one of the traditional multicolored designs that are so common, then here’s some good news: braided rugs come in beautiful natural solid colors that match contemporary decors!

Another plus is that braided rugs needn’t be the old cotton rag style ones, but are now part of the contemporary wool rugs in fine collections that are crafted by manufacturers you can trust. Yes, hand braided designs are durable, but often the rag quality varies in the carpet and the stitching may be less than perfect. So having a machine manufactured braided rug can save some headaches if the quality of the fibers is uniform throughout, the color is dyed to one exact tone that suits your style and the stitching is well done on high powered machines.

So what wool braided rugs are the best?

That’s a bit tricky because it will depend where they’ll be used, but for high traffic areas or entryways and porches, even under kitchen tables and dinning sets or in front of a fireplace that may see a few wood chips from time to time, the best are probably the ones that are reversible and although they are solid colors, not patchwork styles or braided tones that start out one shade and end up another, but the wheat colored designs that have a sort of fleck of mottled colors throughout, all in the same tones. These will look natural and uniform colored, soft wheat, but will not show the dirt or flecks of dust or other stains very easily. There’s one that’s great by manufacturer Colonial Mills, called the Adams Evergold Mix braided rug, and it’s reasonably priced starting at just over $40 for small oval shapes, going up about as pricey and massive as you like with a round 10 by 10 style being over $700. However, the design is such that it will be durable and easy to keep clean. Colonial rugs also makes some less traditional shapes, like the braided rugs that are rectangular. These are 35% wool, as most contemporary wool rugs, with a durable blend of polypropylene so that the fibers are resistant to outdoor or high traffic usage. One of the least traditional designs is the one called Westminster, which is the rectangular braided rug that comes in some great solid colors to match modern decorating themes, like: soft natural oatmeal, medium green palm, rich taupe, rosewood that tends to be a mix of India red and Sienna, Evergold which is a natural yellowish golden color that blends well with pine and natural or rustic wood furnishings, and classic federal blue which is soft and cool for summer deck and patio usage.

No there’s no need to have old fashioned braided rugs in odd colors when you can have gorgeous contemporary styles and natural colors that are even more durable than ones traditionally braided by hand.

Before you choose a 9×12 area rug for your home, let’s take a look at some of the things to keep in mind. This list is in no particular order. The first thing on the list isn’t necessarily the most important; the last thing on the list isn’t necessarily the least important. It will be up to you to decide on your personal priority order.

Do you want your rug to be the focal point of the room or to compliment the room? Rugs are very versatile and will do anything you choose them to do. Rugs can be loud and say “hey, look at me,” or can just lie there quietly and let visitors walk all over them.

Color is a big consideration. A dark color will give the room warmth while a light color will make the room seem larger. A dark color will hide stains while a light color will show the world what you had for dinner. If your rug is in a room that is used for eating and there are children or folks who tend to spill a lot, a darker color might be preferable. Pet hair might be a concern. If you have a pet that sheds, you may want to choose a color that hides the hair a bit.

Durability could be a concern when choosing a rug. If the room will have a lot of foot traffic, the rug will take a beating and a heavier type of rug might be considered. If the room will not see much foot traffic, a lighter weight rug might be preferable. The kind of furniture you have in the room might make an impact on your decision. If you are one to rearrange furniture a lot the rug will have to absorb the weight of the furniture so you might want one that will hold its shape.

Maybe you want 9×12 area rugs with a nice design. These can be abstract in nature or pattern designs. The colors should reflect the décor of the room unless you want something strikingly different that acts as an accent rather than a design point. Whatever type of rug you choose should reflect the character and personality you are striving for in your room.

Some doctors’ offices have office rugs that cater to young patients if these patients are numerous in their practice. One such design has different animals on them around the edges in sufficient enough size to see. The names of the animals accompany the picture. The rug is rectangular and about 3′ by 6′ but are available in other sizes and shapes. Many times this keeps the younger patients occupied.

Many people have these rugs made to order for their business or homes. Obviously nothing controversial should be put into their place of business, but might be acceptable for homes. The designs could be political statements accompanied by appropriate pictures.

A Contemporary rug for businesses could have construction scenes if the business is involved with that activity. A hairdresser can have scenes related to that industry. Those who are outspoken and want straightforward political statements along with bold pictures can put them in sections of the home not often visited, like the bedrooms.

Contemporary rugs can add some life, color and stimulation to the home and business. These are far more interesting than the usual colorful rug that is not noticed. If there are funds available to be spent on such rugs, they will add notoriety to a business. If used wisely they are an excellent marketing tool to increase business. These rugs can be excellent free advertising and set you apart from your competitors. Any edge available to bring in more income is always welcomed. This type of rug is becoming more prominent.

Area rugs are large or small pieces of decorative material that aren’t fastened to the floor in anyway whereas carpets are always fastened to the floor with carpet nails and usually cover the entire floor in a single room. If you are trying to decide what you should choose, here is a simple list of the pros and cons of each that can help you make your decision.

Area rugs have more variety than carpets because of the choices in size, color, design, pattern, shape and material. Carpets are always huge and long for maximum coverage on the floor, the texture is practically the same, the shape is rectangular, there is no pattern as carpets are mostly in monotone colors and therefore, has limited choices in the rainbow category. Carpets are usually in neutral and dark colors. Furthermore, area rugs are transportable, easy to maintain and can be changed or removed in an instant. To these three, carpets are not. They are more permanent and require major work to have them removed.

