How to choose the right rug style for your space

Home interiors used to be very well defined. The room was either very modern or ultra traditional. In recent years however home interiors have evolved into an ecclectic assortment of pieces that may range themselves from modern to traditional. With all this going on with your home interior, how do you know the right rug to go with?

It is easier than you may think. With a few easy to remember tips, you will be able to choose new area rugs that are so stylish that your neighbors and friends will be asking you for home design advice.

Tip number 1

If the patterns of your other textiles are large, go with a small patterned area rug or a solid color rug. If the patterns of your textiles are small, then go with a larger patterned area rug.

Tip number 2

We call the most common mistake in area rug selection "matchy-matchy". This is where in an effort to be safe, a rug is selected that almost perfectly matches the rest of the room, be it by pattern or color or both. Instead, choose a color that you find as an accent in your room and use it as the primary color in your area rug. That way you reinforce the accent color found in the room without being "matchy-matchy".

Tip number 3

Read all about it. Magazines such as Dwell, Better Homes & Gardens, and Architectural Digest are great places where you can flip through and get some ideas on how different color and styling themes go together.

Tip number 4

RugsToMyDoor.com has a large assortment of rugs in their "Casual" gallery. The Casual rugs designation means that the patterns will usually go with either traditional or modern (or contemporary) interiors.

Tip number 5

Make a style book. I have often ripped home interior ideas out of magazines and just placed them into a hatbox. When I am considering reworking a room of my house, I refer to all those pages I tore out. Surprisingly there is a commonality among them, and by flipping through all those magazine pages, I realize what it is that appeals to me, and then I can recreate it in my own home.

Tip number 6

Last but not least, the customer care team at RugsToMyDoor.com is ready to help answer any questions you may have.

How to keep your rugs from bunching

Rugs can gather or bunch up if they are not installed correctly. By following a few easy steps, you be able to have a rug that stays in place.

1) Always use an area rug pad. Without a rug pad, your rug will bunch, plus failure to use a rug pad usually voids the manufacturer's warranty.

2) When you receive your new rug, it is wise to allow it to acclimate to the new environment prior to rolling it out all the way and placing furniture on top of it. So how do you allow your new rug to acclimate? Simply unwrap it from the plastic, untie the straps that are around it (if applicable) and just lay it down either unrolled but with no furniture on top of it, or if space is tight leave it loosely rolled up. An example of why this is a good idea: The rug was made in the dry southwest, and you live in humid Miami. Since the rug was sealed in a dry area, and is being unwrapped and installed in a more humid area, the rug will expand a bit with the moisture. If you plop furniture on top of it right away, the rug will be trapped with the furniture but begin to expand where there is no furniture on top of it. The result...a bunched up rug, and one that could be permanently damaged.

3) If your rug has already bunched, one way to get it to relax again is to steam clean it then leave it in place for 72 hours with no furniture on top of it.

4) Do not ever nail or tack your rugs down. If the rug is going on top of carpeting (wall to wall) then using a double sided slightly sticky rug pad will keep the rug in place without damaging the rug or carpeting beneath it.

If you have any questions about rug bunching or rugs in general, just let us know. We want you to be happy with your new rugs not just today but for years to come. We are just a phone call away at 888.541.3830.

How to Measure your space for the right size rug

Measuring your space for the right sized area rugs is a very important part of your decision making process. If the rug you choose is too small it will cheapen the look of it, and if it is too large it could make the room look congested.

So how do you know what the right size rug is for your space?

For a dining room set

Pull all the chairs all the way out from the table as if everyone had just gotten up from the table. Then measure the distance across the table and chairs and add 2 inches on each side. This will allow enough room for your guests to push their chair back without falling off the rug and potentially tipping over, or just snagging up their chair on the rug which is awkward.

For a living room with coffee table

The area rug should go under the sofa enough as to keep the edge beneath the sofa from being seen. If there are side chairs and tables, those should be included beneath the rug. A living room is where mistakes are made most frequently for an area rug selection, and when a mistake is made it is nearly always that the rug was too small. Consider the entire sitting area and related tables as an area of the home, and the rug as the anchor that will pull that sitting area together. If the rug is too small it will just look cheap and corner-cutting. If budget is an issue, select a lower-end area rug in a larger size. It will come off as looking higher end than a smaller rug that actually cost more.

For a bedroom

This is where you can have some fun in choosing a new rug. Special shapes such as round or octagon can add visual interest to the room, as does installing a rectangular rug on an angle from beneath the bed.

Hallway

Measure from one end of the hallway to the other and leave a few inches on each end to show the floor beneath. If it is an extra long hallway, you may consider ordering two shorter runners to place down the hall.

Choosing a new area rug for your home is a lot of fun, and with the few easy tips above your selection should be both easier to make and more enjoyable once you receive it. If you have any questions about what rug you should choose, feel free to call us at 888.541.3830.

How to install your new rug pad

1) Sweep and clean the area where the rug pad is going.

2) Unfold and lay out the rug pad in the position you want the rug.

3) Roll out the area rug on top of the rug pad.

4) If any of the rug pad shows from around the edges of the rug, just trim the rug pad by flipping the area rug back in those corners and using household scissors (be careful not to mistakenly cut the rug)

It's just as easy as that! Also, if you have any questions or we may help you at all please let us know. We are truly here to help. 888.541.3830

Area Rugs for today's homes

Lets face it, today's homes are busy places where time is tight and both parents and kids are pulled in a lot of different directions. We want a home that not only looks great, but is easy to keep that way. So how do area rugs fit into this equation?

Area rugs are offered in an ever expanding range of sizes, shapes, and styles. So how do you know that the area rugs you choose today will be fashionable, easy to care for, and look great tomorrow and beyond?


This is where the Rugs To My Door Family Friendly section comes into play. All of the area rugs offered in the Family Friendly section of the site are guaranteed not to stain for 10 full years of ownership. So you can browse the huge assortment of area rugs offered in the Family Friendly section of the site knowing that any of the items found there are good for the long haul.



