How Area Rugs Can Enhance and Protect Your Floors

Are you a homeowner with gleaming hardwood floors that you want to protect from everyday wear and tear? Or perhaps you’re looking to add a touch of warmth and style to your living spaces? It’s time to shop for area rugs!

These versatile and stylish floor coverings not only enhance the aesthetics of your home but also serve as protectors for your precious hardwood floors and other types of flooring. But where do you begin?

Yes, you can find area rugs just about anywhere. Do a search online, and you’ll find bargains galore. You’ll find them at your local big box store … even the hardware stores are coming on board and offering you area rugs that are hard to ignore.

So where should you buy? What should you look for? Are you putting your flooring at risk if you choose the wrong area rug?

Let’s dive in and discover more.

Why Hardwood Floors Need Area Rugs for Protection

Hardwood floors are an excellent investment, providing elegance and durability to any home. However, they are susceptible to scratches, dents, and discoloration over time due to foot traffic, furniture movement, and accidental spills.

This is where area rugs come to the rescue. Placing area rugs strategically in high-traffic areas, such as hallways, living rooms, and entryways, can shield your hardwood floors from direct impact and reduce the risk of damage.

How Area Rugs Can Enhance and Protect Your FloorsLiving here in Colorado, you have an added problem – sunlight. You may love the view through your big picture window, but your hardwood floors aren’t as happy. Those long hours of sunshine can cause the color to fade. Area rugs help prevent fading caused by exposure to sunlight.

What Rug Materials are Best for Hardwood?

Not all area rug materials are the same. Select poorly, and it may scratch or damage the finish, requiring you to replace your flooring prematurely.  What should area rugs be crafted from?

Wool – Wool rugs are a popular choice for hardwood floors due to their natural softness and durability. They are resistant to stains, easy to clean, and can withstand heavy foot traffic without causing scratches or dents on the hardwood surface.

Cotton – Cotton rugs are another safe option for hardwood floors. They are affordable, lightweight, and come in a variety of designs and patterns. However, keep in mind that they might not be as durable as wool rugs and might require a rug pad to prevent slipping.

Natural Fiber (Jute, Sisal, Seagrass) – Natural fiber rugs add an earthy and organic touch to your living spaces. These rugs are sustainable and eco-friendly, making them an excellent choice for environmentally conscious homeowners. However, be cautious when using them on hardwood floors, as some varieties may be rough and cause scratches. Always use a rug pad to prevent potential damage.

Silk – For a touch of luxury, silk rugs are a great option. They are soft and add a sense of sophistication to any room. However, due to their delicate nature, it’s best to use silk rugs in low-traffic areas or as decorative accents on hardwood floors.

Why Some Area Rugs Damage Hardwood Floors

While area rugs can protect your hardwood floors, some rugs themselves may cause damage if not chosen and maintained carefully. Rugs with rough backings or poor-quality materials might trap debris and dirt, leading to abrasions on the floor’s surface. Additionally, rugs without proper backing can allow dirt and grit to accumulate underneath, creating friction that can result in scratches.

It’s essential to inspect the backing of area rugs before placing them on hardwood floors. Look for rugs with a non-abrasive and slip-resistant backing to ensure they won’t cause any damage. Regular cleaning and vacuuming of both the rugs and the hardwood floors beneath will also prevent any debris buildup.

Using Area Rugs with Other Flooring Materials

Area rugs aren’t just for hardwood floors; they can also enhance and protect other types of flooring. Whether you have tile, laminate, vinyl, or carpeted floors, area rugs can add beauty, comfort, and functionality to any space.

On tile or stone floors, area rugs can provide a soft and warm surface for your feet, especially in rooms like the kitchen or bathroom, where standing for long periods is common.

In areas with carpeted floors, a strategically placed area rug can protect the carpet from heavy foot traffic or spills, extending its lifespan and keeping it looking fresh. Keep in mind that area rugs can slip when placed on existing carpet. You can anchor it in place by placing furniture at the corners. Or use a non-slip pad built exclusively for carpet.

Why Rug Pads are Important

Rug pads are often an overlooked accessory, but they play a crucial role in maximizing the benefits of your area rugs and safeguarding your floors. Rug pads provide a variety of benefits, including:

Slip-Resistance – Rug pads provide traction, preventing area rugs from slipping and sliding, which could cause accidents and damage to both the rug and your floors.

Floor Protection – High-quality rug pads act as a barrier between the rug and the floor, preventing any potential damage caused by rough rug backings or debris accumulation.

Comfort – Rug pads add an extra layer of cushioning, making your area rugs feel softer and more comfortable underfoot.

Air Circulation – Rug pads promote air circulation, which helps prevent mold and mildew growth under the rug, particularly in humid environments.

