A great rug is not just adding color, texture or pattern to the existing space, it also helps to position furniture and it defines the space. If protects floors, provides padding underfoot, absorbs noise, and adds vivid functionality to the room. Are you a person trying to obtain maximum benefits and more convenience from your purchase of rug from the rug stores?  If so you will have to consider both the purpose and style of your space. This is an area rug buying guide. Reading this will be helpful for the person who is planning to buy rug for his home use.

Things to know about antique rugs

The right size of the rug needed for you is determined by many factors. The dimensions of the room, the intended function of the space, the furniture you are going to place in the room etc  are some of the major factors that determine the size of the rug for your room. Some thumb rules given below will help you in deciding the right size of rug for your room.

Living area: In the living area your rug should be centrally positioned under your coffee table with advance planning regarding where and how to place your furniture. There are a number of ways in which the living room spacing can be positioned effectively. It can be with four legs on rug or with four legs off the rug or with front two legs only resting on the rug. Uniformity is a basic factor to be followed in good design. If only the front legs of the sofa are positioned on the rug, it should be the case with your armchairs also. Often the living area rugs have common sizes like 5×8, or 9×12 feet etc. Most common mistake noticed in the size of rugs is that they are often smaller than what is actually needed. So, if you are unsure about the size needed, go for the larger one so that the problems due to small rugs can be avoided completely.

One or two feet difference in the floor coverage by a rug can very well show the difference between a haphazardly arranged room and a thoughtfully designed and executed layout. The area under the dining table covered by the rug should be sufficiently big to account for the space needed when the chairs are pushed away from the table. Adding 36 inches to the size of the table on both length and width will be a good method to find the size of the rug so that no shortage of space for moving the chairs occurs.

Antique rugs: You need to know

Bedroom: If you can choose an area rug that extents 24 inches beyond the sides of your bed, then you will be able to get your feet a touch that is soft in nature when you get up in the morning. If there are nightstands flanked to your bed, then take the distance from outer edge of the night stand and use this as your guide.  You should also account for any bench at the foot of your bed.  Either all legs must fit on the rug or all of them should be off the rug.

Know the weaves: The weaving of your rug is an important factor which determines how you feel it under your foot or how it wears off. The common techniques used in rug weaving are discussed below.

Hand-knot: In this method hand is used to tie the rug fibers on the loom. It requires meticulous processing and produces heirloom quality and so the rug will be more durable. Consequently the rug will be more costly also. Such rugs are the best choice for any home and for any area.
Tufted: In tufted rugs the tops of loops are cut off so that a plush flat surface is created. These rugs are not very costly and are alternatives to hand-knotted rugs.  They are available in wide varieties. But they are prone to shedding and they also require regular vacuuming.

Hooked: The process of making hooked rugs is similar to that of tufted rugs.  In this case the yarn loops remain intact and they are not subject to shedding.

Flat woven rugs are very durable and they come in a variety of materials like cotton, woollen, synthetic etc. They need rug padding as they do not have any kind of backing. Unlike the traditional rugs VA, these rugs are reversible and hence they can be flipped if one side gets dingy.