The most common rugs are ‘area rugs’ which are handmade using natural fibers such as wool or silk. They are made throughout the world and include Native American, Persian, European and Persian rug varieties. Area rugs are usually rectangular in shape and sizes tend to be one of these three sizes 4’x 6’, 6’ x 9’ and 9’ x 11’. Smaller versions are generally termed ‘scatter rugs’ (for bathroom use typically).
The best type of rug is a woolen rug. Wool can be blended with other fibres ( sheep’s wool of a different breed or synthetic materials) to produce a very fine wool which can be used for bed covers and wall hangings as well as rugs.
A natural woolen rug has a unique set of properties that makes it the best of all rug types despite using the oldest fibers known to mankind. The advantages of a woolen rug is that it is waterproof, fire resistant, long wearing, elastic, it dyes easily, resists dirt, in anti-static, is great for noise reduction and is a good insulator. The closer the tufts are put together (the pile) the better, as the rug will be able to resist wear and tear. Bathroom rugs were wool rugs at one time but now are mostly made from acrylic material, which is a wool substitute that reduces the cost of the rug considerably.
Rag rugs are the most economical of rug types as a rag rug can be created at home from used items of clothing which otherwise would be destined for the scrapheap.
Hand Knotted rugs made in the best rug making countries (Persia, China,Pakistan and Afganistan) can be valuable antiques if you happen to own one so it might be wise to hang such a rug on a wall rather than have it in everyday use. However, a rug underlay or pad is a good investment as it will prolong the rugs life.