Price – this one is relative based primarily on the kind of carpet or area rug. There are rugs that more expensive or more affordable than carpets, and vice-versa. Area rugs that are made of authentic materials, handmade and manufactured in the native country, such as Persian rugs from Iran, are more costly than imitations, machine-made and synthetic ones. Softer and more luxurious carpets are obviously pricier than less thicker ones. You can find carpets and area rugs with almost the same price range or miles long apart. It’s just about how much you’re willing to spend and on which floor covering. The rates can be as different or just the same.

Texture – area rugs differ in texture as they differ in materials. Cotton and wool fabrics are softer. Carpets’ too vary. Some are more luxurious than others are while some may have fine textile but can be a bit coarse to the touch. We know however, that we can step barefoot on both coverings and our feet will be cushioned well enough.

The unfortunate side to carpet is that, carpet is harder to deep clean. If you really want to clean under your carpet, you are required to pull the carpet up off the floor and remove the padding underneath to get to the actual floor for cleaning. If your home floods, you’d better believe that your carpet will need to be replaced. This can be super expensive because, not only do you have to buy new carpet, you will have to have all the old carpet ripped up, the floors disinfected, and the new carpet put down. This isn’t something you can skimp on. Floods cause dangerous molds and mildews to grow under your carpet. Another downside to carpet is that, for one room, you can only have one color. Yes, there are carpets on the market that come in several different colors but these will tip the scales toward the more expensive side.

Now that you know the pros and cons of area rugs and carpet, you can make an educated decision about which one will fit your home and your lifestyle.

Abigail Foster is an interior design writer for HouseofAreaRugs.com – an online rug store dedicated to bringing you the best in flokati rugs and transitional rugs.

Traditional home decor places great emphasis on balance and familiarity. In this style, nothing is out of place, as everything goes together with something to create a sense of perfect symmetry. Furniture, for example, usually goes in pairs, and the style is consistent -nothing out of place. The pieces, from the dining table design to the rug patterns on that hardwood floor, are classic by nature and may give the more modern visitor an impression of outdatedness.

For this type of style, you can use thick Oriental rugs to add a bit of flair to that room. Rugs such as ones made in India emphasize the simplicity of the room with their mostly light colors and highly accentuated floral patterns. If you’re going for the symmetrical type of look, then maybe Turkish rugs are more your type. Since these types of rugs were originally made for prayer functions, they tend to be more rigid in terms of design, and may complement rooms with highly classical furniture.

Modern design on the other hand will be pretty simple in taste, and almost always come across as more cold and sterile. But you don’t need to leave it cold and sterile; adding in a nice area rug to push a bit of color into the minimal design is a great choice. Modern design is all about a little bit of furniture and very few accessories placed.

To accentuate the illusion of having more space, antique area rugs from Persia may be the more practical choice. These rugs are well-known for their bold floral designs and spacious patterns. But it is also imperative that they match your furniture well, so choose which rug colors suit your room best. Furthermore, rugs like these also have natural properties, and actually react to the wear and tear of time better than you would expect.

So you may add a more antique rug to either kind of design, and it will look good. Just make sure that what you have chosen will go with the color scheme, and remember that sometimes the money spend is well worth it.

Zoey Callehan is an interior design writer for HouseofAreaRugs.com – a unique online area rug store specializing in oriental style rugs and transitional rugs.

Bamboo area rugs do come in a variety of shapes and tones and they do bring a feeling of nature to the modern home decor. They come in rectangle, oval and circular. The also come plain or with patterns that are stamped on the surface and these stamped patterns will not rub off.

The colors range from natural, to dark brown, and even red, blue and greens. These are durable rugs that will last for years with proper care. Constant direct sunlight will cause them to fad over time so it is necessary to place them carefully.

Bamboo rugs are known for their green shade. The dyeing or coloring process has made it possible to make bamboo rugs in other well-liked colors such as brown, red and blue. Avoiding areas with direct sunlight is necessary to avoid fading of color.

An advantage of using a bamboo area rug is its non-toxic factor. The rugs are made from a dye that is eco-friendly, therefore no harm is done to the environment. Even with a mild coloring process, bamboo area rugs boast of a modern look while still retaining its natural element.

The bamboo is naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic. It is therefore is an excellent choice for anyone who has health conditions like respiratory problems or conditions of the skin.

Cleaning the bamboo rug is a simple matter of using a mop or a damp cloth to wipe it down. If the case of a spill, the surface of the rug as well as the floor must be dried thoroughly. This will prevent any chance of mildew or mold. The material is treated to resist this from happening but a spill still needs to be dried properly.

Bamboo area rugs are ideal for patio use because of their natural quality. However, they can also be decorated in formal living spaces like the living room or high-traffic areas like the kitchen. The beauty and durability combined make this rug suitable for display and resistance to wear and tear.

If you are going to use a bamboo rug in the living room, you can place it in the center of the room or use it as a cushion to furnishings. A personal favorite is to have it anchor a group of furniture such as the sofa set. It highlights the main pieces of the living room while also protecting the floor from the weight (and inevitably the marks) of the couch and table.

You will not go wrong with a decoration as versatile and appealing as a bamboo area rug. It is a long-lasting product that you can have with you for a long time, enhancing how your home looks, day in and day out.

Interior Decorating has never been this easy with these rugs. Be sure to take a look at this bamboo area rugs for the latest information.