Buying Rugs & Carpets: Tips for Making a Good Choice

You don’t have to be an interior designer to know that no home is complete until a rug has been added to it. The act of actually purchasing a rug can be a difficult thing to do, though. The average person’s knowledge of rugs and carpets is minimal, to say the least. Most people wouldn’t be able to tell a synthetic rug from one that’s made from wool or cotton. This post hopes to change that, however. In this article, you will learn some tips that you can use to identify rug materials and a few pieces of advice that you can use to make a good choice when buying a rug for your home.

Think About Aesthetics

Aesthetics are the very first thing you need to think about. Under no circumstances should you buy a rug unless it suits your home. A lot of people make the mistake of rushing the process, buying the first rug they get their hands on. However, waiting a while and performing a little bit of research can help you to get one that actually suits your home. Finding stylish area rugs is not difficult, but finding ones that match your home’s interior can be. The best place to turn to if you are seeking advice is a rug dealer. A rug dealer will be able to talk you through what kind of rugs would suit your home best. You can send them pictures of your home’s interior, and they can offer their insights.

Buying Quality Materials

In the introduction to this post, reference was given to the undeniable fact that most people cannot tell the difference between a rug that’s made from synthetic materials and one that’s made from natural ones. When you are buying rugs, try to find ones made from natural materials like wool and cotton. Rugs of this kind hold their value a lot better than synthetic ones. If reselling is not something that bothers you and you only want a rug for home improvement, however, go ahead and buy one that’s made from synthetics. The best way to tell if a rug is made out of wool is to pluck a thread from it and burn it. If it burns, it is probably made from synthetic material, since wool does not burn.

Understanding Maintenance

The downside to buying a rug that is made out of a natural material like wool is that it will be a lot more vulnerable to attack from clothes moths and carpet beetles. These insects can destroy natural textiles. They can also attack synthetic ones, provided they are soiled. You need to make sure that you take care of your rugs and carpets, which you can do by regularly cleaning them. Steam cleaning is one of the best options because it can kill clothes moths and carpet beetle larvae, which are otherwise almost impossible to remove. You also need to vacuum your carpets and rugs and beat them outside once a week. Vacuuming and beating can dislodge dirt that’s trapped deep within your textiles. Once a year it’s also sensible to send your rug away to a professional cleaning company, as they will be able to perform a much more extensive cleaning than you will.

Matching with Furniture

The rug you ultimately choose needs to match the furniture you have in your house. Bringing a rug into your home that doesn’t match can ruin its appearance and make your home look poorly designed. Not everybody is an expert in interior design and most people have no idea what looks good, which is why it’s essential to get in touch with a professional interior designer and ask them to help you if you are struggling. You can also ask a rug dealer for advice, though some may charge for consultation services. A free option you have at your disposal is to sign up for and use an internet forum like Reddit. On Reddit, you can use subforums devoted to interior design and ask hobby interior designers for their support. You do not have to pay to use Reddit and the advice you get there can be just as good as what you would get from a professional.

Consider Carpet Size

You also need to think about carpet size. A lot of people who are new to interior design make the mistake of buying rugs without checking their measurements first. If you do not verify a rug is going to fit in your home before you buy it, there is a chance that it could be either too big or too small. All rugs have their dimensions listed on their sale pages, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a rug’s measurements. Once you know what a rug measures, you can go ahead and take measurements at home to make sure that it is going to fit. If it does not fit, you could ask the dealer if they offer the rug in a smaller size. The only time it is unlikely for a rug dealer to be able to offer a carpet in a smaller size is if it is an antique.

Reselling In the Future

Finally, think about getting your money back in the future. In the past, people collected rugs so that they could sell them if times ever got hard. Rugs can be very desirable, provided you have the right ones. Of all rug types, Persian rugs hold their value the best. However, you do need to make sure that you buy them from a reliable source and that you are getting a good deal. Because the antique rug industry is in a sorry state at the moment, dealers have started upping their prices on people. It’s very hard to get yourself an antique Persian rug for a good price unless you know where to look. You can also resell synthetic rugs, though they do not typically appreciate in value.

Buying rugs and carpets can be a challenge if you have never had to before. However, just because something is difficult does not mean that it is impossible. You can use the guidance here to make sure that you get yourself a good deal.