When area rugs were first introduced into the United States marketplace they were crafted of wool by hand. Today, however things have changed dramatically. Thanks to advancements in technology including the use of machines that can produce area rugs at an incredibly fast and more cost efficient clip to more modern fibers including polypropylene and nylon, todays area rugs are crafted with durability in mind.

Caring for area rugs offered in our Family Friendly section is easy as well. Simply vacuum them regularly, clean up spots with Rug Renew, and rotate the area rugs seasonally to ensure even wear. As with all area rugs, you should clean the rug professionally annually or more often if it suits your family's needs.



Making the home easier to live in while also more appealing is what this is all about, so be sure to check out the Family Friendly section of the Rugs To My Door store. They have hundreds of patterns to choose from, all of them coming with the 10 year stain guarantee.

How to Keep your rug looking new longer

There are really easy to follow yet important steps that you can take to ensure your new rug looks new for a long time to come. Whether the rug you have selected is made of wool or synthetic fibers these rules apply to all rug types and are easy to remember as well.

Rotate Your Rugs Interior spaces typically have traffic patterns where an area rug will have greater foot traffic on it. With each season, you should rotate your area rug to the opposite direction to ensure that it wears evenly. You can even shift the rug a bit onto an angle to both even out wear and add an interesting fresh look to the room's layout.

Vacuum Correctly If the rug is very high pile, do not set the beater bar down to low. I know it seems that by setting the vacuum level to low you will get deep down into the rug for a better cleaning, but in reality you are likely doing more harm than good. If the rug is ultra long pile such as a shag, then using only the wand of the vacuum is a good bet, or remove the beater bar from the vacuum and use it that way. Periodically checking the vacuum underside to make sure that a little plastic toy or paperclip did not get caught up in the beater bar is wise. Otherwise you could be unintentionally damaging your rug.

Use Spot Cleaners Correctly Using a spot cleaner is great, but keep in mind that it is intended for spots only and should not be used en masse to address very large spills on your rugs. This is where a professional cleaning should be done. You can either have a company come into your home to do the cleaning, or take the rug to the cleaning business for them to care for. One really great spot cleaner is Rug Renew. Rug Renew is an all purpose spotter so you can easily use it on most of the rugs in your home. One rule of thumb is to always use a white terrycloth (washcloth) with your spotter so that dye from the cloth does not rub off onto the area rug. Going back to the previously spotted area and blotting it with water only to take up the cleaner left behind is wise also. Just do not ever rub the stain. This will cause the yarns to unravel and result in significant rug damage that cannot be repaired easily if at all.

Clean Professionally Having your rugs cleaned professionally annually or more often if you feel it is necessary is a good way to keep your rugs looking newer longer. Particles of dirt that get dropped onto the rug over time work their way down to the backing of the rug where they act as little pieces of sand that break up the yarn's structure. A professional cleaner will remove much of that grime before it causes permanent damage to your rug.

Caring for a new area rug is easy to do, especially now that you know the right steps to take.

Define Your Space

With today’s open concept homes and lofts people are finding it difficult to define separate spaces with out adding walls or blocking views. I was at a friend’s apartment the other night, he lives in a studio apartment and he was having just that problem. The apartment isn’t large, but it’s well designed, yet hard to tell the “bedroom” from the “living room”. He was mentioning how he might like to get a rug to put under his coffee table. I responded with, “Why don’t you get a rug that is large enough to define the whole living area?” By buying a slightly larger rug he will then define his separate spaces without blocking anything. That’s one of the great advantages to area rugs; you can use them to define spaces and areas within a space without taking away from the overall volume.

If you have a open concept home that has a kitchen, dining and living room (and I’ve seen many like this) why not get two coordinating rugs, one for under the dining table (I’ll do a post on how to make sure it’s the correct size later) and then one to define the conversation area of the living room? You keep your open concept, you don’t spend a lot of money with room dividers, you get two coordinating decorative accents (for the floor obviously) AND you define two very distinct spaces that happen to fall within the same larger space.

The same idea holds true for all of those new (and really cool old) loft apartments and condo’s. The whole idea of a loft is to have a huge open space. To relish in the volume of the area. But, having lived in one, it’s nice to define some of those spaces. It’s almost a subconscious need that we have to know where the dining room ends and the great room starts. Rugs do this and do it in a very subtle manner. They also let you express your personal design aesthetic and color choices. An area rug used for this purpose is one of the great uses for these fun, exciting, pieces.

My final suggestion when using area rugs to define two areas within a space is to use similar themes within each rug. In my own house I’ve defined the living area with a very traditional rug and the dining area with a more softly contemporary rug. The common thread that pulls it all together is the color. So, there’s one way, use color to pull things together and make them feel like they go. The other way is to use similar patterns, either in differing scale or within the same context i.e. using two rugs that are traditionally oriental or two that are both very contemporary.

Well, I hope this helps give you some ideas on how to create a space within your home that is uniquely you and as always if you have any questions about our area rugs, colors, designs or need help finding something, Customer Care is available and just a phone call away.

Sunbrella Indoor Outdoor Rugs

I know many of you are thinking back-to-school and the end of summer; at least those of us a bit further north than the rest of you are, but one of our favorite manufacturers has just announced a new line of indoor / outdoor rugs. This cool line of braided rugs from Colonial Mills (or CMI as we call ‘em) is made from Sunbrella yarn. Those of you familiar with outdoor fabrics and furniture have probably heard of this fiber, but now it’s available in the Renaissance Collection of braided area rugs from CMI.

Now why Sunbrella? Well, let me give you a few of the key points about this fiber. First off and I think most importantly in this era of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”, Sunbrella is made from 50% recycled content. The other 50% is virgin fiber to maintain color consistency through-out the various collections made from it. The other great thing Sunbrella offers with it’s fiber and what makes it perfect for outdoor area rugs is ability to be fade resistant, standing up against the hot summer sun and it also is mold and mildew resistant. This fiber is a perfect addition to the great fibers out there for outdoor rugs, especially when you see the great designs that CMI has incorporated it into.

