Machine Made Rugs: A Cheap Alternative

Rugs are used throughout the home, not only for practical purposes like wiping your feet at an entry way, but for decorating and adding style to each room as well. If you are looking to use rugs to accessorize a room you may want to consider machine made rugs which are a much cheaper alternative to expensive hand crafted rugs.

Made at a Lower Cost

The main benefit to purchasing machine made rugs instead of hand woven rugs is the price. Because the rugs are made by a machine and are made at a faster rate than hand woven rugs, they cost a lot less. Because they are not made by a craftsman, their value when purchased will not last unlike a hand woven rug that can retain its value for many years.

Many times the cost of the rug is higher with hand woven or knotted rugs simply because of the time and the work that goes in to them, but there also may be a difference in types of materials and dyes used in the rugs. Machine made rugs may use cheaper materials and dyes that may not endure as long under high traffic situations but the difference in price between the two is often so great that buying an additional machine made rug to replace a well used one is still saving money in the long run.

If you are purchasing the rug as a piece of art to invest in then splurge for the hand woven rugs, otherwise machine made rugs are a much better value.

Pros and Cons of Machine made Rugs

Machine made rugs are made in so many different intricate patterns and designs that to most people it is hard to tell the difference between the two. The backing is one way to discern between a machine made rug and a hand made rug but not many visitors to your home will be checking the backing on the rug. Another reason to purchase a machine made rug is that hand woven rugs will have natural imperfections in them while a machine made rug will rarely have any imperfections. Any design that can be imagined can be made in to a machine made rug design by inputting it in to the computer which allows for a wide variety in choices but will also not be an original handcrafted one-of-a kind design.

Choice of Materials

Machine made rugs can be made from synthetic materials or natural materials. Rugs made from synthetic materials are cheaper but also lower quality. Synthetic fibers are generally easier to clean than organic and natural materials however. Wool tends to be one of the more popular choices because of its durability. Eco-friendly materials are also common in machine made rugs for those looking for an environmental friendly option. Generally, the thicker the rug the higher quality and the more expensive the rug will be. Many people think of the more modern designs when they think of machine made rugs but they are also available in oriental, traditional, Turkish and European style rugs.