Why do rugs vary in price so much?

I was visiting with a friend of mine the other day and he asked me an interesting and basic question about area rugs. If I look for a rug for my dining room (8x11 size) the prices really vary from around $299 to $6800.

So what is the difference between the least costly rug and the most costly rug, and everything in between?

There are a few basic fundamentals to an area rug that results in a change of cost. They include:

Fiber
There was a time when area rugs made of wool were the most costly. The fiber is naturally occurring and required a good deal of labor to become production ready. The significant number of extra steps needed to make wool usable also made it more costly. In an effort to make area rugs more affordable, fiber companies began to invent new fibers that were meant to emulate wool as much as possible. When introduced in the 1980's and 1990's these synthetic fibers were less costly than they are now since the cost of the petroleum was lower than it is now.

In time the sheep farmers realized that they had competition and brought down the cost of their fiber through their own innovations. As a result, the cost of better end synthetics (nylon) and lower end wools (non-New Zealand Wool) crossed.

The order of fibers by quality (and therefore cost) are:
1) New Zealand Wool (best)
2) Wool
3) Nylon
4) Bamboo
5) Sisal
6) Jute
7) Coir
8) Polypropylene
9) Acrylic
10)Wool & Silk

Construction
There are several different ways that an area rug can be made. The more labor intensive the process, the more costly the rug. Originally, area rugs were made by hand. Rugs were knotted and may have taken several craftspeople over a year to complete a single room size rug. As demand for area rugs increased, the industry began to look for ways to speed up production and get more rugs with less workers. As a result, several production methods were created, some less costly than others. The most desirable area rugs are knotted by hand. Hand knotted rugs are the most durable and long lasting area rugs out there. The challenge is that cost often makes them prohibitive for some consumers. That is where machine woven rugs come into play. Machine woven rugs can look similar to hand knotted rugs but cost significantly less. In order of desirability-see the following construction types:

1) Hand Knotted
2) Machine Woven
3) Power loomed
4) Hand tufted
5) Braided
6) Machine Tufted
7) Hand hooked

Hopefully this bit of information makes it easier for you to determine why some rugs cost quite a bit more than others. Until next time thank you for reading, and have a great time browsing around. Oh, if you are interested in more information about New Zealand Wool, you can easily read about it here.

New From Shaw

In the next week we will be bringing live to our site some great rugs from Shaw - I thought I'd whet your appetite a bit and give you some brief descriptions of these new collections... ENJOY!

The Transition collection of area rugs from Shaw takes earthy colors and combines them with some of the best casual and contemporary designs. With their mix of geometric shapes and organic botanicals these area rugs will look right at home in any situation. Made from 100% family friendly olefin these area rugs will clean easily and look beautiful for years to come.

With inspiration from the Native Americans of the southwest, the Traditions Made Modern collection of area rugs is grouping of rugs that take motifs from cultures that been in New Mexico for over 400 years. These beautiful wool area rugs are machine woven and with their intricate designs and dazzling colorations will enliven any room. Look to Shaw when it comes to creating a space in your home with some of today’s finest area rugs.

Artist, outdoorsman, and photographer Phillip Rowe’s newest endeavor is area rugs. In collaboration with Shaw, Phillip Rowe has created the Timber Creek collection of rugs. These rugs take his love of the outdoors and bring it inside with a collection of rugs that are rustic yet beautiful. Made from 100% olefin for long lasting performance, the Timber Creek collection will surely enhance your home.

Structure is the way to bring casual flair into your home. These area rugs are made to order in the USA from 100% New Zealand wool using a technique that incorporates cut and loop creating an amazing sculptural like finish. Using today’s hottest colors you know that a Structure area rug will fit easily into your homes interior.

Reverie is the perfect place to begin and end your search for an area rug. With exquisite examples of traditional, casual, contemporary and floral designs you are sure to find just the right rug with just the right look. Created from durable and stain-resistant polypropylene these rugs use todays hottest colors to blend seamlessly into your home.

Setting a new benchmark for beauty and durability, the rugs of the Renaissance collection are waiting for you. These traditional area rug patterns done in todays best colors are warm, soft and recyclable. Shaw has taken their Evertouch nylon, created beautiful area rugs, and made them 100% recyclable, what more could you ask for your home?

Flattery will get you everywhere.

So I was wandering around the web the other day and came across a really great review of the site, and rugs that are offered. The really cool thing was that the blog review mentioned our family friendly area rugs, and how they were performing after some use.

