What is a natural rug? A natural rug is one that is made from any one of a variety of natural materials. This can include materials from silk to jute. The latest wave in area rug fashion, though, is to go green. To think ecologically savvy.

A key component of thinking ecologically is to choose rugs made from materials that rapidly renew themselves. For those wanting traditional carpets, this is best accomplished through wool and bamboo area rugs.

Wool

Sheep are constantly re-growing their wool coats. There is no shortage of sheep and the shearing of the wool is humane and even necessary to the animal. Wool rugs last a very long time and have a nice feel to them. You can get wool rugs in all your favorite designs, from oriental to modern. You will find that the wool rugs cost a bit more than the many synthetics on the market, but will keep as a family heirloom.

Bamboo

Bamboo is another rapidly renewing product. The longest growing period to harvest bamboo is just under nine months and the bamboo plant is quite prolific. Soft bamboo rugs are a recent development to the market in mass quantities. Bamboo area rugs are constructed out of micro fibers and have an incredibly and surprisingly soft hand. You will still have a harder time finding these on the market, but they are out there hiding in the specialty stores.

You can also find bamboo rugs that are not woven into soft thread first. They are merely cut into strips and woven into mats. These are more common to find and the material is more durable than hardwood flooring. They give a distinct Asian or modern touch to any room.

Jute

Jute area rugs are another plant fiber that is woven into threads to create rugs. The difference between jute and bamboo is that you will find that the jute rugs have a rougher touch. Because of this, they are commonly used as doormats, but as of lately, have become more suitable for other areas of the home. You can find them now in flat or loop construction, some even with printed designs or dyed a variety of natural colors. While I would not recommend placing a jute rug in a room you plan on lying frequently on the area rug, jute makes a great addition inside the home.

Seagrass

Seagrass area rugs, due to its durability and affordability, have become one of the most popular rugs constructed from plant fibers. This rug material has a natural stain resistance and repels liquids. Due to the natural resistance to liquids, seagrass area rugs come in natural form only but can tout to being hyper allergenic for all those sensitive to the indoor environment.

Sisal

The sisal rugs on the market today are easy to clean and durable similar to the jute rug. These are great in entries as walk off mats as they do not show grime easily, and when it is time for cleaning, a simple vacuum will clean a sisal rug better than your wall-to-wall carpeting. For harder stains, just take it out side and beat it, scrub with a mild detergent, and hang it out to bake in the sun till dry.

Natural rugs have become an integral part in the Greening of any home. For all natural fiber rugs, do ensure that when they are wet that they are dried completely so that the do not mildew, smell, or adapt a light water stain.

If you have a large open space in your home and it looks boring – what about this idea of painting a dramatic star shape in the middle of the room.

This is how Miles Reed countered this large kitchen space.

His design style has been described as “a playful mix of high and low, emboldened by color and modern gestures but grounded in practicality”.

The black star is a dramatic contrast to the pale flooring but pairs well with the dark walls, cupboards and benchtop.

The fun in decorating a room is making the style choices that enhance the decor’s theme. That’s where fabulous area rugs come in. Have you ever seen a work of art that pulls together a room’s decor with such functional versatility?

Consider some of these most familiar types of area rugs for home decorating.

Persian Rugs are famous for elaborate designs in bright colors. Their designs usually fall into one of three categories: geometric, floral or pictorial. Contrary to commonly held beliefs, Persian rugs and Oriental rugs are not the same. A Persian rug design differs depending on the region in which it’s made, or by the artist who makes it. An authentic Persian rug is made in one of the regions formerly a part of the ancient Persian Empire, parts of modern day Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. Persian area rugs also age magnificently, one of the many reasons they’re often passed down generations as treasured heirlooms. In fact, many people believe that a Persian rug doesn’t reach its best condition until 30 to 40 years after it’s made.

Oriental Rugs originally were hand-woven in China. Today they’re made in Iran, India and Romania as well as China, thanks to low labor costs in these regions that keep these rugs affordable while at the same time maintaining traditional quality. Quality Oriental rugs hold up well in high-traffic areas because of their excellent durability and resiliency. The most expensive Oriental area rugs are made of silk, while the more affordable area rugs of this kind are made of wool.

Tibetan Rugs come in two designs: traditional, which employs a square "tiger" pattern, and contemporary, which uses geometric designs. Tibetans have woven rugs for centuries, but much of production moved to neighboring Nepal in the late 1950s after the country’s political takeover by China. Many Tibetans moved to the Katmandu valley of Nepal, bringing their rug trade with them. By the 1980s, Tibetan rug making had become Nepal’s second most important industry. Historically Tibetans have used their rugs as meditation mats, bedding and saddle blankets.

Transitional Rugs is a term used to describe a wide variety of area rug designs falling between the Oriental and Persian traditions and Contemporary Rugs. Transitional rugs are among the most versatile area rugs, because they usually fit in with any home decor. Examples of this rug style include designs that focus on flower and plant patterns.

