Shapes and Sizes

When shopping for an area rug, don't forget to think of different shapes or sizes. For instance, if you are using your rug for a dining area, a large round rug can add interest and dimension to the space.
When measuring for a round rug-if there are going to be movable chairs on it, just pull them out from the table as if you were going to get up from it. If the chairs fall off of the rug, then you should move up a size. If the chairs stay on top of the rug then you are good to go.
I also am fond of rugs that are octagon shaped. You can use these in a whole lot of different applications. Often I notice that a home's entryway is sort of boring and then when you walk into the livingroom and really get a sense for the homeowner's taste.
The moral of this story is don't forget the foyer. It is what your guests see first and last. A really great way to liven up your entryway is with an octagon rug. Regardless of what shape the foyer is, rugs that have a fun shape like octagon add a hint of surprise to the room and leave your guests wanting to see more.
So take a look at all the cool stuff we have to offer, keeping in mind that the ideal rug for your home may come in a shape other than rectangular.
Have a great Monday!!

Black and White Rugs

The color palette that makes up America's most fashion forward contemporary rugs has been somewhat consistent for the last several years. Bold hues sometimes cleverly blended with the use of stippling (where the rugmaker uses different yarn colors and places the yarns very close to each on the pattern repeatedly for a speckled effect) was the rule driving fashion in rugs for years.

While this method is still hugely popular in rugs, and boldly colored rugs still sell quite well for us (rugs such as these fashion forward patterns) we are seeing a surge of patterns that are made with the striking contrast of pure black and white colors off setting each other in an eye capturing way never seen before in rugs.

For more on what is driving this trend in rugs, we sat down with Nina Upson fashion designer with Rugs To My Door.

Danielle: So for the many years that I have worked here managing customer care I have seen many rugs sell that are really bold in color. Maybe bright yellows with reds purples and burnt oranges all coming together to make a somewhat loud fashion statement.
Nina: Right. That has been a huge driver of rugs in the contemporary genre for many years, and I really don't see that going away any time soon. The interesting thing is that rugs are now also being made with very sharply different colors such as black and white.
Danielle: So what drives these trends and how do you know what colors are going to be popular next?
Nina: We just look at what is happening on the fashion runway.
Danielle: There is a fashion runway for rugs?
Nina: Oh, no, no, no (laughing). What I meant to say was that we look at the fashion runway for clothing design.
Danielle: Oh, I see. So how does that fit into home interior styling?
Nina: Typically color trends flow from women's couture to women's ready to wear men's ready to wear to home interiors colors--this is where we fit in, of course--to other things like even vehicle interior and exterior colors.
Danielle: OK. So that makes a lot of sense.
Nina: Yes, and you will see a lot of new black and white rug patterns being offered by Rugs To My Door in the coming months. This is because we really try hard to stay in front of the color trends so that when our customers realize a trend is here we already have the rugs in the colors they are looking for.
Danielle: Well I think that is all the time we have for now. Thank you for sitting down with me Nina I appreciate it.
Nina: You are welcome Danielle-anytime.

Conversations with Wes

We recently sat down with Wes Jenkins, President of Rugs To My Door to learn a bit about the world of rugs. Here is what was said (in part).

Nina:
So as a leading fashion designer for rugs, I have learned that color and design is the ruling matter for a great selling area rug. What does it take to make a good experience for the customer?
Wes:
Well, there are a lot of moving parts really. There has been a long standing belief that online retailers just take a lot of rugs and put them onto a site and then fly off to a tropical paradise where they watch the money roll in. Nothing could be further from the truth--unless, of course you consider our Detroit headquarters to be a tropical paradise--I know I sure don't.
Nina:
Interesting. I know when I teamed up with Rugs To My Door to help select products for the Nina Upson Home brand, I really thought a site was much easier to run than what you are saying it is, but can you elaborate a bit?
Wes:
Sure. Rugs To My Door works to bring several different rug suppliers under one roof. So when someone searches for a blue rug, they don't know whether it was made by ABC Rug Company, or Acme Rug Company. This is intentional. From when I joined Rugs To My Door, I have believed that the customer just should not have to know about that sort of thing-it just gets in the way of a more pleasant shopping experience. They want a great looking rug at a great price, and it really does not matter which company it came from. In order to create a seamless experience for the customer-so that they may choose a rug for their living room made by Acme Rug Company and a rug for their foyer from ABC Rug Company we have product management staff that has to enter every single rug in every single size into a master database so that the product all is consistently provided to our IT department which then uploads it to the site.
Nina:
Wow. That is a mouthful. To be honest you sort of lost me half way through that one (chuckles).
Wes:
Thats alright. I suppose that is how it should be. You need not know how the site got to where it is at so far as ease of use, etc. You just need to know that when you want to look for a product the process of finding it is easy and quick. Look forward to even more innovations to how rugs can be discovered on our site in the future.
Nina:
Alright. Sounds good. Thank you for your time.
Wes:
You are quite welcome. You know, I really am passionate about rugs. I have been in this industry-working in this industry-since I was only 16 years old. That was the first time I received a pay check for work done in this business. So I really do love it-it is in my blood. So thanks for visiting with me. I hope we can sit down and talk about rugs again in the near future.