When we started rugs to my door, we wanted it to make for a better shopping experience and a great living experience thanks to better products and strong quality standards.

The review provided by the hot blogger "Lyrica's Mom" really was exciting to see. Take a read, and then consider some of our incredible Family Friendly Area Rugs. After all, they come with a 10 year warranty against stains!

Until next time, thanks for reading. Please take a read of the blog...it was really cool to see!

Abbyson pt 3

The final list of the new Abbyson collections for you to read about. I hope I whetted your appetite and that you will take a look at the full line of Abbyson area rugs when they hit the site next week


At 100 knots per square inch the casual contemporary styling of a Charisma area rug is the perfect addition to your home. Hand knotted of wool and silk these beautiful rugs are not only breath-taking works of art, but are practical and easy to maintain. With a Charisma area rug from Abbyson you those around you that you not only value fine things but a great price too.

Charmant takes a lovely casual and contemporary motifs and hand creates an area rug for your home. Tibetan artisans use organic wool and silk to craft stunning examples of floor art. You know when you select an area rug from Abbyson that not only are you getting the finest items for your home, you are also getting an incredible value.

Hand knotted with pride by Tibetan craftsmen, the Chateau collection of rugs from Abbyson fuses traditional design and construction with the best of today’s colors. Created from organic Himalayan sheep’s wool and beautiful silk, these rugs contain 100 knots per square inch, letting you know that not only are you getting a stunning area rug, but you are receiving a quality piece too.

With soft colors and traditional designs, the Heiress collection from Abbyson epitomized the best you can get when it comes to area rugs. Hand crafted in Tibet from organic Himalayan sheeps wool and silk, these fine rugs make the perfect finishing touch to a room. When you choose an Heiress rug from Abbyson not only are you getting a rug that adds to the splendor to your home, you are getting a rug that will last generations.

Using vegetable dyes to create bold colors and talented Tibetan artisans to create traditional patterns, the Isabella collection of area rugs is a prime example of the ancient craft of carpet making. With its blend of organic sheeps wool and pristine silk, these rugs from Abbyson will create a lasting impression and beautiful work of art for your floors.

LeFleur is a collection that takes soft supple colors and uses them to create beautifully designed area rugs. Hand knotted in Tibet from a blend of organic sheeps wool and stunning silk, these area rugs are more than beautiful they are earth friendly. A LeFleur rug from Abbyson is more than just a rug, it’s a work of art that will last for generations to come.

With gentle colorations and bold motifs the Napa collection of rugs from Abbyson shows you what can happen when you take traditional area rug technique and meld it with today’s modern looks. These rugs are hand knotted from organic Himalayan sheeps wool that has been vegetable dyed and sumptuous silk. If you want more than just an area rug, if you want a work of art for your floor, choose a rug from Abbyson.

With 100 knots per square inch, Serenity uses subtle patterns to create a beautiful over all look. To accent the 100% organic sheeps wool, the Tibetan artisans have used silk to bring out all the detail of each rug. Not only will you get a beautiful area rug when you choose Abbyson; you will get an earth friendly addition to your home.


When bold designs meet the subtle coloration of vegetable dyes you get a contemporary rug collection like Utopia. With exquisitely tasteful modern motifs and colors that work into any interior you are sure to find just the right rug within this collection. Hand knotted of organic sheeps wool and sumptuous silk, these rugs will add flair to any room in which you put them.

More on Abbyson

Here are some more of the lovely collections we have coming from Abbyson in the next couple of weeks - stay tuned for ever more!

Striking traditional motifs with elegant colorations are the hallmark of the Beaurivage collection of rugs from Abbyson. Hand knotted by Tibetan artisans these exquisite area rugs are made from 100% organic Himalayan wool and accents with silk. To make the rug even more green Abbyson uses only 100% vegetable dyes. At 150 knots per square inch you are looking at a rug that will add panache to any room and last for over a lifetime.

With 120 knots per square inch the Composure collection of area rugs from Abbyson is an heirloom in the waiting. This exquisite traditionally styled collection of rugs is made from organic sheeps wool and vegetable dyes making it eco-friendly as well as beautiful. People will know that you have exceptional taste when they see an Abbyson rug in your home.