The Renaissance Collection of area rugs is made right here in the US, in CMI’s production facilities around the eastern seaboard. It is a flat braid rug that will come in a variety of sizes including those hard to find shapes of ovals, rounds, squares and even octagons. There will be six different patterns and 12 easy to use color ways. Our staff is working diligently to incorporate these new designs and this great fiber into our collections, but I thought it was too cool to wait to tell you about it. So, now you know.

Finally, if you’re still in need of an outdoor rug, you don’t have to wait for the Renaissance Collection we have hundreds of other options on the site to take care of your needs. Sometimes we here in the northern part of the country forget that summer goes on past August and that those of you living in Florida, Arizona, California and all those other wonderful warm weather states have year round outdoor living… so, take a look a the wonderful assortment of outdoor rugs we offer on the site. And as always if you need any assistance in locating just the right rug for your application, Customer Care is just a phone call or email away.

Enjoy the rest of your summer whether it be another few weeks or another couple of months with a new outdoor area rug from Rugs to My Door.

Area Rugs vs Carpet

Wow, what a confusing industry I work for. I suppose that most industries have their confusing parts. The thing I hear most often is the interchanging of the terms “Rug” and “Carpet”. Surprisingly, there is a difference and hopefully I’ll be able to explain this difference to you. Then you too can sound like an educated rug person.

Rugs have been around a lot longer than carpet. Persians, Asians and practically every other ancient culture used rugs to help insulate and beautify their homes, tents, castles, etc. They were hand woven from natural materials (usually wool) and quite often had religious significance. Rugs could be made in various sizes from small prayer sizes to large room sizes, but they were always just loose laid into a room. Because they were so often used to decorate a room rugs also had a lot of pattern and color to them.

Carpet on the other hand is generally a termed used to refer to wall-to-wall flooring. While it may be patterned and with many colors, generally it is more of a solid color and is stretched over a cushion to create a primary flooring. Carpet was originally a woven product produced in 27” wide widths. In the middle of the 20th century, 12 foot wide (or broadloom) carpet began to appear making it easier to install with many fewer seams. Carpet is not often looked upon as an accent in a room, but rather a base to other decorative items.

These days, people will buy area rugs to put over carpet creating a layered look and using the rug as an accent or decorative piece. If you choose to put your rug over carpet (as opposed to hardwood or ceramic) you will need a pad that is specifically made for this purpose. There are primarily two kinds of carpet pad. One is for rugs that are going over hard surfaces and the other is for area rugs going over carpet. If you have questions which pad to use, as always, our Customer Care department is always willing and able to help you make the correct choice.

So, there you have it, a wee bit of clarification on the difference between the terms “rug” and “carpet”. You now can consider yourself a bit more informed on some of the basic flooring terms. Just remember, that basically, it boils down to this. Carpet is installed wall-to-wall over a cushion and quite often is used for a base for the decorative items in a room. Rugs are individual pieces and are often the accessory that adds color, pattern and texture to your room.

Feel free to stop by the Rugs to My Door site and browse through our large selection of beautiful area rugs and start adding color, pattern and texture to your rooms, it’ll make a difference I promise you.

Fall Fashion Trends

When it comes to trends we all like to know what is going on… and many of us like to stay up with them. At Rugs To My Door, we strive to bring you trend setting ideas and prices on the rugs that allow you to try those trends while not hurting the wallet.

In looking at what’s going on for this fall and (dread me saying this) winter; I’ve searched through furniture companies, paint companies and then of course our rug manufacturers to see what are the up and coming ideas. Here they are, but remember this one piece of decorating advice I’ve always tried to live by – it’s your home, you have to live with it and you have to like it – so do what makes you smile and keeps you happy.

Colors to look for in the coming months (and you should see plenty of these in our area rugs) are rich earth tones, warm reds, buttery yellows… even the grays and blues will be warm. These colors make your home feel more cozy and safe. They aren’t exuberant, but they are easy to live with and calming. Chocolate is still very popular, but warm terra cottas and curry colors are coming on strong. The palette is meant to make your house into your nest, a place that you can feel comfortable. You will find many of these combinations in our newest area rug collections as our manufacturers are following the lead of the furniture and window fashion industries.

Another thing to look for is texture and design. Both of these are showing up in very organic ways. From sisal like area rugs to patterns that are organic and calming. The keyword here is texture, texture, texture. Make your floor have some life and not look like another painted wall in your home. Layer things, use patterns that are naturally inspired and keep your area rugs warm and inviting.

Next, look to natural fibers for your rugs. We’ve all heard the buzz on “Green” and “Eco-friendly” etc etc, but one thing about using natural fibers; you don’t need oil or oil by-products to produce them. So be on the look out for more wool rugs, cotton rugs, even things like jute, sisal and sea grass. All add a warm and comforting feel to your rugs, are good for the environment, and in this age of $4 per gallon gasoline, cut down our consumption of oil.

Finally, if you need help finding area rugs that have the colors we’ve discussed or the texture and design or even are eco-friendly, our search functions on the Rugs to My Door site are set up in such a way that it takes much of the guess work out of finding just the right area rug. And as always you can call Customer Care and we will walk you through the whole process. Helping you find just the right area rug that keeps you up with all the trends and keeps your pocketbook from exploding.

Fall Flooring Event

Get prepared, Shaw Flooring, one of our largest and best rug providers is getting ready to launch their Fall Flooring Event. While this event will encompass all of Shaw’s offering for the floor, we wanted to tell you about what’s going on with rugs. (this is a rug site and blog after all isn’t it?) Along with all the Shaw regular rugs, be prepared for some great things from the Kathy Ireland Home collection of area rugs. Reggie Newton, Shaw’s vice president of marketing says, “The Shaw Fall Flooring Event is the company’s biggest and best promotion to date.”

Not only will we bring you great area rugs at phenomenal prices, but in conjunction with Shaw our customers will be able to compete daily to win some fabulous flooring products directly from Shaw, including area rugs. This instant win “sweepstakes” on Shawfloors.com and will be called the “Falling for Floors” contest. You will be able to compete for the flooring product of your choice, including hardwood, laminates, ceramic, carpet and of course rugs. There will be four different tiers of prizes including gift cards, $100 coupons, golden tickets and of course the grand prize (it hasn’t been announced yet what the grand prize is, but trust us, we’ll keep you informed) You will be allowed to enter once a day, every day.