-This is an excerpt of an interview conducted on Friday March 28, 2008 from Wes Jenkins office in the Rugs To My Door headquarters located in Detroit, MI.

Earth Friendlier rugs

With so many folks talking about eco friendly things these days, and some things being glazed over in the color green for the sake of making a quick buck, it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell what is really good for the environment and what is not.

I will give you a few very straight forward tips about rugs and what items would be most eco friendly for you to use. Please keep in mind that the fuel used to transport items from overseas to a United States warehouse is significant and should always taken into consideration when thinking about how eco friendly an item is. Naturally, this goes for many things--not just rugs.

The truly renewable resource

Wool is by far and away the most eco friendly fiber that an area rug can be made of. It is renewable, sustainable and versatile. If that is all you want to know, and don't want to get into the nitty gritty of eco-friendly rugs, then just take a look at our wool rugs and shoot me any questions you may have after looking.

This said, wool rugs are offered in a few different constructions. Each construction has a pro and a con as it relates to our environment. Below, I have indicated the type of rug construction, and then listed the pro and con for that type of construction. That way you can read through them all and determine which you think fits your goals best.

Machine Woven Eco Friendly Rugs

PRO

Machine woven rugs use no secondary backing material, so the eco friendly factor is excellent. This is because a secondary backing doubles the amount of material needed to create the rug, and also necessitates the use of a latex adhesive in order to hold the backing in place.

CON

Machine woven rugs are crafted on a machine that uses electricity. That burns fossil fuels that are not renewable.

VERDICT

It is a good choice because it is durable, so it will not need replacement as often as other types of constructions and is not very impactful on the environment.

Hand tufted Eco Friendly Rugs

PRO

Hand tufted rugs are made with a wool face pile, and wool is a renewable resource.

CON

Hand tufted rugs have a secondary backing to hold the fibers in place. Oftentimes the secondary backing is made of a natural material which is good news since it is renewable. The bad news is you are still using more resources to create a single product. Additionally, hand tufted rugs are actually made using a machine that burns fossil fuels. While "hand tufted" makes it sound like the work is being done solely by a person, in reality it is with a good deal of help from a machine.

VERDICT

In the world of eco friendly wool rugs, this is probably the least desirable. If I were buying a rug for it's eco-friendly values I would keep on looking.

Handknotted Eco Friendly Rugs

PRO

There is no use of machinery in making these, so fossil fuel use in production is non existant. There is no secondary backing, so material overusage is non existant.

They are very durable and long lasting because of their construction, so replacement need not occur so often.

CON

They are typically more costly than their wool counterparts.

VERDICT

If you have the extra money to spend on a handknotted rug, you will be making the least impact on the environment and will likely be happier with the product as well.

Handloomed Eco Friendly Rugs

PRO

In this type of construction there is also no use of fossil fuels since there is no machinery.

There is not any secondary back on handloomed rugs either

They can be cleaned more often than handtufted rugs without imperiling their integrity

CON

Patterns are typically more basic than other construction types

VERDICT

If you like the patterns offered in this construction type, I say go for it. It is a great bet for it's environmental impact and is all around a good way to go.

Handhooked Eco Friendly Rugs

This is essentially the same as a handtufted rug. The only difference is that the pile is both looped (or hooked) and cut pile. Other that that there is still a secondary backing and still all the other stuff that makes a tufted rug a tufted rug.

VERDICT

The look of a handhooked rug is unique. If you like the look, then you will not be able to find it in any other constructions, so you will either have to go with a wool handhooked rug or a synthetic handhooked rug. This in mind, I suggest you go with a handhooked rug.

This is a relatively basic look at rugs and how eco friendly isn't quite as cut and dry as we would all like it to be. If you have any questions about rugs or how a rug you are considering stacks up on the eco-friendly scale please just give me a call.

The best rug for your home

Take a look at some of the headings I created below. If your home fits into any of these categories then read the bit of information below it on why certain types of rug constructions and fibers will make you happiest for the longest.

My Home is very busy with kids and maybe even pets. Sometimes I wonder if my whole room is a mud room!
For this sort of room, the ideal sort of fiber is olefin. Olefin is often also known by the name Polypropylene. We call the fiber Polypropylene on our site. The great thing about Polypropylene is that you literally cannot stain it. So if Junior dumps a glass of grape juice on it (yes I said grape juice) it will NOT stain it. Rugs that are made of polypropylene just dont stain. While I could get into the chemical composition details of why that is, suffice it to say that I have had parties at my place where red wine was dumped on my olefin rug and nope...it really did not stain. If you want to know more about the technical mumbo jumbo that makes polypropylene so wonderful check this out.

My home is chill. I don't have a lot going on, but I want the rug to look really good and feel nice on my toes.
Say no more! The perfect fiber for you is wool. Years ago wool was the only fiber used to make floor covering. From wall to wall carpet to area rugs, the only fiber in the game was wool. So where did all these other fibers come from? Well they were created to essentially knock off wool but at a cheaper price. The catch is that as fuel prices have increased the cost of synthetic fibers have caught up with good ol' wool since synthetics are made of petroleum.