A Crown Royal area rug from Abbyson is fitting of the Royal Families of Europe and who doesn’t want a bit of that kind of luxury in their own home? These exceptional area rugs are crafted by Tibetan artisans of eco-friendly organic sheep’s wool that has been dyed with 100% vegetable dyes. As a finishing touch, silk is used to create an absolutely stunning rug.

Stunning designs and deep rich colors are the trademark of the English Rose collection of rugs. Hand Knotted by Tibetan artisans, these rugs are as easy on the eye as they are the environment. Abbyson has taken organic Himalayan sheeps wool, combined it with silk and then used only the finest vegetable dyes to give you an area rug that is pure green luxury. You will not be disappointed when you add one of these rugs to your home!

Enlightenment takes eye-catching traditional patterns and dramatic colors and creates an area rug that will be the perfect foil to any interior. Created from 100% organic Himalayan sheep’s wool, this area rug is as green as it is beautiful. With 120 knots per square inch you know you are getting an area rug that will last a lifetime or two.

Other than perfection, what do you call a rug that is hand knotted by artisans in Tibet, crafted from organic Himalayan sheeps wool, uses the finest vegetable dyes and finishes the whole thing off with silk accents? You call it Himalayan Beauty from Abbyson. These beautiful area rugs have 150 knots per square inch and are more than just rugs, they are works of art.

Using a blend of organic Himalayan sheeps wool and dazzling silk accents, Tibetan artisans have created the Renaissance collection of area rugs from Abbyson. These area rugs are striking in their design and dazzling in their construction. Their colorations are made to fit into todays home interiors. At 150 knots per square inch you know that you are getting an area rug that will last for generations to come.

Traditional area rug construction doesn’t just have to come in traditional patterns. With the Silhouette collection from Abbyson, you get traditional Tibetan artistry, organic Himalayan sheeps wool, luxurious silk and 100% vegetable dyes all in a collection that is modern and contemporary. With colorations that will work with even the most discerning home-owner, you are sure to find just the perfect area rug with Silhouette.

Introducing Abbyson

In the next few weeks we will be introducing an amazing line of hand knotted Tibetan area rugs from a new vendor, Abbyson. Just to whet your appetite I thought I would share with you some of the collections that will be coming along. I'll let you know when they are live on the site, but until then you can check them out at Abbyson Living.

The Oceans of Time collection of area rugs from Abbyson is a luxury worth having. Hand knotted in Tibet from 100% organic Himalayan sheep’s wool these rugs have 45 knots per square inch. Dyed with 100% vegetable dyes, these eco-friendly area rugs have glorious colors that fit into the most discerning interior. You are getting more than just an area rug from Abbyson; you are getting an heirloom that will last a lifetime (or two)

Beautiful casual design with hand knotted elegance is what you get when you choose an area rug from the Moments collection from Abbyson. These rugs are hand knotted by artisans in Tibet for a stunning look that will become an heirloom. Crafted from 100% organic Himalayan sheep’s wool and dyed with 100% vegetable dyes, these eco-friendly rugs have 45 knots per square inch. Above being well made and green, Moments is a collection that will add that final touch to your home.

These exquisite examples of hand knotted area rugs come from Abbyson, a leader in Tibetan rugs. Using vegetable dyes and 100% organic Himalayan sheep’s wool, these beautifully modern designs are the perfect finishing touch to your home. Affordable luxury is what you can expect when you choose an heirloom quality rug from Abbyson.

With stunning traditional designs and deep rich colors, the rugs from the Memories collection from Abbyson are sure to add the perfect touch to any décor. These rugs are hand knotted in Tibet from 100% organic Himalayan sheep’s wool and to make them extra green they are dyed with 100% vegetable dyes. With 120 knots per square inch you will easily see the quality that goes into each Memories area rug from Abbyson.

The alluring design of the Desert Breeze collection of area rugs from Abbyson is one that will make you yearn for these hand-knotted, artisan made pieces of art. Created from 100% organic Himalayan sheep’s wool and dyed with 100% vegetable dyes, these rugs are not only stunning, but eco-friendly. At 120 knots per square inch you can be sure you a purchasing one of the finest examples of hand crafted area rugs available.

The Harvest Moon collection of rugs from Abbyson takes the traditional oriental rug to its pinnacle. Hand knotted in Tibet from the greenest of possible raw materials – organic sheeps wool and vegetable dyes, the rugs in this collection are an heirloom just waiting to happen. With 120 hand tied knots per square inch you know that you are getting an amazing well crafted area rug.