Don’t forget that Kathy Ireland area rugs will also be included in this fall extravaganza. Kathy Ireland has some of our best selling rug patterns and colors so make sure you check out these great options as you are shopping and browsing through our selection of area rugs.
Finally, keep watching our home page, we’ve been working quite diligently with all our other vendors these past couple of months to bring our customers great rugs deals. We have rug specials almost every month from now until Christmas that will help you get more bang for your buck. Almost every shape, style and color will be represented.

Right now for example you can get a free rug pad with every Surya rug you purchase (5x8 or larger) and Surya has some great patterns and wonderful color-ways. Also, for your consideration, check out United Weavers and get a free bottle of rug cleaner with a purchase of a 5x8 rug (or larger) United Weavers has some great values, especially if you’re sending a child off to a dorm room and they’re looking to decorate on a budget. Finally, the family friendly rugs from Oriental Weavers offer you a 10 year stain warranty. So, let Rugs to My Door be your source for area rugs, especially area rugs with great values, great looks, and great selection.

Don't break the bank!

Rugs to My Door is based in Michigan, so trust me when I say, we understand better than most what is going on with the economy. We understand home sales (or lack there of) and we understand what gas prices are doing to our pocket books. With that in mind I want to bring your attention to a few things we are trying to do to help you stretch your green-back dollar.

First off, Rugs to My Door still offers all our customers in the continental United States free shipping on all their rug orders. It doesn’t matter if you order one rug or 12 rugs, the shipping will be free. It doesn’t matter if order the smallest rug or our largest rug, your shipping will be free. It’s one of the small ways we try to beat the oil companies and give you a bit more value on your area rug purchases.

Next, Rugs to My Door offers you a free 30 day in home trial. Buy your rugs with confidence that you will get the correct color and correct size for your home. You get to try it in your home for 30 days, and if it doesn’t work we’ll give you 120% back towards the purchase of a new rug from our site. Of course there’s some small print, like you can’t return a soiled rug or one that you’ve damaged, and other things like that, but we do try to make it as easy as possible to create the room of your dreams.
Okay, there’s more. We guarantee the lowest price on your area rug purchases. Stretch those dollars more and do it with confidence. If you have a question about this just call customer service and they will help walk you through any of these great guarantees and money stretching options.

And still more ways to help your home…. We realize that maybe you can’t afford that addition right now (we can’t either) or the new house is totally out of the picture, but how about a new rug to freshen up the looks of a room. We have so many options that will give your home and rooms a fresh new look without shelling out money for new furniture, new rooms, or even a new house. Browse to your heart’s content and then buy a rug and get a new look.

Finally, the best thing money saving tip on buying a rug from Rugs to My Door; you can do it from your desk. You don’t have to drive around town, using up expensive gasoline, you can be in your robe and comfy chair and not spending a dime on your car. You don’t have to drive from store to store to see a huge selection of area rugs. You don’t have to drive anywhere to pick up your rug. You don’t have to worry about driving the rug back because the color wasn’t quite right. Rugs to My Door will let you do everything right from your home.

So, get a new look, save time, save money, save gas, and do it all with the confidence that Rugs to My Door gives you for your area rug purchases.

Area Rugs Fashion Show

Okay, I have to admit I love Project Runway, the designers, the fashions, the witty and impeccable Tim Gunn, and of course the season finale at where the finalist get to show their lines at New York’s Fashion Week. I think why I like is so much is that I can equate the couture fashion industry with the home fashion industry Rugs to My Door is part of. We have designers, color, texture, and even our own equivalent of New York’s Fashion Week. (I guess all we’re missing is the witty and impeccable Tim Gunn but I try to make up for it)

Twice a year the home fashion industry (and the more importantly the area rug manufactures) gathers to have our very own Fashion Week. Like couture, we don’t just gather in one place. We have our New York, Paris and Milan, but we call them Atlanta, High Point and Las Vegas. Not quite the j’nais c’est quais of the couture cities, but we do have our fun, and we do get to see and select some wonderful new area rug products for our customers.

Every summer myself and my partner take approximately two weeks of our schedules and attend at least two of the three major area rug “fashion shows”. We look for the newest designs, colors, ideas, and trends to bring back to Rugs to My Door and to our loyal customers. We look for new lines that bring you the best area rug options to your home. We look for the newest color ideas to help brighten that space that has started to look a bit dull. We look for new ideas that help you be inspired not just with a new rug, but with a new sense of being. We take this job seriously and although we do have fun, we work at making sure our customers get the best area rugs possible. Oh, and of course we look for ways to bring you those new ideas, colors, designs and patterns at a price that doesn’t break the bank and makes you feel like you got a great value.

By the time we get done with our two weeks in the summer, processing all the new area rug ideas, designs and colors; getting them into our system so you can start to purchase them, it’s time for the winter “fashion shows” and time to start all over again, bringing you the best of the best. Like the clothing industry, we are usually working one season ahead. We’re looking in summer for the trends for the winter and following spring. And in the winter, we are looking for the rug trends for the summer and fall. But as you’ve noticed at Rugs to My Door, we think we succeed in making sure our customers always have the latest and greatest. We strive to make sure you and your home have the latest fashions options, and that you know what the trends are.

Finally, if you are looking for something in particular, feel free to drop us a line, we will be glad to look for you when we are at our rug fashion shows. We are more than willing to be your personal designer, even though we’re not on Bravo, not called Project Runway and unfortunately not Tim Gunn

What size is it really?!?!

Having been in the area rug business for years we have grown accustomed to the fact that rug sizes are anything but consistent. One manufacturer might make a 5’8” x 7’10 rug and the next might make a very similar rug at 5’4” x 8’ and both will call them 6’x9’ – odd and confusing we know, rugs can vary between 2% and 3% and there is no industry standard or legal clarification.