Enough about all that though. The one catch about wool is that it tends to fuzz for a while. That means that pieces of the wool will ball up and sit on the surface of the rug. This will happen for about 6 months which means you have to vacuum the rug often. The great news is once it is done the rug will look new for a VERY long time. By long time I mean years and years. I have a wool rug in my bedroom that I have had for almost 10 years and it still looks absolutely brand new. It has been in my living room, my dining room, and now my bedroom. I kept thinking it would wear out and I would toss it but that day hasn't come yet.

For more info on wool and even technical details check this out.

My home is just middle of the road. There isn't a lot of craziness going on, but then it isn't completely calm either.
In that case, I humbly suggest you buy a rug made of Nylon. Nylon is a pretty clever knock off of wool, but it has the benefit of not fuzzing. Sure it won't last as long as wool, but sometimes gettting rid of a rug after several years of use can actually be a good thing, right?

I don't really have a lot to tell you about Nylon. It is just a reliable fiber that tends to make for a pretty good looking rug. For some tech stuff on Nylon, try taking a look at this. If you have questions though please give me a shout and I will chat with you for a bit about it as well.

Closing Thoughts
This is a really abridged version of what works well for homes. If you have questions that are not answered here please give me a call. I can help you figure out exactly what will work for your place. I live rugs day in and day out. They are a lot of fun and can make a place look exciting and new. The catch is that if you don't choose the right fiber the thing will look all worn out when it did not have to. Thanks so much for reading all this. Please make comments...I love reading them :)

The Glory of Wool

If you’re looking for a rug to make a long investment in, you should check out our wide selection of wool area rugs.

Wool is a natural fiber that has many wonderful characteristics. When you purchase a rug made of wool, you’ll not only be getting a rug that is made from a renewable source, which is good for our environment, but a rug that will enhance your home or office in many ways.

Wool rugs are non allergenic and inhibit the growth or dust mites. They have a natural resistance to wear, holding up in even the roughest of situations. Another great quality is that rugs made from wool are naturally soil resistant, a fact that many mothers will love! And, if you are purchasing a rug for a non residential application, you’ll be happy to learn that wool is also naturally flame retardant.

All of those features are wonderful things to boast about. But, let’s not forget the beauty a wool area rug can bring to any setting. That is because wool is also known for its’ ability to hold dyes in brilliant tones. This allows a wool rug to produce vibrant, rich tones that cannot be matched in other fibers. It also retains the color magnificently for years on end.

So, please take a look at our selection of wool area rugs. We offer styles ranging from traditional to contemporary and everything in between. Whichever style of rug meets your needs, one thing will remain the same. An investment in a wool area rug will be one to last a lifetime.

Shag-a-delic

Shag baby. Yes, that’s right, we’re talking about rugs with attitude – and not just because of the vibrant colors they can now offer. These are rugs that simply invite you to take off your shoes and socks and dig into their soft textures. These are rugs that you can actually hear asking you to get down and play on, whether with your children or your pet. Once you see it, you won’t be able to resist.

What you’ll discover at Rugs to My Door are versatile shag rugs, both in their creation and color. Our shag’s are made with durable, yet soft fibers that can handle any rowdy lifestyle. But, speaking to their versatility, they can also handle the quietness of your baby’s nursery.

Our shag rugs also come in a variety of colors. Just look and see. You will find neutrals that are woven together in a way that add depth to your rug. But, we know that not every room is suited to a neutral tone. Well, that’s just fine with our suppliers of shag rugs. From a hot pink to add to your teenage girl’s bedroom – think of all that time she’ll spend in there, sitting on the floor IMing her friends - to a handsome pale blue shag rug that can welcome home your baby boy. Our shag rugs can find a place in any spot of your home.

At Rugs to My Door, we don’t only want to add color to your home. We want to add comfort, and believe me, a shag rug can do just that. So, check out our shag rugs today and add some of their color and comfort to your home, you won’t be sorry!

A Bouquet that Never Fades

March. Just the name makes me think spring. I can almost taste that beautiful season, can’t you? I know that in many places, we won’t be seeing the arrival of spring for another month or so, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring spring into your home right now.

Here at Rugs to My Door, we offer a large selection of floral rugs. Please feel free to browse our selection, it’s as easy as choosing ‘floral’ in the rug search section. You’ll see all sorts of area rugs that hold beautiful bouquets of spring flowers. Without even a trip to the flower shop, you can view lilies, tulips, poppies and more. There’s even a gorgeous rug holding wildflowers. Or, if you like, you can even find the traditional floral rugs that showcase dark, rich tones to suit more formal settings. And, many of these area rugs come in various sizes and price points to meet your needs. So, whether you’re looking for an area rug to greet people at your door, or a larger rug to place under your dining table, Rugs to My Door can accommodate that. We have a size for any space in your home.

The most wonderful thing about any floral rug you choose, is that it will decorate your home with flowers that simply never fade. So, whether winter lasts longer than you like, or you simply love to be surrounded by nature’s beauty, Rugs to My Door can help you find the perfect floral rug for your home.