That’s right – rugs are back! For some time it was fashionable to fully expose your wooden floors (and wooden floors and other original features are still as stylish as ever) but such bland and frankly impractical styles of décor are no longer preferred by most. People are now instead choosing to make the most of their floors by augmenting them with contemporary rugs.

A contemporary rug is not only stylish but also practical too. They’re easy to clean, can be easily removed when the time comes to clean or vacuum your floors, and they can be quickly shaken or beaten outside, negating the need for vacuuming. If you are the kind of person who likes to shake things up a little and you change the layout or décor of your home regularly, rugs are the perfect way to alternate styles and color schemes without the expense of fitted carpets.

If you are a bit of a style guru then you probably already know about the concept of zoning. If not, then this is something that would be useful to learn, particularly I you have an open plan home or studio apartment. Zoning is a technique used by professional interior designers to create the illusion of different spaces within one room. One effective way to do this is by using a contemporary area rug to indicate different areas. Using several rugs in one room can have the psychological effect of dividing the larger space into separate zones with individual uses. Dining areas and sitting areas for example, or a separate area for reading or relaxing.

Of course the specific use of a room or area will help to determine what type of rug you will use. Contemporary area rugs are available in a variety of styles, including some modern interpretations of the classics. For the bedroom there can be nothing better than nice contemporary wool rugs to give you that feeling of warmth and luxuriance when you step out of bed in a morning. This type of rug is also ideal for a cozy seating area, the thick pile providing a feeling of warmth and comfort during a relaxing evening by the fire (or TV). A rug with a shorter pile would be more appropriate for a dining area or a ‘high traffic’ area such as a hallway.

There really is nothing quite like stepping barefoot from the cold of a wooden or tiled floor onto the warmth of a rug. Because of this, rugs have never been out of style for very long. Wherever there is a wooden floor, large room or open plan space, the décor will never be truly complete without a stylish contemporary rug.

As a child I spent many hours playing outside on my grandmother’s outdoor area rug. My grandparents lived on a farm with large gardens not too far from my childhood home and on a warm summers day my mother would take my brother and I out to play there. Always my grandmother would lay a rug out in front of the house, complete with an assortment of strange and wonderful toys from my father’s youth. It always seemed strange to me that she thought we would need a rug to sit on – surely that’s what grass is for, I thought. But then grass can cause stubborn stains on clothing. Of course some people are not so lucky as to have a plush lawn like my grandmother’s and may have to contend with dust and dirt on a dry day. It wasn’t until some years later that I discovered a nest of fire ants only yards away in the orchard (a very painful discovery as I remember) and realized the main reason for my grandmother’s insistence upon the rug.

Of course there are other reasons to use a rug outdoors, and it needn’t only be for the benefit of children. A rug can greatly enhance your enjoyment of sitting outside on a summers day, bringing a little bit of civilization and comfort to the great outdoors. What can be more relaxing than sitting in the sunshine with a glass of cool lemonade and your feet on a nice cozy rug?

Today, there are many rugs that are specially designed to be used both indoors and outdoors (when my grandmother’s rug was not being used outside it belonged in the kitchen, although whether it was specially designed for outdoor use I cannot say). If you are to use a rug outdoors it is highly recommended that you use a specially designed outdoor rug, any other rug might be so hardwearing and could be damaged by weather conditions. Outdoor rugs are weatherproof and resistant to mildew.

There are a surprising variety of rugs available for use outdoors, and most can function as an indoor outdoor rug. From bamboo rugs and mats to stunningly designed outdoor patio rugs and area rugs in both classic and contemporary styles. The world of indoor outdoor area rugs also includes outdoor doormats, which are available in equal variety of size, shape and design.

Round rugs were once incredibly rare. Oval shaped rugs have been popular in the past but these went out of style a long time ago and are now seen as being out dated and undesirable. Contemporary design favors the aesthetic of simple geometric shapes such as the circle. Because of this, circular rugs have become increasingly popular.

Circular rugs are well suited to many contemporary spaces, in the center of a seating area for example, perhaps beneath a circular coffee table or as a centerpiece for the room. The few people who have round dining tables may also consider a round rug for their dining areas.

Smaller round rugs can also add interest to under dressed areas of a room, such as an empty corner. For example, a standard lamp or tall case can fill an awkward space but these items can sometimes look as though they are missing something. Placing a small rug underneath will solve this problem and can help to break up the angular nature of a room.

Rugs are also useful for creating different areas within one larger room. Professional designers refer to this technique as ‘zoning’ and typically use square or rectangular rugs to create the illusion of separate spaces. Round area rugs do the job just as well, however, and will create a more casual look. This works equally well in large spaces, where bold design ideas will have a greater impact, and small spaces where square rugs would cause zones to overlap.

