Buying an area rug may not be as simple as the novice buyer would hope. Being a room’s centerpiece, choosing the right rug is perhaps one of the most critical decisions you or your interior designer can make in creating the desired ambience or atmosphere for your home. But there’s really no reason to panic. The fact that you’re considering to purchase a natural fiber rug already indicates that you’re moving in the right direction. Natural fibers such as seagrass and wool have always proven to be more durable than synthetic materials such as nylon or olefin. In terms of aesthetics, natural fibers have always gotten the nod of designers since handwoven rugs posses an inherent beauty that cannot be replicated by mass-produced or machine made carpeting. These products’ natural colors and basic patterns can easily match any furniture and décor.  Pattern differences make natural fiber rugs “perfectly imperfect”. When tackling environmental issues, synthetics are out of the question as they’ve often been frowned upon for emitting harmful gases in the atmosphere. On the other hand, natural fibers are hypoallergenic and actually help to filter the air by helping trap contaminants.

To make things easier for you or your designer, we’ve listed a few things that you might want to consider before purchasing your new natural fiber rug.

Request a Sample

Obtaining a sample is one of the best ways of assuring that your rug’s color or pattern would match your room’s furniture. A sample allows you to readily compare the rug material to your floor, walls, furniture and drapes. The last thing you’d want to do is to re-wrap and return a rug in exchange for a new one (there are no returns for made to order or customized rugs).

Take Photos of Your Room

Taking a picture of your room allows you to get a better perspective of how your rug would blend in with your furniture, which is important in choosing the right shade or pattern for your rug. This enables you to compare your rug with other elements inside your room.

Check for Measurements

Avoid the hassle of having to return or repair a rug just because it’s a few inches longer or smaller than what your room requires. Using tape to outline the area that will be covered by the rug will help you visualize the appropriate rug size for your room.

Determine Your Rug’s Purpose

Is your rug to be used in a hallway where you expect significant amount of traffic or under the dining table where you expect spills? Or are you looking for a material that’s soft enough for you to walk on barefoot? It’s important to compare your needs with the characteristics of each type of rug to assure that your needs are met. Please click the following links to get a better idea of the basic characteristics of our natural fiber rugs:

Use a Rug Pad

One thing that a lot of customers overlook is the importance of buying a rugpad, which could be the best thing you can do for both your floor and your rug. Rug pads provide extra cushioning and that added grip which helps anchor your rug to your floor without damaging its surface. Rugpads create a breathable space between your rug and your floor which promotes air circulation, preventing dirt and bacteria buildup. Using rugpads is one of the most economical ways to help maintain your rug and floor.

These are just some useful tips that might help you decide which rug material would be appropriate for your room. Remember, shopping for rugs should be a fun and enjoyable experience, so don’t restrict your imagination. Go ahead and test your creativity. But if you still have apprehensions about making these decisions on your won, you can always consult a local designer.

By: Roger King -1st Home Decor

Imagine the desired total look of the room. Do you want a room that’s organized or a room rich with colors or texture? If you start with a totally empty room, choose an area rug, then paint or wallpaper the walls in colors to match it.

Keep in mind the area rug has to fit the room. Think how the room is used, how much traffic the area gets and who will view it under what light. For high traffic areas such as hallways and foyers, you may want a tough, decorative rug.

If you start with furniture, choose an area rug to pick up the colors used in your furnishing pattern. The fundamentals of a rug design can be more included into the overall design.

Size up the dimension of the room and the area you want to cover up. The most common area rug sizes are 4×6 and 6x9feet. They work well under small tables.

An 8×11 foot area rug or bigger can cover an entire room. Smaller area like in front of a kitchen sink adds color and warmth. A rug with a courageous, overall design can be the focal point of a room with furniture’s in solid or passive patterns.

Light colored area rugs make a room look more open. Choose a rug that will execute well, with the right grouping of thickness and fiber. The denser the mound, the better your area rug will be.

We’ve all experienced an ugly stain or worn out area in our carpet caused by daily wear and tear.  Buying new carpet is expensive and an option that we all don’t have.  Why not give your room an exciting new look by buying an affordable area rug.  Area rugs are great because they allow you to cover up those unattractive areas in your carpet– all while creating a new atmosphere.  Natural Area Rugs has a wide selection of weave style and natural fiber materials to choose from.  Whether you’re in love with sisal, jute or wool rugs, Natural Area Rugs has the perfect rug for you.

Coir is a very durable fiber that comes from the outer shell of coconuts.  These beautiful doormats are great for your kitchen, entryway or porch because they keep dirt and soil from being tracked inside your home.  Coir doormats are extremely easily to care for—simply shake off or vacuum.

Rubber doormats are an excellent choice for any entrance.  These long-lasting doormats are fade resistant and made with heavy-duty non-skid natural rubber material.  They can be used both indoors and outdoors protect carpet and grab dirt.  These attractive rubber doormats are also very easy to clean—all you have to do is brush off or hose with water.

No matter which doormat you choose, it is certain to catch the eye of everyone who enters your home.