Longevity – By reducing friction between the rug and the floor, rug pads help extend the life of your area rugs and floors.

Are you ready to find the perfect area rug for your home? 

Area rugs are more than just beautiful home decor; they are essential tools for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your living spaces and protecting your precious floors, especially hardwood surfaces.

Don’t make the mistake of buying one at discount at your local big box store. You may wind up with an area rug that doesn’t protect and damages your flooring underneath. With the right selection and placement of area rugs, you can enjoy a cozy, stylish, and well-protected home for years.

We can help! Stop by today and see our entire selection of area rugs. We’ll help you find the perfect one for your room, and create the home environment you’ve been dreaming about.

Read More

Make This The Year You Install Carpet Runners and Area Rugs

Imagine a home here in Colorado without hardwood. Hard to do, isn’t it? That’s because hardwood flooring’s classic good looks blend in with a Rocky Mountain lifestyle.

Statistics show that sales of hardwood continues to remain steady. Especially for main living spaces, hardwood is the flooring of choice. As you move into bedrooms and other more personal living spaces, homeowners split between hardwood and carpet. Carpet adds softness and warmth that is critical in a bedroom, especially on a frosty, winter morning.

Yet no matter where you’ve installed hardwood flooring, there is still a demand for softness, durability, and even a way to add a pop of color to a room. Because of that, carpet runners and area rugs continue to be popular choices.

What are carpet runners and area rugs? What’s the perfect size? What should you look for before you settle on a choice? Read on for more.

What are carpet runners?

A carpet runner is designed to sit on top of your hardwood, covering your steps. Unlike wall to wall carpet, which covers the entire area from corner to corner, carpet runners cover most of the area while leaving hardwood on either side. They are bound on the sides to create a finished look.

Carpet runners are popular in homes with hardwood stairs for two reasons.

1. They make stairs safer. Hardwood flooring has the ability to be slippery, especially when you’re wearing socks. Imagine your kids flying down the stairs for breakfast, hitting a step wrong, and falling down the stairs. That’s not a good situation for anyone, but especially so if you have small kids or elderly that might be seriously injured in a fall. Carpet runners give your stairs the needed traction to keep them safe.

Make This The Year You Install Carpet Runners and Area Rugs2. They add a decorative element to your home. While hardwood stairs can be a beautiful addition to any home, there’s just something special about adding a splash of color to a room. Luckily, you can find carpet runners in any style, color, or pattern you desire.

What to consider when selecting a carpet runner

While color and pattern are two obvious things you’ll look at as you shop, there are several other things to consider before making your final selection.

You’ll find runners available in different widths. Which is right for your needs? Start by considering the width of your stairs. For narrower, 3-feet wide staircases, we suggest choosing a carpet runner 27 inches in width. This will provide ample coverage to the stairs, look good and provide pleasing aesthetics, without going too narrow or overpowering the space. For wider staircases, you can move to a wider runner. For stairs 4 to 5 feet in width, consider a runner up to three feet in width. It will provide full coverage for safety, while leaving enough hardwood on the sides to create natural beauty. Of course, the final selection should be based on your tastes and needs. Have something in mind? Pin it on your Pinterest board, and bring it in. We can customize your carpet runner and create any look you desire.

We’ll also mention patterns for your consideration. Depending on your decor, you may want to add a pop of color to your home and select a carpet runner with a pattern. Be aware that patterns can be a challenge to match up as they wind up your stairs. With a straight staircase, it can be easier. But if you have a winding staircase, it will stand out if the patterns don’t match up as it progresses from one landing to the next. It’s best to go small on carpet runners, and stick with shapes that will easily blend no matter how they are positioned.

Decorative rods are also an optional accessory that can add magic to the overall look. A metal rod is placed at the back of the stair where the riser meets the tread. The rod isn’t an integral part of installation, rather it’s for decorative reasons to help you create the look you are going for.

What are area rugs?

An area rug is a carpet that is smaller than the dimensions of the room. While wall to wall carpet stretches across the entire room, area rugs are designed in different sizes to accent the surrounding area and the decor. Are rugs are used to tie a room together, provide softness and warmth to a room with hardwood or tile flooring.

What to consider when selecting an area rug

If you have hardwood flooring and love the look, there are many reasons to bring an area rug into your home to tie everything together. Area rugs:

Make any space quieter – carpet has a sound-dampening effect, which cuts back on the room’s noise levels. That makes it easier for you to relax and recharge, especially if you have rambunctious kids and pets circling your rooms every day.

Offer protection against damage – furniture scraping, pets nails digging in, kids playing and dropping toys – these are just a few things that can impact the condition of your hardwood floors. Area rugs offer a simple way to protect the main living space. They are easy to lift and move, meaning you can change up your decorating style whenever you choose.