With elegant florals the Jasmine collection of fine area rugs from Abbyson is just waiting for a home to create a perfect setting. Hand knotted at 120 knots per square inch these area rugs are a fine example of Tibetan artistry. With this artistry comes an rug that is eco-friendly too, using 100% organic Himalayan sheep’s wool and 100% vegetable dye. Not only will you get a rug that will last a life time you will get a rug that is very easy on the environment.

What's in a word?

So today is earth day as I am sure you are all too aware. I recently read that Clorox had jumped on the green bandwagon. Now when I read that one, I had to do a double take. So what is it with all this green business?

Think for a minute about what it means to be environmentally friendly. For instance, is buying a car that was made in Japan that has a hybrid battery made in China, and then shipped to the US really that green? When can a chemical company that includes Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in it's list of ingredients get away with calling it's product green?

At Rugs To My Door we do the basic stuff to make our business as green as possible. We ask our staff to shut the lights off in parts of our facility they are not working in. We ask them to use the back of paper again if the front was used to print something that in hind site was useless. We installed compact fluorescent bulbs throughout all our buildings.

So what drives such decision making at Rugs To My Door? Well quite simply, green can be good not only for the environment but for the pocketbook. Rugs To My Door has grown by over 30% against last year's sales volumes. But we want to ensure we are profitable and able to pass along the benefit of such growth to our staff and not tossing it out the window towards things such as energy bills.

Being green is great-and not just because of the environment, but because of the pocketbook. It is the smarter thing to do all the way around. But I humbly suggest that before you buy the latest thing that is "painted green" you consider what it really is. Is it a bunch of chemicals with a green label pasted onto it's non-recyclable bottle? Or is it the product of a truly environmentally friendly company? There is a lot of money to be made by painting products green. There is a lot of benefit to be gained by the consumer that notices such a paint job, and is able to tell the real from the phony.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this. I am sure it may seem unconventional to some, but I simply have noticed how green everything seems to be now days and wanted to caution you to such a pitfall. Until next time, thank you for reading and good shopping to you.

Now, if you are interested in reviewing some truly green products, consider the following categories:

Wool Rugs

Sisal Rugs

Cotton Rugs

Finally, there is a really cool tool on the web that can show you what your carbon footprint is. A carbon footprint is essentially the amount of impact you leave on the environment. Check out this really cool carbon footprint calculator.

New for Tuesday

We’ve just added a new area rug manufacturer to our list – Kaleen. I’ve only been able to get about a quarter of their line up (the rest is coming next month) but I’m sure you’re going to like what you see. Kaleen used over 6500 skilled artisans across the globe to create some of the most beautiful area rugs we’ve seen. They also make sure they stock these rugs here in the USA so we can ship them out quickly and get them to you. Finally, Kaleen makes sure that they use NO Child Labor! One of my favorite collections from Kaleen is their Regency Collection. This collection of area rugs is hand loomed in India of 100% wool and comes in some amazing solid colors (one of the few wool pile rugs to have solid color ways) take a look at these rugs, I’m sure you’ll like them just as much as I do.

We have also added some really cool jute area rugs to the Fashion Source line. The Frans Fancy Collection of jute rugs is really fun and colorful. They come in some great sizes and are perfect for a casual lifestyle. Take a look at these beautiful renewable eco-friendly area rugs. There are all sorts of beautiful sisal and jute rugs we’ve add in addition to Frans Fancy – so take a browse through the entire Fashion Source line and check out what’s new.

Just wanted to remind you that today is the last day of our 72 Hour Blow-out – We have some great deals going right now on including FREE rug pad on your order – so start looking for a new rug right now!!

Finally, we are closing in on Mother’s Day and why not help mom create a space that is totally her own with a new area rug. We have thousands of inexpensive options out there no matter what mom’s tastes might be. Plus to make it even easier to get a new rug for mom I’ve got a promo code that will give you 10% off any rug order of $299 or more – and you are more than welcome to combine this code with any other promotion we have going at the time. Just type ‘Mom10’ in the promo code section as you’re checking out and you’ll get your additional discount.

Monday Rug Ramblings

Did you know that you can just as easily put an area rug over carpet as you can over hardwood or ceramic tile floors? Yep! Using rugs over carpet can be a great way to define space, add color and pizzazz to a room or heaven forbid cover up worn, dirty or stained parts of a carpet you just don’t have the money to replace yet. The principals are the same – make sure your colors work, the scale of the rug fits the room and that you get the proper rug pad for underneath it (you don’t want your rug bunching or moving around over the carpet!)