The issue of rugs in contemporary design is often considered to be a matter of taste, with various styles of rug coming in and out of style throughout the years. But the fact is that rugs offer many advantages. Aside from ‘zoning’ rugs allow you to keep the stylish effect of exposed floorboards whilst giving you a warm spot to rest your feet. They are also usually much less expensive that fitted carpets (depending on which style of rug you choose).

Rugs are also easy to clean. Most smaller rugs can be machine washed and larger rugs are usually no harder to clean than a standard carpet. They can also be shaken or beaten outside as a quick alternative, removing the need for vacuum cleaning and keeping your home free of dust and dirt.

If you have never considered buying a round area rug before now, perhaps this article will give you something to think about. Round rugs are available in many stores and in as many sizes and styles as you could wish for, be it a round bath rug, or a round shag rug. Another popular option is round braided rugs; my grandma had a few in her house. Large or small. Contemporary, classic or retro – you are sure to find a circular rug to suit your personal taste and the décor of your home.

Throw rugs have been a part of American home design since time immemorial. They can add a touch of interest or a splash of color, even a touch of class or a hint of taste to any room in which they are placed. They also help to keep our feet warm and our floors clean. Their incredible popularity and their long history has bred an unbelievable variety of rugs throughout the years. This variety of styles, shapes and sizes means that there is a rug for every area of every home, from bedrooms to bathrooms and dining rooms to dens, and a rug to suit every style of home décor, from classic to contemporary and tribal to traditional.

A well chosen and well placed throw rug will not only help toad interest and aesthetic appeal to your home by looking good in its own right, but it will also enhance the existing décor of a room – this means that rugs can have a double aesthetic function.

But of course rugs are about more than just aesthetics, they also have several practical functions. Let’s take a look at some of the many advantages offered by throw rugs now.

Easy to Clean
One of the best things about rugs is that they are easy to clean, they can be vacuumed and washed just like a larger carpet. Some can even be machine washed. The advantage of throw rugs here is that they are usually much smaller than area rugs and so can be easily taken outside and shaken or beaten. This will remove excess dust and dirt.

In the Bathroom
Rugs can be used in the bathroom, by the side of the bath, shower or underneath a sink. This will help to collect any water that you might spill, absorbing it rather than allowing it to damage your floors. Kitchen throw rugs can also be used near the sink to catch any stray drips from washing dishes or the like. Nearly all bathroom and kitchen rugs are washable throw rugs because of their size and rubberized backing.

High Traffic Areas
Some areas of our home are used more than others, in particular hallways and corridors that provide access to other rooms. These are known as ‘high traffic’ areas. Carpeting in these areas can quickly become worn from overuse. It often makes sense to cover high traffic areas with rugs so as to extend the life o your carpet.

Protecting your Carpets and Floors
In addition to protecting your carpets from wear and tear, employing a rug will have the effect of protecting your floor from accidental spills and stains.

Say Goodbye to Cold Feet
The main reason for the incredible popularity of rugs is their propensity to keep our feet warm. Whether a rug is by your sofa, in front of your fireplace, on a cold kitchen floor or by the side of your bed, it will add an extra dimension of comfort and warmth. There is nothing worse than climbing out of bed on a morning and having cold feet!

That’s right – the rug is back! It’s back in fashion and warming both the feet, and the décor of those who no longer want to suffer for having beautiful floors.

In addition to the obvious aesthetic advantages of rugs, there are some other benefits too. Here are some of the main advantages that rugs can offer.

Easy to Clean

The great thing about rugs is that they are easy to clean – much easier than fitted carpets. Many area rugs can be machine washed (providing you can fit them into your washer that is). Others could be easily hand washed, again depending on their size. For large rugs, specialist area rug cleaning services are available or you can clean them with a standard carpet cleaner.

On a more day-to-day basis, rugs can also be shaken or beaten outside to free them of dust and dirt. This reduces the need for vacuuming. They can also be easily lifted or removed when the time comes to clean your floor.

Cover Up Stains

As well as being easy to clean, you can use accent rugs to cover up stains on a carpet or floor. This might sound like cheating but sometimes a stain simply cannot be removed, if it can then a rug cover-up could be used as a temporary measure.

Zoning

‘Zoning’ is a term used by expert interior decorators. Put simply it means using furniture in certain arrangements to create the illusion of separate areas within one room. Rugs are also a good way to create separate areas or ‘zones’. Using different rugs to divide a large room into zones will make it feel much more cozy and provide a basis for the layout of your furniture. If you have a shared dining and seating area or dining and kitchen area, it can be useful to create a psychological barrier between them. Many people also chose to create the illusion of zones within their living rooms, creating a separate reading area, TV area or play area for kids.

No More Cold Feet

Both cold feet and cold bottoms will benefit from some floor rugs. If your children play on the floor (as most children do) then you’ll want to provide them with a comfortable place to sit and play.

There are rugs for all corners of your home in almost infinite variety. A thick shag rug is perfect for the bedroom or a comfortable seating area. A large rug with a short weft will give the kids a clean and comfortable place to play.