Here at Rugs to My Door, we have done a wee bit of research to find out what’s going on and pass along that answer to our customers. (we realize our customers like to be informed and knowledgeable about the products they purchase, so here goes):

First, at Rugs to My Door, we give you the actual measurements as given to us by the manufacturer so you know what size your area rug should actually be. There does have to be a little bit of tolerance here, because we are dealing with a textile, and sizes will vary in a very slight manner based on the conditions when a rug is produced. More humid and the rug could be slightly larger, less humid and slightly smaller (so slight that you probably won’t notice but you want the facts and we’re here to give ‘em to you) Also, rugs have a tendency to shrink every so slightly after they are made, up until the time they are opened and placed on the floor. Not all rugs, but many, so it is very hard to have an industry standard. And, then surprise, all measuring tapes are not equal, they even vary. So keep in mind, rugs are like a living addition to your home, they breathe, they move, they shrink, they expand, you probably won’t notice, but an informed shopper is one that has realistic expectations on what they are putting in their home.

Now, another issue seems to be a rug that is labeled as 5’8” x 7’10” showing up on a page as a 6x9. What’s this all about? Well, we try to put our rugs into size categories so you can find the correct size for your room in a quick and efficient manner. While it may be in a category, rest assured when you select that rug it will have the actual measurement so you can make sure it will fit into your space correctly.

Finally, remember rug manufacturers are not trying to be devious or underhanded with their rug sizes, but there is no real consistency in the industry and Rugs to My Door is always trying to give you the most accurate information possible. As always, if you have questions about the rug you are purchasing our customer service department is ready and willing to help you, we strive to give you the most accurate and helpful information possible. Just give us a call, we’re here to help you with your rug purchase.

Jaclyn Smith Rugs

Jaclyn Smith has long been known for her trend setting ways. She has created dazzling women's ready to wear fashions for years. She has recently used her eye for style in an exciting new direction with her series of area rugs.

Her first Collection of rugs is the Jaclyn Smith Coventry Series. These delightful patterns are crafted on a wilton loom and made of 100% Polypropylene so staining is no concern whatsoever. The balance of style and functionality offered up by these patterns is truly unparalled. Jaclyn Smith has emulated the look of a hand made wool rug at a significantly lower cost and out of a fiber that simply will not pill or fuzz.

The Conventry Series by Jaclyn Smith have a 5x8 retail of only $439, so a selection from her assortment will enliven your home decor without breaking the bank.

Jaclyn Smith took her series of area rugs one step further with the delightful assortment of patterns in her Jaclyn Smith Mahal Series. This range of patterns offers intricate designs and is crafted of 100% Wool which has been washed leaving a silky soft finish and very little fuzzing or pilling. Our Jaclyn Smith Mahal Series is being offered for only $589 in the 5x8 size. These rugs are so soft to the touch that as soon it arrives you too will realize why Jaclyn Smith is one of the world's foremost fashion designers.

The creativity of Jaclyn Smith has spanned decades and only underscores the reality that when a designer puts their mind to it they really can accomplish anything.

Advancements in Eco Friendly Rugs

Initially Eco Friendly rugs were those that were made of natural fibers. Items made from synthetic fibers were not considered Eco Friendly since they were created of non renewable resources. Our partners at Shaw Rugs have recently changed this reality however.

It is now possible to recycle your used nylon rugs using the recycling services that Shaw Rugs offers across the country. Once you are done with your Shaw rugs just submit them to the Shaw Recycling center and they will break it down and use the materials obtained for future floorcovering products.

What other advancements have been made with respect to Eco Friendly Rugs? In one respect the most exciting thing about Eco Friendly rugs is that the price of them has come down significantly. What was once considered a premium product price wise is now very much in line with it's synthetic counterparts. Wool rugs have long been known to be much less environmentally impactful than their synthetic counterparts. What's more, wool rugs are also much more long lasting than rugs made of other fibers so the need to replace them is greatly reduced.

With years of technological efforts behind us, the world of Eco Friendly Rugs has changed significantly. So now whether you are looking for a rug to go indoors, outdoors-in a busy area or a calmer setting we have the right eco friendly rug for you.

How to remove a spill from your rug

What is the best way to remove a spill from your area rug?

There are a few rules that you should always keep in mind regardless of the rug fiber or construction. They include:

1)Get to the spill as quickly as possible.

2)If there is debris other than liquid (IE food piece, etc) scoop them up with a spoon. Having a rag nearby to put the food remnants onto is a good bet so that you do not mistakenly drop the food on a different area of the rug again on your way to the trash bin.

3)Do NOT RUB the spill. If you rub a spill, it will cause the fiber to come unravelled and in some instances it will result in immediate fuzzing of the fiber. Rather than rubbing the spill you should always blot it.

4)What do you use to blot the spill? There is a great cleaner on the market called Rug Renew. It works on all fibers and tends to get spills out of both carpets and rugs. But if that is not readily available always choose a product that will bring the PH of the spill back to neutral. An example is if you spilled milk (PH very basic-then you would use a combination of Vinegar and water to bring the PH back to neutral) If you spilled something acidic such as orange juice then you would blot the spill with a combination of Baking Soda and water-again to bring the PH back to neutral. This works especially well on wool rugs.

Area rugs will get spills on them. The important thing to keep in mind is that they can be removed if you take the correct steps. If all else fails, having a professional cleaning company come in to service the rug is an important option rather than tossing out the damaged rug. A good and qualified cleaning company will test the spill to determine it's type and what are the best solvents to make your rugs look new again.

This is the first in several How To guides that should help you have a better experience with your area rugs not just when you first get them but well into the future.

You want to put that where?

With my series on fibers wrapped up, I thought it time to take a vacation which I have just returned from. While on vacation I was looking down a lot, as I always do. I saw lots of rugs. I went camping and on my trek across the great and incredibly lovely state of Michigan I saw rugs in restaurants and rugs in gift shops. When I arrived to the campground in western Michigan, I pitched my tent and put out an indoor outdoor rug in front of it so that I would drag less sand into my tent. I got comfortable and settled into a nice week of sunning and just trying to relax and calm my mind.