With spring in full bloom (yes the pun was intended) it’s time to put away winter comforters, sheets, draperies and bring out the lighter and livelier items. This should also include area rugs. While in the midst of winter we want deep encompassing colors, by the time spring rolls around it’s time for light, bright and airy. I know that I have winter duvet covers and winter door mats and winter coats – but I quite often forget that the area rugs I loved in the middle of January when the snow was swirling aren’t what I’m feeling in late April when the daffodils are blooming and the robins are singing. Take a minute to look around your house and see where you can do with a bit of a spring update and then take a look at all the new area rugs we’ve added at Rugs to My Door.

As I was sitting out on my patio Friday night after work soaking in the warmth, reading a book and enjoying being outside I realized that we sell myriads of indoor/outdoor area rugs and that one of them would surely make my outdoor retreat more interesting. If you’re like me and would like to create a more interesting space outside go ahead and browse through our great selection of indoor/outdoor area rugs, you’re sure to find something that works perfectly!

Well that’s about it for my rug ramblings for today. If you would like any advice on how to brighten up a room in your house (regardless if it needs a rug or not) go ahead and drop me an email and include a pic or two of the room – I’ll be glad to share some ideas with you. Here’s my email if you need it – paul.johnson@tomydoorcollection.com

Over the Hump

A friend asked me the other day to help her find a solid colored rug for her home. And like I have done for some forty odd years I started asking why… not why did she want me to help (that was obvious) but why did she want a solid colored area rug. I got an answer I’ve heard time and time again with people who are decorating in already existing spaces – she has a patterned sofa and thought that would require a solid rug. You can decorate and mix patterns if you remember a couple very simple rules.

1. Keep the scale in mind. If you are mixing patterns make sure they are of different sizes – they won’t clash that way
2. Make sure use the same color scheme. If the colors blend so will the patterns.

If you’re still scared or think this won’t work, talk to a friend that quilts – quilters are always putting pattern with pattern and have learned these rules and end up with beautiful end results. So, open up ALL the possibilities in your area rug search and keep patterns in mind.

What with it being full blown spring, now is the time to shake out the winter and open up the house. Brighten up your world with a fresh coat of paint, new pillows or even better a fresh area rug. Rugs to My Door has been steadily adding new and exciting area rugs to our site since the first of the year and you are sure to find a fresh new look with only a few clicks. AND if you can take advantage of our Spring 4 way give-away PLUS if you add “Paul’s Rug Pad Upgrade” to your check out comments – I’ll let you take advantage of all the regular promotional items AND I’ll up-grade you to premium rug pad. So, take a minute and check out all the great area rugs we have AND get some great freebies!

Finally, one of my favorite flowers is about ready to start bursting forth, lilacs – I love the delicacy, the color and the fragrance – If you enjoy it too, why not put a lilac colored area rug into your home to remind you day in and day out of these lovely spring flowers?

Tuesday Ramblings

The past couple of area rug markets I’ve been too have featured a lot of really cool modern and contemporary area rugs. I thought I would highlight this fact in case you are looking for something a bit more unusual. We have thousands of area rugs that fall into this category so take a minute (or ten) to check them out.

Jargon gets tossed about in almost every field, area rugs are just the same. One of these terms that I think make very little sense to anybody outside of the area rug field is “Soft Contemporary” now I’ve heard rugs described this way, or Transitional, or Casual. At Rugs to My Door we chose the term Casual to put rugs like this into. Now, what kind of rug is a Casual rug? The best way to describe it is to tell you what it is not. It isn’t a traditional oriental style area rug, nor is it one of those stark modern rugs either. A casual area rug can bring a look together, can fit in many different settings, isn’t harsh, it’s somewhat contemporary and somewhat traditional. A casual area rug is very much a fusion of styles. To get a better idea, take a look through our Casual Area Rugs section on the site.

I was just reading through Pantone’s color forecast for 2009 – While I think blue is still going to be hot, they are saying yellow is 2009’s hot color choice. Well they are also saying that there isn’t a color out there any more that you can’t use inside your home. Rugs to My Door makes it easy to search for the exact color you want with our Search Tool on the left side of the home page. So regardless if it’s Blue (like I think) or a Yellow area rug like Pantone thinks, you will be able to find it quickly and buy it even quicker.

