The Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Rugs
Nothing adds flair to a home like accessories do. It’s an easy way to add your personality, bring in a pop of color, yet do so on a budget.
In today’s world, you can find anything with any budget in mind. Order online – they offer free shipping. Shop at your local big box store – do they have a deal for you.
But is it really a deal? If you want a new rug for your home, what constitutes quality? What’s the real difference between cheap and expensive rugs?
If you’re in the market for a new rug, it’s something you want to wear well and last for the foreseeable future. You don’t want it to look bad almost from the moment you bring it into your home. Cutting corners and going with the wrong rug may leave you sorry from the moment you bring it home.
Yet what’s the difference? How do you know a rug is high quality versus a rug that is inferior?
Shape and appearance
The most obvious way to tell the difference is by looking at it. You’ll be able to see the difference. Low quality rugs have irregularities or even flaws in the way they are crafted. The sides may be uneven, causing a square or rectangular rug to appear a bit lopsided. It may curl on the ends. You can even see it in the fibers.
High quality rugs are built to last. They lay flat and evenly on the floor. The edges won’t curl up or appear uneven when it’s laid into place. You can even tell it in the colors – choose a lower quality rug and it isn’t created from high quality fibers. That means it’ll wash out quickly as the sun seeps through your windows.
Quality … or quantity?
Some of it also comes in knowing your personal style. Do you replace rugs with every new season? Or do you want furnishings that stand the test of time? With cheap rugs, you’ll be replacing them regularly. In short periods of time, they’ll show their wear, start to curl at the edges, and become problematic rather than giving your home value.
High quality rugs ensure they’ll last for years. Discoloration won’t take place, it’ll wear well no matter how much your family dishes out, and will be easy to care for. Vacuuming won’t pull at the fibers, and you’ll be able to clean it without destroying the rug.
Craftsmanship
A lot of rugs today are made in the factory. It’s mass production, rolling them out as quickly as they can. You’ll find these in big box stores, wrapped up and available in large quantities to the public. Everything about them was created for fast production, short life, and a way to increase sales.
A high quality rug is built to last by people that care about the product they’re creating. Rug making is a craft. People who make them tend to believe they are creating a work of art as opposed to just another rug.
The skill level of the rug maker, the rug-making process, and how long it takes from beginning to end will ultimately determine how much the rug goes for on the market. For handmade rugs, hand-knotted rugs are at the top of the list for quality. Hand knotting takes the longest for full production over flat-weaving or hand-tufting.
Flat-weaving uses a loom to weave fibers into intricate patterns and details. Hand-tufting is a process somewhere in between, where a craftsman uses a rug tool to push the threads back and forth through the backing to create the finalized product.
A machine-created rug will have a lot less character than higher quality rugs, and won’t bring the personality into your room in the same manner.
Color fading
What makes a rug look old before its time? Fading. You may have purchased the rug because of its bright colors and intricate designs, but will you be as pleased with it when the color fades away?
Fiber color is one of the easiest ways manufacturers use to cut costs. If they use lower quality dyes, they can lower production costs and increase profits. They also justify it in that it creates a more consumable market. If you have to replace your rug every year, it means more chance at vying for your business for them.
This isn’t just about vibrant colors. It impacts white rugs too. If the right color isn’t used, white can turn dingy, yellowing quickly as it adjusts to your home. You’ll quickly wonder where your white rug went.
Durability
We’ve mentioned it before, but it’s worth talking about again. Cheap rugs aren’t built to last. They use synthetic fibers that are cheap to make and inexpensive to use. But they aren’t built to last. They aren’t soft, are coarser to the touch, and have fibers that break down quickly. It’ll show in the appearance in a very short time.
You’ll also notice the edges fray, they curl up and cause tripping hazards. This can be dangerous at best, especially in high traffic areas.
Character and personality
Homeowners often look for ways to bring their own personality into their homes. They want quality, furnishings that last and look good in the process. Imagine putting one-of-a-kind sofas and chairs on top of a mass-produced rug that’s fraying on the sides. The two don’t match.
Cheap rugs may have a temporary purpose. If you’re looking to create a fun space in a hurry, one that’s designed with a specific purpose in mind, a cheap rug may be the way to go.
But if you’re looking for longevity, you want this to be a part of your home’s furnishings for years to come, you won’t find that in a cheap rug.
For a high quality rug, you’re going to have to pay the price. Expensive rugs might seem like a good place to cut back on your home decor, but you’ll be sorry in the short run. High quality wins every time, especially if you’re building a home you can enjoy for years to come.