A few days went by when a neighbor moved in and set up his tent complete with a rug as well. But when he unrolled it my eyes just about blew out of my head. It was a wool tufted Andy Warhol rug. I could not believe it. I mean the forecast called for sunny weather, but to put a wool rug outdoors? At any rate we both went about our business and enjoyed the campground. We talked about life and sat around the campfire in the evenings. The only difference was he would wipe his feet on a wool rug before calling it a day and retiring to his tent, and I would wipe my feet on a polypropylene rug before calling it a day.

So what is my point you ask? Well, just that there is a great application for each fiber and I thought about how appropriate it was that I would witness a guy using a wool rug outdoors just as I was wrapping up my series on fibers. This dude must have been independently wealthy in his Cadillac of tents...but for the rest of us common folk...a rule of the rug industry is that you cannot go using wool outdoors. Well, I suppose you could but a wool rug outside will last for just about one day. If it rains, say bye to your wool rug.

The moral of the story if that for each application there is a suitable fiber to be used. Please refer to the entries I just posted about fibers. If you are still left with questions, just give us a call. But by all means don't go off willy-nilly buying a rug made of the wrong fiber and then wondering why the heck it looks like heck after only a few days! :)

As always I thank you for reading. I truly enjoy writing this blog and hope that you all enjoy reading it just as much. Rugs are my life. I make a modest living from them and have my feet on a rug now. Allow your life to be enriched with the warmth and elegance of a new area rug. Just be sure you choose the right type for the location you have in mind.

Until next time, I am your rug guide :) Let me know if ever you have a question or comment...I really do look forward to them and will respond to all of them.

Wes.

Let go and create

I personally like to push the fashion envelope and see how it comes out-and not just when it comes to rugs. For instance, if I learn that a trend is on the horizon for men's wear, I will research it and then purchase a few select items despite the fact that it seems nobody else is wearing that sort of item yet.

I once was feeling a bit poetic I suppose and decided that I should wear all black out to an evening affair. I had on black shoes, socks, pants, shirt, sweater, jacket, and scarf. Now this was winter time and I am a pale guy. It came off as if I was ghostly sick-not my best look. But what does this have to do with rugs you ask? Well plenty. The point is that if you try to be too coordinated in style of your home interior, it will come off as predictable and boring. For instance, do not buy the same pattern rug in a hallway runner and a rectangle for the living room. Rugs should coordinate but not match perfectly.

Just think of when you go shopping for clothing or accessories. I cannot imagine that you would want everything to match perfectly. Mixing it up a bit with perhaps a solid skirt and patterned top is a cool thing to do. The same holds true for area rugs.

A really great tip on how to make your rugs coordinate but not match perfectly (rugs that match perfectly would be the same exact pattern but in a different size or even in the same size) is to select a different pattern in the same collection. That way the designer has already coordinated the rugs for you, so you can be confident that they will be putting across a similar design aesthetic.

Just picture what a woman's ready to wear department looks like at Macy's. There are mannequins that feature the latest fashions, and invariably the outfits coordinate between mannequins and can be mixed up to create a bunch of different looks. What I have never seen, however are two mannequins with the same outfit on...why? Because it is predictable and boring.

The same holds true when you are shopping for rugs. Just try to step outside your comfort zone a bit and consider rugs that will compliment each other but not match perfectly. By having the rugs match perfectly (ie same exact pattern) it also makes each rug look cheaper, since the uniqueness of each rug is lost to the other.

If you have questions about this, please let me know. We have worked really hard to be sure that the rugs we offer represent the latest fashion trends. Just sit back, relax and let go of your hesitation. Follow your instincts and step out a bit. I am sure you will be glad with the result.

Choosing the right fiber-Wool

Ah hah! So you read the entry a few days back about New Zealand Wool. Then you wondered what the heck was going on with this goofy dude that he chose not to mention non-branded wool immediately thereafter.

Well how else would I have gotten you to come back for a few days and read about some of the other really groovy fibers we offer? Enough about all that now, since today's featured fiber is wool.

For information on New Zealand Wool, please see my previous post. New Zealand Wool is considered a premium fiber and is different than a non-branded wool. From here through the rest of the blog I will refer to non-branded wool as wool.

Wool rugs have long been the benchmark by which other rugs are judged. If a company would introduce a new synthetic fiber, they would say that it worked like wook or looked like wool or felt like wool, and the list goes on. Well why did they do that? Because making a synthetic yarn was much less costly than it's wool counterpart.

As time wore on and petroleum prices increased, the cost of petro based synthetics went up significantly. At the same time since the synthetic fiber industry had taken business away from sheep farmers their prices per bundle had dropped quite a bit.

Now we are in 2008, and the price of wool and synthetic area rugs are essentially the same. I personally prefer wool over synthetics unless you are using the rug outdoors or in a very heavily travelled room such as a mud room or very active kitchen with spills.

The Pros of Wool Rugs

1) Competitively priced with their synthetic counterparts

2) Very resilient to traffic, so they will not "ugly out" over time

3) Naturally renewable resource

The Cons of Wool Rugs

1) Wool rugs will pill and fuzz for the first several months of use. This is normal and not a defect. It can however be bothersome.

I personally feel that the bit of fuzzing is worth it for a few months since the outcome is a rug that looks very new for quite a long time.

Rugs are a lot of fun. Believe it or not, they are my life. Since I was 16 years old I have been directly involved in this industry (at first during the summer-a kid has to go to school, you know!). My point it that it is a fascinating business. I hope that I am able to give you a bit of the knowledge that I have been fortunate enough to pick up over the years.

If you have any questions at all please let me know. I am happy to help, as is everyone here at Rugs To My Door.

Choosing the right fiber--Leather

When I first heard that rugs were going to be offered in leather, I did not know exactly what to say. It seemed like a goofy idea to put it mildly. I personally was curious however, so the sales rep brought his wares into my office.

I was really pleasantly surprised. Rugs made of leather can either be flat skins that are very low profile, or they can be sliced into very thin strips and put on their end close to each other. The result of this is a really floppy groovy textural shag rug.

There is not a whole lot more to report about leather rugs. They hold up very very well surprisingly. They can be cleaned by shaking them out, and a vacuum withOUT a beater bar works well for more day to day cleaning. Leather rugs can add an incredible fashion statement to your home with very little cost since they start in the $299 range for a 5x8 size (5x8 size rugs are usually used beneath a coffee table or in a small foyer).