We have been diligently updating our Child’s Room section – take a look at the rugs we offer that will help you and your child create a room that makes you both happy. One quick tip – area rugs for your kid’s rooms don’t have to have a children’s theme – I wanted shag when I was a kid and my sister wanted something that went with her Southwest Theme – go figure.

Well that’s all my area rug ramblings for today – if you ever have any questions or comments please feel free to drop me a line at paul.johnson@rugstomydoor.com

Thoughts of Spring

We got lucky here in Michigan and had a beautifully sunny Easter Weekend. But with that sun comes reminders to those of us in the flooring business that some fibers fade more than others when put in direct sun light. Seeing as we are heading into the months were that beautiful yellow orb is more prominent in out lives I thought I’d point out a couple of the fibers that don’t fade as easily (especially if you’re looking to put a rug in a very sunny spot)

First look at rugs made from polyester – there aren’t as many rugs out there right now in this fiber as there are wall-to-wall carpets, but its coming.

Another fiber to look at is polypropylene (or olefin) – although this is a slightly weaker fiber than nylon or wool – what it lacks in strength it more than makes up for in color fastness and clean-ability. One of the best polypropylene collections we have is Sphinx Family Friendly collection, all sorts of great styles, colors and prices, plus a 10 year no stain or soil warranty – check these rugs out if you want a rug to stand up to all those kids.

Another great thing about this time of year is the getting back outside after the cold of winter and enjoying the outdoors again. If you spent your weekend in the home centers looking at plants, fertilizer and patio furniture its time to check out our Indoor/Outdoor area rugs. We have really beefed up our selection this year so I’m sure you’ll be able to find one that works just perfectly for your home. In fact, some of these rugs are so beautiful that when you’re done with them outdoors they are going to work and look just great indoors.

We have an amazing promotion going on right now – so many of our manufacturers have excess inventory that they are all over us to move it. So much so that they are making it darn near impossible not to buy an area rug right now – I mean all you have to do is buy a rug (or rugs) of $299 value or more and you get all sorts of freebies –who could ask for more??

My final thought for today is that we all are looking for ways to save money and feel more secure and where we might not be able to afford a new sofa, big screen TV, addition to our homes, we all want something that makes things seem just a little bit better – well an area rug can brighten up an tired interior or just add some punch to an old living room set you can’t afford to replace quite yet. And you can get a new rug for a lot less than you can a new sofa!

Cool Braids

A quick entry before I join my nieces and nephews on their egg hunt (I got to hide the eggs this year, should prove interesting!)

I was just looking through our indoor/outdoor rug assortment and noticed these really cool area rugs from Nina Upson Home. They have fun motifs, hooked portions and braided portions. They are very interesting. With all these different constructions they are sure to add some cool textures and depths to your rooms both inside and out. That's one of the best things about these rugs is the fact that although they work well outside, inside they can be a god send. Just think if an area rug can stand up to the elements, what's it going to do when your family gets a hold of it? These rugs are perfect for areas that have a lot of spill potential. Spill on the rug and then just take it outside and hose it off, what could be easier?

If you haven't taken a good look at our collection of Nina Upson Home area rugs, take a minute to browse this wonderful selection of beautiful area rugs, you'll see why we are happy to have Nina's rugs among our list of collections.

Good Friday to Ya

Today’s quick note – area rug pad. Yeah it sounds like something extra you don’t need, that’s what I thought too until my rugs started sliding all over the place and one night after a couple glasses of wine I nearly slipped and fell. You would think that as an area rug guy I would know and would have put rug pads down when I put the rugs on the floor… but no, I thought they were an unnecessary piece of frou-frou. So, because of my near accidental fall onto me bum I had Danielle in our Customer Care department order rug pad (or grip in this case) for all my rugs. So, when you order you rug(s) make sure you also get a rug pad for under it. We have rug pad for every situation – whether you are going over carpet or hard surface.

Seeing as we’re based in Detroit I’m making a special offer for Tiger’s Opening Day, I’m going to give away a free scatter rug with your purchase of 5.3x7.6 or 7.10x10.6 sized rug from our Motown collection. Just type in your check out comments “Tiger’s Opening Day” and I’ll send you the free 1.10x3 scatter rugs that match your larger purchase. The Motown collection has a great selection of looks and styles so you are sure to find something that will work in your home. I’ve linked to the Motown rug collection to take a browse! This offer is good thru Monday April 13th.

