Choosing an Area Rug

Is your living room looking a little, oh, I don’t know, drab? Does it somehow feel incomplete? Or perhaps your dining room table just isn’t doing the room justice on its own? Your apartment could be suffering from a rare condition known as Lackofrugitis. It’s okay if you’ve never heard of it; the main thing is that you are now aware of it.

Lackofrugitis sadly affects one out of every three apartment tenants. The symptoms are clearly evident, yet most of those afflicted aren’t even aware that they are suffering from it. Here’s a checklist to help determine if you or someone you love may have Lackofrugitis:

• Cold or chilly feet
• A feeling of emptiness in the room
• Speech echoes
• Aching or numb backside when sitting on the wood floor for prolonged periods
• Lack of floor-based romantic tendencies

Lackofrugitis is a serious issue, but it’s one that can be treated. In order to beat this debilitating condition, you must take the only known cure for it–a new area rug.

How to Measure the Floor for the Right Area Rug
Believe it or not, simply purchasing a new rug won’t cure Lackofrugitis. Choosing the wrong area rug can actually bring on a case of “Unevenroomatosis.” In order to be completely cured of this affliction, you need to know the basics about how to measure the floor for the right area rug.

An easy way to measure for an area rug is to take masking tape and frame an outline of the rug on your floor. This will give you an idea of the perfect-sized rug for your purpose. Once you have the tape down, use a measuring tape to measure the dimensions.

If you have a coffee table in your living room, then you will want about a foot of rug visible on each side underneath the table. If you do not own a coffee table, then it is okay if the edge of the carpet fits underneath the front end of the sofa.

“The ideal area rug should sit under at least the front third of the furniture that’s located in the room,” says Tim J. of Kepple’s Carpet in Runnemede, NJ.

Deciding on the Type of Area Rug
Area rugs come in a wide range of styles and shopping for a rug can be both exciting and after a while, a little tedious. For that reason, it’s good to have a little information before heading to the store. Here are a few different types of rugs and how they differ from one another.

• Handmade–These area rugs are tufted by hand, meaning that the rug maker uses a tufting gun to push and pull the threads through the scrim. The various types of handmade runs include hand-tufted, hand-hooked or hand-knotted.
• Woven–These area rugs are typically machine made with the threads woven by a type of mechanical loom. This is typically a much tighter weave.
• Flat Weave–This type of area rug is made without the use of a pile. The yarn is woven through warps to create the pattern. Needlepoint is a type of flat weave.

Famous Names of Area Rugs
In the world of area rugs, there are some names that are held a little higher in regard than others. Although these rugs may cost more than your garden-variety area rug, the quality is definitely noticeable. If you’re looking for an area rug to last through the years, then you should consider rugs from these makers:

• Shaw
• Mohawk
• Radicci
• Sphinx
• Kaleen
• United Weavers of America

Where to Purchase Your Area Rug Online
The Internet makes it easier than ever to locate and purchase the area rug of your dreams. Many of the rug stores found online offer free shipping and discounted prices, so the value is just as important as the quality and the service. Here are a few online rug sales portals that you should definitely look to for your new area rug:

• Rugs To My Door
• Rug Sale
• Rugs Direct
• Rugs USA
• Area Rug Station
• Natural Area Rugs

How to Care for Your Area Rug
Once you are cured of your bout of Lackofrugitis, you will want to keep to a healthy regimen of rug upkeep if you want to keep it from coming back too soon. In order to keep your area rug looking like new, it is advised that you also purchase an area rug pad. The pad helps keep wear to a minimum, especially in high-traffic areas. You should also clean up any spills immediately. Here is a proven technique as directed by the experts at Davan Floors.

• 1. Blot the spill with a clean cloth.
• 2. Use a solution of clear dish-washing detergent (non-bleach) and water to spot clean the area.
• 3. Rinse the area with clean water.
• 4. Blot dry with another clean cloth.

Follow these simple steps and you will not only find the cure to both Lackofrugitis and Unevenroomatosis, but you’ll maintain your area rug’s health and vitality for a good number of years.