Add warmth – in the heart of the winter, as the temperatures dip below zero, you’ll be glad you have an area rug to add warmth to a room. An area rug helps hold heat down at floor level longer.

Should runners match area rugs?

This is one of the most frequent questions we are asked, and for good reason. Homes all across the Front Range have open concept design, meaning the living space is visible from the dining space, which can be seen from the entryway as you walk through the door.

The general rule of thumb is if you can see an area rug or a carpet runner from one room to the next, they should complement one another. That doesn’t necessarily mean they have to match, or be made from the same material. But they should stick with the same color hue, pattern, and texture.

Where you can have some fun is with sizes. Maybe smaller rugs as accents in entryways, while moving to a larger rug that is more functional under your sofas and chairs.

If you need additional help picking out the right carpet runners and area rugs, we’re here to help. 

Read More

Storytelling Starts With Your Area Rug

A good area rug can be the centerpiece to the entire room. It can give your room depth, can warm it up, and can even protect the flooring underneath. But rugs can do even more … they can transpire your home by telling a story.

Yes, in times past, the area rug wasn’t simply something used to protect the floor or warm the space; rugs were designed to tell a story and preserve a piece of cultural history.Storytelling Starts With Your Area Rug

There are all kinds of textiles used throughout the world. Rugs became an art form in many ancient civilizations, including from China, India, Mongolia, Persia and Egypt, dating back thousands of years. Even in the Western world you’ll find amazing art pieces from ancient indigenous cultures, from the heart of Mexico, to the Maori people in the South Pacific.

Watch a weaver today in action and you can see why each piece became so personalized. By pulling a thread tight there, weaving in a different color there, or even incorporating different threads into the work, you can easily see a work of art appear.

  • You’ll find religious symbols representing faith in all its glory.
  • You’ll find mythology or pictorial representations of life changing events.
  • You’ll find symbolism to depict a family’s honor.
  • You’ll find cultural inheritance, a sense of community that runs deep within.

And even though many of these symbolism’s no longer have meaning in our modern world, we can still gain a sense of pride by displaying them in our homes for all to see.

In today’s world, many of the area rugs you’ll find on display were created using computer applications, woven by a machine. They are high quality with perfect density, ensuring a quality product from the beginning. Yet in some cases, you can still find old-world rugs designed through hand-planning, and hand-weaving, giving it that one of a kind look and feel that has been cherished for generations.

Area rugs today often start with a story. They have a background, a look rich in culture. And while the process may be automated and turned towards production, nothing can take away that original look and feel when you introduce it into your own home.

And let your own storytelling begin with an area rug.

Read More

Top Styles of Area Rugs

Here in Denver, one of the top flooring choices is hardwood, and with good reason. It’s stylish. It’s warm. It’s easy to maintain. And it looks great all year through.

If you have hardwood floors throughout your home, you probably agree.Top Styles of Area Rugs

Yet there may be certain areas of your home where hardwoods “bug” you a little more than they do in other places. Like in the entryway when people enter your home. Or in the kitchen where you stand to do the dishes each night. Or in the dining room where you gather for formal dinners.

You love your hardwoods, but to have something softer, something that protects your hardwoods and makes the easier to maintain would be good too. That’s where area rugs come in to play. An area rug is a stylish way to add a splash of color, offer your hardwoods a little protection, and give you the softness and comfort level you’re going to love.

But with so many styles to choose from, what do you do?

Natural Texture

Natural texture rugs are designed to keep things as simple as possible. Choose a natural fiber – how about jute – and choose a natural color to compliment your décor. Natural texture rugs mimic a handwoven look and feel that will warm any room in your home.

Shag

For a thicker rug with a warm look and feel, incorporate a shag area rug into your décor. Shag rugs are the perfect choice for a living room or bedroom where you want to bring in warmth to the environment while adding a splash of color or design to the room.

European

Think color. Think patterns. Think wow! European area rugs are some of our most popular rugs because of the variety. They are tightly woven and can withstand any abuse your family can dish out. They make great placements in high traffic areas, such as your entryway or a hallway.

Oriental

Looking for old world style? A traditional oriental rug can add elegance to your space. When you want to create a bold statement, choosing an oriental rug is a way to do it.

Contemporary

Want something plain and neutral? Or how about wild and colorful? With today’s technology, anything is possible. You’ll find rugs of every shape and size, in colors and patterns perfect to compliment your décor.

If you are in the market for a new area rug for your home, measure your space and stop by. We can show you a variety of options – some you may have thought about and some to open up your mind to what is truly possible. With this many choices, you can have a new look and feel to your old space tonight!

Read More