Final thought for the day, area rugs are perfect for renters, you can add your own sense of style to a space and then roll it up and take it with you when you leave – how perfect is that?

A Couple of Quick Thoughts

Kinda in a rambling mood today so I thought I would give you a couple quick thoughts on what is going on here at Rugs to My Door.

First, We have a really great, really easy to use rug cleaner called Rug Renew - This product is the easiest way to clean up those surprises that seem to happen in the home (like this past week when my sister found my 3 year old niece in their once white bathroom, holding a blue marker... seems she, the niece, had decided to add a bit of flair to the cupboards, the tile, the floor, the towels, the walls... I mean blue and white do go together don't they?) Well Rug Renew is what you need for moments like this to keep the rug you've invested in looking new. So, here's I'm going to do for the next 5 days - Just type "Paul's Rug Renew Offer" into your check-out comments when you purchase a rug from Rugs to My Door and I will send you a free bottle of Rug Renew with you order - doesn't matter what size order - just remember to type "Paul's Rug Renew Offer" in your check out comments - easy as pie!

Second, we have got some great new sisal, sea grass and jute rugs loading onto the site over the weekend - they should be ready for you to view by Monday - take a moment to check them out and let me know what you think about these rugs. You can find them by clicking "Shop by Brand" on our home page and then going to "Fashion Source" - they'll be on the last two pages.

Finally, We have a great spring promo going right now - Get a $50 Visa Gift card, Free Shipping and Free 30 Day in home trial on any purchase of $399 or greater - but hurry this promo is ending on Good Friday.

Well that all for today - don't forget about all the freebies we're giving away and enjoy this 9th day of April

The Blahs??

It’s Friday and it’s grey and rainy – not how you want to start the weekend, especially here in Detroit where the NCAA Final Four are taking place – you want sun, warm, excitement – all the things that go with a huge influx of people, parties, and sports – but alas it is grey. It seems that grey is always associated with dreary so I’ve taken it upon myself to prove that thought wrong. I’m picking out a few area rugs from Rugs to My Door that show how exciting and full of life grey can be. Grey makes a great foil in these rugs and allows the elements within them to pop. By the time you’re done reading this post and exploring the grey rugs we have, I’ll wager that you’ll see grey as something more than blah too.

First off, we have the Icon rug from Delos. Delos along with their European counterparts Brink & Campman have been turning out some of the most interesting Contemporary area rugs out there. Icon is a perfect example of this. This rug does a good job of showing how when employed with electric blue grey makes things pop. This area rug is hand tufted in China from Mod Acrylic (known to me as the poor man’s wool) the brilliant design is enhanced by the selection of colors to make a contemporary area rug that will make your room explode!

Speaking of icons let’s take a look at a true icon in the world of contemporary area rugs – New Wave from Momeni. This collection has been the benchmark for contemporary and modern designs in the rug market for years now and you can easily see why with this example. With the bold over-sized traditional motif set on a back ground of grey you get an area rug that decidedly makes a statement. All New Wave area rugs are hand tufted from 100% wool in a style that gives you an almost Tibetan like effect. Make sure you check out all our New Wave area rugs.

Let’s wrap things up with one of my favorite rug manufacturers, Chandra. This company truly knows how to work with design and color. For example is their use of scale and eye popping color on the Fenja area rug. Talk about grey not being boring – this rug is anything but. The entire collection of Fenja area rugs are hand tufted of 100% New Zealand wool making them not only eye catching but long lasting. Make sure you browse through all of Chandra’s rugs (we’re adding more next month so make an appointment to stop back) and especially through the bold and exciting graphic designs of the Fenja area rug collection.

Hopefully, these few area rugs have shown you that grey doesn’t need to be dreary, that when used with color and design it can actually create something quite spectacular.

April Showers....

I think that I can safely say (now that it is April) that spring is finally upon us. What I love most about this season is all the life, the colors, the return of birds, flowers, trees…. The rebirth that comes every year. Of course with spring come my plans for my garden this year. What flowers are going to grace my yard? How will the roses look? How much bigger will the perennials get? And how many different types of tomatoes can I squeeze into my container veggie garden? With all that in mind I thought I would share with you some of the rugs that Rugstomydoor.com has that remind me of spring. So, here are a few examples of beautiful spring inspired rugs, and only a very few. If you have a few spare moments you should browse through our pages of area rugs and let me know which rugs inspire you to think spring!

