Specialty area rugs: hooked, sisal, bamboo... 

While the majority of area rugs offered on the marked are made of synthetics, wool, silk and combinations, by tufting, knotting, braiding or flat-weaving, there are some mainly sporadic types that don't belong to this large group. Some of examples are hooked rugs, sawn shag rug varieties, rugs made of coarser natural fibers and bamboo strip rug.

Hooked rugs are similar to needlepoint flat-weave, in that yarn is sawn through the cloth foundation. But instead of pulling it tight, a short loop is left on the top side. The loop height can be even, or varying in height, for a sculptured 3-D look. An adhesive layer with the secondary backing is added to hold the pile in place.

Sown shag rug is made by stitching long strips or peaces of leather or fabric to the cloth foundation. It can be done in a number of ways. Not widely popular, but usually available, suitable for informal, low-traffic rooms.

Area rugs made of coarser natural fibers like sisal, hemp, jute, bamboo, coir or seagrass are made using mostly various flat-weave techniques. However, unlike most flat-weave rugs, they usually come with some sort of rubberized backing, to prevent slipping and running.

Area rug can also be made of bamboo strips, usually resembling hardwood floor. With the bamboo fiber having the tensile strength of hardwood, this kind of rug is wear-resistant, easy to maintain, yet offering a causal decorative look.
 

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Carpet and rugs terminology - This sounds like a school class - but this is the one you don't want to miss. An educated buying decision translates into a buying success, and that is your goal. Certainly, understanding carpet and rug terminology is something you need for enjoyable, successful shopping.  And it is not as simple as it may seem at first...

Construction - Simply put, rug or carpet construction is a particular way of putting it together. Whether produced by hand, or by machine, they are made in a certain way. This includes all that is done to come up with a finished product: from tufting or weaving the yarn to dyeing and applying chemical or other treatments...

Materials - Nearly all of materials used for rug and carpet construction are in their face-fiber and backing. It is usually the face-fiber material that gets most of attention and consideration. This is because the rug/carpet fiber forming its face is most exposed, both, visually and physically. Hence it is the main determinant of appearance quality and retention...

Environmental effect - Most materials, natural or synthetic, have some environmental impact, and those used for carpets and rugs are no exception. Health hazard comes mainly from rug and carpet being outgassing potentially toxic fumes, as well as from rug and carpet mold (mildew) infestation...

Label and warranty - Rug/carpet label and its warranty can give important information and indications in regard to its quality level. Getting familiar with their contents is time well spent. Here's what you should look for...

Area rug size and shape - In somewhat different ways, area rug size and shape have both, functional and aesthetic aspect. At first, one would say that area rug's size is pretty much determined by dimensions of the space it is intended to. In reality, the decision on how large area rug will be, and whether it is to be square, round or of some other shape, should come after careful consideration of not only room's size and geometry, but also typical traffic patterns, form and arrangement of other objects and decor elements present, as well as the intended use of the room, or space...

Colors and Patterns - Color of your rug, or carpet, creates certain visual effect, emotion, and an atmosphere. Individual perceptions vary, but most of us will be affected similarly. Here's a brief overview of what are out typical responses to colors and patterns. It may help you decide what rug color and pattern type is best for your room...

Design style - Possible variations in the visual characteristics of the rug/carpet face - its design - are literally countless. They come from visual rug/carpet attributes created by both, fiber coloration, and its dimensional appearance. Luckily, all this immense variety is being channeled, fairly efficiently, into a few main classifications...

Carpet and rug buying checklist - The two main aspects of every rug or carpet are (1) its aesthetics and (2) practicality. Once you find the one that has the right looks, the next step is to check out how appropriate are its materials and construction type to its intended use. In other words, what is its quality level. The following checklist will help you figure that out...

Rug and carpet care tips - From the moment a new rug or carpet enters your home, certain steps and procedures should be followed to ensure its functionality and appearance retention. They are related to placement and installation, as well as carpet or rug care and maintenance. Here are the main pointers.
 

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