It really is incredible how may different ways rug manufacturers come up to wow the senses. When I thought I had seen it all, out comes a rug made of leather. My hesitation turned to a warm embrace as soon as I saw the product. I am sure you will enjoy it as well.

The Pros of Leather Rugs

1) High Fashion, low cost

2) Every home should have a conversation piece in it. This definitely is one.

The Cons of Leather Rugs

1) Sort of awkward to clean. Spills tend to get absorbed into shag leather rugs. If they are natural color and the spill is a natural color it tends to just blend in.

Leather rugs can add a really intriguing element to the home. If you have any questions about our leather rugs just let me know. You are always welcome to leave a comment as well...I dig them! :)

Choosing the right fiber--Blended Fibers

I recently had an interesting dialog with one of our customers about a rug she had recently selected. She raised a very good question about it being a synthetic blend (in this case the two fibers were Acrylic and Polypropylene). She asked what such a blend would do to a rug's durability.

Rugs that are made of blended synthetics are invariably blended to bolster or improve upon what the weaker fiber lacks. For instance rugs made of acrylic and polypropylene use the acrylic to make the rug feel softer. It is not that polypropylene rugs are hard, but they just are not as soft on the feet as acrylic is. Or another example is how a rug made of a polypropylene nylon blend would be more resilient than a rug made strictly of polypropylene.

This is not to say that rugs made of a single fiber are less desirable by any means. It is intended to explain why area rugs are offered in blends.

I personally have polypropylene rugs and wool rugs in my home. They are my two favorite fibers. Each person has different tastes though so at Rugs To My Door, we try to have something for whatever your desire may be. That is why we now offer a staggering 154,000 items to choose from. Don't worry though...you can easily narrow your search by using our advanced search feature which lets you narrow by color, style, etc.

Until next time, have a great time wandering around our store and keep the good questions coming...I love them :)

Choosing the right fiber--New Zealand Wool

The word luxury gets thrown around a lot these days. I recently took a trip to New York to enjoy a Yankees game before the old stadium was a goner. I paid big bucks for "luxury seats" Suffice it to say they were none too luxurious. It is with this sort of experience (which repeats under different circumstances in my life, as I am sure it does yours) that I take great pause if I ever read the word "luxury" attached to something.

When considering a new area rug for your home, the very finest fiber bar none is New Zealand Wool. It is the benchmark of excellence that all other fibers are measured by. The first question I would have regarding rugs and New Zealand Wool versus regular old wool is "what is the difference". At first I considered all wool to be the same, but after a bit of training, I realized that there is a world of difference between wools.

To test the comments of many rug manufacturers that New Zealand Wool is a better grade of wool than non-branded wool, I ordered both and placed them in my home. The New Zealand Wool rug is now over 8 years old and genuinely still looks as new as it did when I first bought it. It was first in my living room, then I moved it to my bedroom since I just got sort of tired of looking at the design in my living room.

There are some important points to keep in mind when considering New Zealand Wool for your rugs.

The Pros of New Zealand Wool

1) Naturally renewable resource

2) Very durable and naturally resilient

3) Naturally fire resistant

4) It's naturally occurring color is white, so it can be dyed to almost any color without looking muddy.

The Cons of New Zealand Wool

1) It is a premium yarn, so it comes at a premium cost versus non branded wools

2) It cannot be used outdoors

3)It will fuzz for the first several months of use. This is normal and is not a defect. Since wool is a natural fiber pieces of it will shed off. You will wonder if you are losing your entire rug, but you are not. It is a normal part of owning rugs made of wool and will go away after several months.

If you have any questions, as always just let us know. Rugs made of New Zealand Wool can really enliven a home interior with style immediately and happiness years down the road as you realize you made a great investment.

Choosing the right fiber--Viscose

When browsing through the assortment of rugs we offer, the sheer number of them can become daunting. So how do you know whether to buy a wool, nylon, polypropylene, or viscose rug? Well that is exactly why I have created this series discussing the pros and cons of the fibers that rugs are made of.

So where do viscose rugs fit into the mix? Viscose is a synthetic fiber that emulates silk. It is very shiny and incredibly soft to the touch. Nearly all viscose rugs are "dialed down" which means they are flat or have very little pile. Additionally nearly all viscose rugs are made on a wilton loom versus being hand tufted. This results in an even lower profile to the rugs. Oftentimes a viscose rug will be placed on the wall as a piece of art. It is so flat and so shimmery that it is frequently mistaken for a tapestry.

With all this in mind, what is the best place to use a viscose rug? This is a tricky question. The fiber is really high fashion, but also high maintenance. You will have to vacuum it often. If you are willing to trade off this inconvenience for a super shimmery silk look, then I say just about anywhere.

The Pros of Viscose

1) Stain Resistant

2) Looks like silk for much less money

3) Very flat so door clearance is not often an issue

The Cons of Viscose

1) Viscose rugs pill, so frequent vacuuming will be necessary for the first 6 months

2) See number 1. This is a biggie. Trust me.

That really is all that can be said of viscose rugs. They are super fashionable and the very softest fiber that an area rug can be made of. If you have questions about this or any other fiber reach me by leaving a comment here or just giving us a shout on the phone. Rugs are a lot of fun. Don't bog yourself down in all the harsh details. Just use this information as a guide and then go with what your favorite rugs are. We have vetted all of the products on our site to be sure that the quality lives up to the standard that is Rugs To My Door.

Choosing the right fiber--Nylon

This is a continuing series on area rugs and the fibers that they are made of. Today's focus is on Nylon. While there are a huge range of synthetic fibers available to make rugs out of, nylon tends to be the most popular.

While nylon rugs are very well made and durable, the fact that they are so popular is attributed in large part to the marketing of them that has been done by the fiber manufacturers. Nylon rugs are resilient in high traffic areas and are able to accept a wide rnage of dyes so the colors that are offered are wide ranging. Some of the best selling nylon rugs we offer are from our partners at Milliken. Their tufted nylon rugs are made of branded Stainmaster Nylon.