Contemporary Rugs are noted for vivid colors and unusual shapes. This type frequently can be a custom-designed area rug, created to fit an oddly-shaped room or in colors or designs that match upholstery, wallpaper or room colors. Contemporary rugs also can be one-of-a-kind creations fashioned from the artist’s or rug maker’s imagination.

Flokati Rugs have been hand-woven in Greece for centuries. They’re made from sheep’s wool, which gives them a three-to-four-inch-deep pile. Flokati rugs originated with Greek shepherds, who used them as beds and clothes as well as floor coverings. This type of area rug often is used when a Mediterranean or casual look is desired. Flokati rugs have a big advantage when it comes to care: They can be cleaned in several ways, including being washed in commercial-sized washers.

Braided Rugs are among the most popular area rugs. They originated in the early 1700s in Colonial America, specifically in the traditionally conservative "Yankee" region of New England. Colonists needed something to cover the rough, cold floors of their homes and cabins. They braided together yarn or pieces of fabric into strips and then they sewed the strips together into a round or oval shape. This functional need later evolved into an art form. Because of their eclectic materials, braided rugs are often quite colorful, making them a versatile area rug for a country or Arts and Crafts decor.

Clearly, there’s a style of area rug to complement any decorating scheme.

I’ve fallen in love with these stairs – I want them! Only thing I’m currently in a single story home – we will have to sell up and by a two storey home

Stenciled with repeating colors but each unique pattern compliments the next. I’ve seen these done before and will add some more images when I find them but this is one of the best examples of a stenciled staircase I have seen anywhere.

I’m told that stenciling is pretty easy but the number of stencils you would need for this project and the time crouched on the steps… but it would so be worth it!

(Image from: http://moroccanmaryam.typepad.com/my_marrakesh/2008/02/a-while-back-a.html)

When you decide to make changes to your home, one of the hardest things you’re going to do is make changes to your flooring. Especially if this is the first time you’ve owned and had the opportunity to choose your own flooring. If you’re a perpetual renter or you’ve ever rented at any point, you know that most rentals like apartments and condos and even many homes you might have rented have a silvery tan shade of medium to low pile carpet. This is considered the standard neutral and you generally can’t get away from this. It’s like white wall and light or wash out oak style (but usually never real) cabinetry, doors and framework.

So if you’re finally deciding to choose your own flooring you might be tempted to choose the same color of carpets you’ve always had and always seen. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the silvery tan mid height pile carpet. If you’re going to go this direction, you might want to invest in several high quality area rugs. While any type of area rug can look excellent against this type of carpet, you’ll probably find that an oriental rug looks the best against the subtle silvery tones in the carpets. An oriental area rug doesn’t have to mean that your home has to be decorated like a high class magazine home. There are ways to keep your home looking casual with oriental area rugs—choosing more contemporary colors and oriental area rugs that have a more contemporary look.

If you’re willing to venture out into wood flooring, you’ll find that any type of area rug will look amazing against your wood flooring, especially if you select a deep colored wood. And it’s important when you choose wood flooring for your home that you’re prepared to make a tough decision. There are literally thousands of wood flooring choices available. If you have a tight budget, you can still choose from dozens of colors and woods, although you may not be able to choose the highest quality or best looking woods. If you’re going to purchase wood flooring for large spaces or much of your home you’ll want to be prepared to at least a moderate amount of money. When you purchase wood flooring, you’ll want to also purchase area rugs to protect and enhance your wood flooring. A modern area rug paired with a dark mahogany will give any room both class and a contemporary flair.

Remember, choosing flooring is an important part of redecorating your home because you have to think ahead. Choose the wrong flooring for your home and you may end up having to change your entire theme, setting or furniture designs and ideas just to match up with your flooring. When you’re redecorating your whole home, it’s important to bring in flooring samples and pair them with your other design ideas so you can be sure to make the right decisions for your home, yourself and your family.

Choosing the perfect area rug for your hardwood floor isn’t a difficult task. Just follow this easy to use guide to put yourself in the know and play the match maker.

One of the most exciting things you can do for your home in terms of livening it up a bit is to throw out your carpets in favor of something a little more exquisite, like hardwood floors or stone tiles. The major difference between these two being whether they can stand up to your current décor and your current area rugs, or if you’ll have to throw out all of your décor along with your carpets.

With hardwood floors you can usually keep your current décor, area rugs included, even if they are jute area rugs or some other less known fabric. But just because you can keep your area rugs, doesn’t mean you have to or that you should. And what if you’re building a brand new home or striking out on your own for the first time and don’t have any décor to take along with you?

That’s why there’s a simple guide to choosing your area rugs wisely for your hardwood floors.

