Rug Styles

An Oriental rug is a wonderful example of functional art.  Traditionally, Oriental rugs are hand-knotted, though inexpensive machine-made varieties are readily available these days.  (Machine-made "Oriental" rugs are sometimes referred to as Karastan rugs.)  

The quality of a rug can be determined, in large part, by how many knots there are per square inch.  Though rare, some of the finest rugs have up to 1,000 knots per inch, but many geometric designs require far less.  You should also be concerned with the quality of the wool and the dyes.

Persian is a subset of Oriental rugs.  Traditionally hailing from Iran (formerly Persia), it is one of the more popular styles.  While other types of Oriental rugs focus more on geometric patterns, Persian rugs are more floral-based.  The different types of flora depicted often carry symbolic meaning.

The braided rug is a great choice for high traffic areas.  Often found in oval or round designs, these are made from either durable wool (or a combination of wool and synthetic fibers) or a wool-like nylon, and come in a variety of design styles.  Most braided rugs are reversible and easy to clean.  Though you should always check washing instructions before cleaning your rug, many nylon and nylon/wool blends can be put straight into the washing machine (provided the rug is not too large).

Shag is back!  No longer hidden away in basements and Brady Bunch reruns, shag carpeting (especially shag area rugs) are once again gaining popularity.  These are fun and comfortable accessories for any room.  Shag is defined by its pile (the length of the yarn hooks); a shag rug can be conservative with a two inch pile, or a bit more daring with a pile up to four inches.  Don't be afraid to run the vacuum over a shag rug either; just set your vacuum on high and roll on over it. 

Hearth rugs are, well, just what they sound like: a rug to be laid out in front of your fireplace.  Normally small in size, these rugs can traditionally be rectangular, or semi-circular.  Because this type of rug is defined by size and use, design can vary widely from Oriental to Native American (or "Southwestern") to contemporary.

Prices for any type of area rug can vary greatly, so be sure to research values and shop around.

More information on rugs