Nothing says spring more to me than when my magnolia tree (or tulip tree as we call them in Western Michigan) starts blooming – it is just lovely and totally reminds me that I’m enjoying spring. Well, with the Magnolia rug from Feizy you can have that feeling year round. Hand crafted in India from wool with art silk detailing this beautiful area rug definitely reminds me (and hopefully you too) of the beauty that we see each spring when the magnolia’s start to bloom.

How about this uniquely shaped rug from Kas? With its scalloped edges and traditional floral motif (not to mention the lovely green color) the Providence Floral Court area rug is a beautiful reminder that it is spring. This exquisite area rug is hand tufted of dense wool and will look amazing in any grand Victorian home or traditional setting. Spring doesn’t have to be the chaos of buds bursting forth, but it can be a lovely controlled beauty just like this area rug.

Speaking of the lovely chaos of buds and blooms bursting forth, how about another beautiful area rug from Kas? The Ruby Floral Haven area rug is chock-a-block full of color and life – with its bushy roses in vibrant colors and its intricate patterns to accent any room that requires a rug to burst forth. This area rug is hand crafted in China using over twenty different colors of wool yarn and then washed to give you a rug with wondrous softness and shine.

Finally, along with flowers this time of year gets me thinking of my vegetable garden. Well with this rug from 828 International Trading Co you can bring your ideas for your vegetable garden into your home. The Accents Vegetable area rug is a fine example of just this. Hand hooked of 100% cotton this rug will be a lovely addition to your home and will remind you day in and day out of the wonders and joys that spring brings out in people.

So, there you have a few examples of the area rugs to be found on Rugs to My Door that bring out the spring inside your house – please feel free to take a few minutes (or more) and browse through all our rugs and let me know what rugs bring out the spring in you.

Natural Fibers

If you seek a truly eco-friendly area rug you should look through our collection of Bamboo rugs. Bamboo is one of nature’s most renewable resources and it creates lovely area rugs. Bamboo is a strong fiber and is naturally hypo-allergenic; creating a rug that will work well in most settings. This abundant and fast growing plant (actually a grass) is well suited for area rugs. So, regardless if you’re looking for a traditional bamboo area rug made up of slats of bamboo or the new exciting bamboo shag rug (that feel softer than silk) take a browse through our selection of bamboo area rugs.

Coir is the fiber found between the husk and the shell of the coconut. This naturally occurring fiber is both strong and renewable, making a rug made from coir both durable and eco-friendly. The Coir fiber is made mainly in India and Sri Lanka and because of its durability and strength makes amazing wonderful area rugs. Not only is a rug made from coir a renewable resource the rug is also biodegradable. Look through our collections of beautiful and wonderfully textured coir rugs.

Cotton has been used for years to make everything from paper to clothing to area rugs. Quite often seen as only a rug for the bathroom, cotton has come out and can be found in numerous varieties of area rugs. One of the best examples of a cotton fiber rug is the braided rug. Because cotton is not very resilient, using strips of fabric to create a braided rug is one of the best and most durable ways to enjoy this beautiful and eco-friendly fiber.

Jute is one of the numerous plant fibers used in rug production. Made mainly of long cellulose strands from the plants in the Tiliaceae family, jute is known by many names from hessian, gunny sack to good old burlap. One of the main producers of jute for area rugs is India. Jute is often blended with other fibers such as wool to create stunning visual effects. We have a fascinating collection of area rugs made from jute or blended with jute for you to peruse.

Leather area rugs are strong and beautiful. Whether you are looking for a leather shag rug or a leather rug made from flat pieces we have examples of all to meet your needs. Leather rugs make a beautiful textural statement and come in a variety of colors and patterns. Leather can be vacuumed and is very durable in the home. So if you are looking for a unique take on an area rug, take a look at all the leather rugs that we offer.

Sisal is more than a catch all term for natural fiber area rugs. It is actually different that coir, jute or sea grass. Sisal comes from the agave plant (yes, the same plant that gives tequila) but instead of liquor, with sisal you get an area rug. Produced mainly in Mexico, this plant and its fibers are all natural, renewable and make lovely, durable rugs. A sisal rug will not trap dust so it is easily cleaned, but should be treated with fiber sealer to make liquid spills easier to clean.