The first thing you want to do is choose high quality wood flooring. You don’t have to spend an arm or a leg or sell off your first born child to get it, but the fact remains that you get what you pay for. Typically, the 99-cents per square foot flooring isn’t going to cut it. The cheapest wood flooring you should go for is typically in the $1.99 to $3.99 price range. Here you’ll find dark woods and light woods, including oak, cherry wood and sometimes, if you’re lucky, Brazilian woods that are on sale.

Once you’ve chosen your hardwood floors and had them installed, the next thing you have to do is dress them up with a nice sealant and surface protectant that will not only give them their own lustrous look and shine, but will also keep you from having to hide digs, scratches and other surface defacers.

Now to choose your area rug. Choosing an area rug to go with the perfect hardwood flooring is no easy task. But what you should remember is that black rugs go with everything. Modern area rugs and contemporary area rugs with plenty of bright colors tend to go best with the darker hardwood floors, but oriental area rugs are great for all woods.

But don’t get so caught up in theme and color that you forget about texture. Bamboo area rugs have a tendency to get lost in the lighter wood floors while cotton area rugs simply slide around too much (unless they have proper backing, which defeats the purpose of the easily washable area rug), but wool pile area rugs, jute area rugs and seagrass area rugs can be at home with any type of wood flooring since they naturally work with the wood and give your home the perfect elegance or earthy flair.

And always remember to take a sample of your wood flooring along for the area rug shopping adventure!

Lumberjocks has designed this ornate table all made from left over flooring.

By using flooring off-cuts in different colors (Ipe, Brazilian cherry, and Red oak). It looks very intricate and complicated – but the key here is that all of the the hexagons are in fact made up of 6 triangles each.

So if you’ve got some spare time on your hands – you can save all your flooring off-cuts (or just ask your local flooring contractor) and go for it!

From the palaces of power to the humblest of homes – that’s the path that Oriental rugs have traveled for centuries. Today they are among the premier types of area rugs chosen to enhance a room’s décor.

Legend has it that Queen Cleopatra was smuggled into the presence of Julius Caesar wrapped in an Egyptian rug. Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine introduced “Oriental” rugs to Europe when she returned from the Middle East after the First Crusade. The great traveler and merchant Marco Polo probably beheld Oriental rugs when he visited the great empire of Kublai Khan. From this exalted beginning, Oriental rugs have become such a standard for area rugs that they’re often the first image to come to mind when considering a rug.

In reality, the term “Oriental rug” is an outworn phrase that refers to a vast variety of rug types created by makers found in the Middle East, Eurasia and Asia. Historically Oriental rugs came from China, but much of that production has now moved to India and Iran. As a descriptor, “Oriental rug” these days often is subdivided into more specific groups, such as Chinese Rug, Persian Rug, Tibetan Rug and so on. These phrases most closely describe where the rug was made, and thus its likely design.

Oriental rugs are made by hand or manufactured. They can be created by the traditional methods: hand-knotted, hand-woven or hand-loomed. Some rug makers use a combination of machine and hand techniques to produce handsome area rugs of Oriental style, but at much less cost. Expensive handmade Oriental rugs are often prized as collectible fabric art. Manufactured styles combine more affordable Oriental design with the durability of contemporary rugs.

The designs of traditional Oriental rugs were complex and deeply toned. Ornate styles include centered medallions, scattered layouts known as Afshan, curvilinear and paisley designs. The colors of Oriental rugs mirrored their brilliant cultures, with deep earth tones, gold, black, bronze and crimson. Down the centuries, as pigments and dyes became more sophisticated, colors such as jade, white, medium blue, plum and brick red began to be seen. However the patterns remained intricate and intriguing.

Once a dark and dominating presence in a room, Oriental rugs today have adapted to contemporary tastes. The traditional patterns are still popular, but artists and rug makers have added modern variations to antique motifs. Lighter color schemes often hold sway, such as gold, crimson and teal matched together, or a modern art pattern in pastels. Innovations such as these may shock or offend traditional Oriental rug owners, but they’re proving to be excellent choices for more contemporary décor needing a quality area rug.

Oriental types of area rugs are still crafted mostly in 100 percent wool, silk or cotton. Some area rugs in Oriental designs are created using blends of these traditional fabrics. Some times the standard materials are combined with synthetics such as olefin or polyester, mostly to add durability for rugs intended for high-traffic areas. The natural-synthetic blends also help to hold down the cost, making Oriental type area rugs much more affordable and accessible to homeowners. It’s best to be at least somewhat aware of the properties of each type of material, including how it must be cleaned, when choosing an Oriental rug.

One thing to watch out for: supposed Oriental rugs that are actually manufactured in Europe or America. They may feature traditional designs but they are manufactured by machine. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you are simply seeking a good-looking area rug for a den or family room where the rug will be exposed to lots of feet upon it. However, if you are looking to purchase an authentic Oriental rug as an investment or family heirloom, be sure to check with the merchant about how and where the rug was made.

Aside from that one caveat, an Oriental rug can be an excellent choice – a classic that still brings thrilling style to any room.