Area Rugs & Flooring (01)

Design With Rugs
Tips for selecting a rug for your home by the Carpet & Rug Institute. The subject is more complex than you'd think. They say: When decorating your home, think of your floors as the foundation for your design scheme. An area rug can visually integrate or harmonize eclectic elements in any decor or can revitalize a room.

Rug Selection and Use
A University of Nebraska NebGuide publication that covers different rug types and styles, as well as cost and consumer considerations. For example, consumer considerations include weaving, texture, color, soiling, pattern use, padding and labeling. Styles range from Berbers, braided and hooked to kilims, dhurries and oriental rugs.

Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo isn't a wood, but rather a grass. Bamboo is attractive as a building material because it is very hard, strong, and dimensionally stable. Environmentally, it’s hard to argue with a wood-substitute that matures in three years, regenerates without need for replanting, and requires minimal fertilization or pesticides. In fact, these larger species of bamboo have been used in construction for thousands of years, and even in modern Asian cities it’s not uncommon to see a large concrete building being constructed from a bamboo scaffolding. This article discusses a lot about bamboo flooring and how it can be effectively used, and decoratively.

Great Floor Ideas
Sunset publications presents this book, Ideas for Great Floors. Find out how to purchase the book, which gives great flooring ideas for homes. Includes ceramic tile flooring, rugs, hard wood floors and other floor coverings.

Flooring Advice
This flooring advice center offers some articles that discuss various methods of flooring, including rugs. A question and answer section includes information about laminate flooring and instructions for installing flooring.

Special Report: Area Rug Buyer's Guide
If you're in the market for an area rug there are several things you should know, and this excellent article by Woosy.com is filled with helpful hints and tips. According to this article, an authethnic hand made area rug can tie a room together and enhance the beauty of a space more securly than any other design element. Begin by determining what size of area rug you need. Small area rugs and scatter rugs can be used to cover small areas, say around a table or bed or before a hearth, or a larger area rug can be used to cover virtually an entire floor. In the living room an area rug can be used under the coffee table and before the sofa. Always make certain that all chairs and guest's feet will be firmly on top of any area rug. If an area rug is to cover an entire hard wood floor, make certain that approximately 8 inches of wood are left explosed all around the room. In the dining room the area rug needs to be large enough that when chairs are pulled back from the table all four legs remain on the rug. Dark and busy patterns are preferable for stairway rugs. Dense patterns and a durable wool pile are best fopr entrances and hallways. This extensive and informative article also covers the types and color of furnishings that go with different types, colors and patterns of area rugs, rug runners, oval rugs and round rugs. There are also helpful hints and tips on the best use of multiple area rugs.