To be honest, even though I have been in the rug industry for over 12 years, all these fibers tend to run together over time. If I have been in it this long and tend to get blurry eyed, I can only imagine what my customers must be thinking. "I just want a durable well priced rug." Or something of the like. Well let me boil it down to a few Pros and Cons.

The Pros of Nylon Rugs

1) Stain resistant

2) Resilient to high traffic

The Cons of Nylon Rugs

1) The fiber is petroleum based so as fuel prices increase, so too does the cost of nylon. In many instances, nylon rugs are now costlier than wool rugs.

Nylon rugs are a good bet for busy homes. They look great for a long while and require very little attention or care. I hope this helps you to choose the right rug fiber for your home. Naturally if you have any questions please let us know. You can even give us a shout if you like or just leave a comment here and I will respond to it.

Choosing the right fiber--Polypropylene

Area rugs are made in a whole bunch of different fibers including Polypropylene. This word however sounds very technical to me and does not tell me much about the rugs that may be made of it. Unlike other fibers such as Nylon which have been heavily marketed by the yarn manufacturers, Polypropylene is somewhat unknown. Well, not anymore I say. Here are a few pointers about Polypropylene rugs that should help you determine whether or not your selection is the right one.

Polypropylene is a synthetic fiber that is continuous filament. Continuous filament essentially means that the fiber will not pill or fuzz even under heavy traffic. Additionally the way that Polypropylene is dyed means that it cannot be stained with anything other than oil. How can a fiber stand up to red wine and even pet stains only to be brought down by some good old fashioned olive oil?

This is because the molecular structure of Polypropylene holds up very well under most spills but since Polypropylene rugs are petroleum based, oil on them causes the molecular structure of the yarn to change.

Polypropylene rugs are actually so durable that one of our largest suppliers has recently backed all of their Polypropylene rugs for 10 years against any staining. Their assortment of Polypropylene rugs is second to none and with a warranty like that, you really can't go wrong.

Check out some of their patterns with a 10 year warranty here.

To wrap this all up...here are my thoughts about Polypropylene:

The Pros of Polypropylene

1) Highly resistant to stains

2) Well priced

3) Does not pill or fuzz

The Cons of Polypropylene

1) Do not spill anything oil based on it-it is like kryptonite to this otherwise super fiber

2) Texture retention is very good, but not as incredibly good as wool. There is a trade off since wool is not as bulletproof as Polypropylene with respect to staining

An important thing to keep in mind is that fibers are all imperfect. It is a bit of a give and take to balance out what the ideal fiber is for your home. I personally have Polypropylene rugs in the entryway to my home and they have held up incredibly well. Just before I have guests over I may scrub them with a mix of bleach and water to get any stubborn stains out. Since I own an area rug store, I certainly cannot have people seeing a stained rug immediately upon their arrival.

I hope this series on fibers has been helpful. If you have questions or thoughts just add a comment. Thanks.

Choosing the right fiber--Acrylic

Area rugs are made in a whole bunch of different fibers from natural selections such as wool, jute, sisal, or cotton and synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, and polypropylene.
So how do you know what fiber is ideal for your home? Thats where this latest series on rug information "Choosing the right fiber" comes into play. We will walk you through acrylic as a fiber so that you will not second guess your choice after your selection has been made.

So what is the story with Acrylic as a fiber? Well, acrylic rugs have an incredible resemblance to wool. They accept dyes easily so often you will find that acrylic rugs are tufted in contemporary patterns. Additionally the fiber is very soft to the hand so walking on it is a great experience. Unlike many other synthetic fibers, acrylic responds relatively well to an oil spill on it, so using it in a kitchen is a decent bet. The downside of this is that you cannot use bleach on it, whereas a mixture of bleach and water on a polypropylene rug can oftentimes get out even an incredibly stubborn stain (always use caution placing chemicals on an area rug, many of them will void the manufacturers warranty and common sense dictates that harsh chemicals would adversely impact texture retention).

The Pros of Acrylic

1) Feels like wool

2) Well priced-good perceived value

3) Able to be made in very bold colors

The Cons of Acrylic

1) It crushes relatively fast, so a high traffic area is ill advised. I suggest acrylic rugs for spaces such as guest bedrooms or even master bedrooms since they are so soft to the toes.

2) It may pill for a few months upon purchase. This is normal and will go away over time.

Acrylic rugs have been sold in the United States for decades. It is a reliable and well priced fiber that should be considered as you browse our mix of rugs. Of course if you have any questions regarding acrylic, please let me know. I appreciate your taking the time to review my blog. Have a great day and let me know if I can help with your selection of rugs at all.

Wes.

Choosing the right fiber--Cotton

Area rugs are made in a wide range of fibers from natural selections such as wool, jute, sisal, or cotton and synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, and polypropylene.

So how do you know what fiber is ideal for your home? Thats where this latest series on rug information "Choosing the right fiber" comes into play. We will walk you through Cotton as a fiber so that when you make a selection you do so with the confidence of knowing that you made the right decision.

Cotton is a naturally occuring fiber that is very friendly on the environment. One of the reasons that cotton rugs are so eco-friendly is that of the original raw material harvested, 90% of it actually goes into the making of the yarn. That makes cotton one of the most efficient fibers in the world.

While cotton rugs do not make up a large percentage of the styles of rugs we offer one of the great things about cotton rugs is that the colors they are offered in are typically very clean and crisp. The reason for this is that cotton dyes very easily and since it starts as a white color the yarn clarity is excellent.

The Pros of Cotton Rugs

1) Very clean and vivid colors

2) Eco Friendly fiber

3) Well priced

The Cons of Cotton Rugs

1) The fiber crushes fairly well-so they are not recommended for high traffic areas.

2) The fiber stains easily relative to that of other rug fibers, so not recommended for high traffic areas.

Cotton has been used as a fiber for clothing to flooring and everything in between since the 4th millennium. It's history as a reliable and stable fiber is well documented. Each fiber has it's strong points and it's weak points. I hope that this concise format regarding cotton rugs will help you in your efforts to choose the ideal rugs for your home.

I hope you have a great summer weekend.

Kind Regards,
Wes.