For hundreds of years area rugs have been used to add comfortable floor coverings to nearly any room. They are proposed to have originated from somewhere in Mongolia, fashioned for their functionality to the nomadic people, as is congruent with the conception of carpeting to the Iranian (then Persian) people during and after the same time period. These first carpets were big enough to cover the ground of the mobile tents, as well as hang for insulation from the cold just outside the tents walls. The first carpeting is estimated about 6000 BC, with positive evidence of shearing goats and sheep and weaving the wool.
Today, area rugs are a natural choice for any hard surface flooring that seems to be lacking something. Living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways all are likely to be decorated with area rugs, adding a warm feeling to the bottom of your feet - and your home.
Types of Area Rugs
The immense choices involved in choosing an area rug sometimes make it difficult to find one that suits your home. Material, design, shape, size, color… The mix-and-match of any or all of these options makes for a dizzying amount of combinations.
Designs are important when attempting to pair a rug with a specific room's feel or atmosphere. Amongst the most popular are floral and contemporary, but the list is almost endless, all the way to custom ordered and designed rugs. Different regional types of rugs will generally feature a different style of patterns than the next, and no two seem to be the same. Some of the most popular rugs are Persian and Oriental, with masterwork quality.
Area rugs often reflect the region they were originally conceived in. Persian rugs, of course, retain a signature "feel" to them, an impressive sense of quality that has put them into mansions, businesses, and a-list event venues. Oriental rugs also have their own intricate designs. Originating from China originally, the Oriental rug has a reputation for its durability in high traffic areas. Silk oriental rugs sell for high prices and represent luxury area rugs. Grecian Flokati rugs are known for both their softness and their durability. Some can also be machine washed, which adds to their appeal indefinitely.
Popular in the 70's, shag rugs have since disappeared, and again returned to the spotlight. The soft padding they provide along with the warmth they can impart nominates a shag area rug for the best choice over cold tile. They also help to absorb sound in acoustical situations.
A multitude of other types of rugs exist, in virtually any style you can imagine. Chances are, if you can think of a rug you would like for your home, its probably in existence.
