Small area rugs or throw rugs add color and style to our homes while providing comfort underfoot particularly during summer days when heavy carpets might be removed. Many of these rugs are placed in high traffic areas near entry doors and subjected to lots of soil.

5 Ways to Style a Throw Rug

Aside from the practicality of a throw rug, they are a versatile styling accessory. A throw rug can add colour, texture and warmth to a room.

1. Draped Over a Sofa

This casual look is easy and breaks up the solid lines of a sofa. This coral throw adds a punch of colour to a neutral sofa.

2. Folded Over a Chair Arm

If you are feeling less confident about pulling off the drapey look, simply folding your throw rug over the arm of a chair is an easy solution.

3. Draped Over the End of the Bed

This added layer can create a luxe feel in a bedroom and is a great way to highlight a colour used in pillows or scatter cushions.

4. Folded At the End of the Bed

This is a more structured look that adds a textural layer and again can be tied back to the bedhead or pillows.

5. In A Nook

A throw rug adds an additional layer of interest and texture to an ottoman or settee. And here are my top picks for throw rugs, some of them are on sale at the moment too!

Rug or a carpet?

Any piece smaller than 40 square feet is considered a rug while anything larger is a carpet. According to the American carpet industry, then, the "flying carpet" or "magic carpet" is technically a rug. A throw rug is even a smaller version of rug.

Silk Rugs Vs. Wool Rugs

Silk and wool are two of the most commonly used materials in Oriental rugs. Rugs made from either of these materials have different characteristics but both types look absolutely fabulous, making it really difficult to choose between the two. So what exactly are the differences between silk rugs and wool rugs and which one would be a better choice for you?

Appearance & Characteristics

A larger number of weavers manufacture rugs using wool because they can easily source the material from sheep. They do not have to look for and purchase the material they require. The quality of the finished rug depends largely on the age and breed of the sheep that the wool is sourced from as well as the climate and vegetation. Oriental rugs made from wool have a matte appearance. They are soft to the touch and blend more easily into their surroundings.Silk is more difficult to source and is also more expensive to procure, which can be major deterrents to tribal weavers who usually live in the remote mountains.
These are mostly city rugs woven by skilled weavers who were not nomadic. Silk rugs have a more lustrous appearance. They usually take longer to manufacture and have a higher knot count because of the thinner nature of the skin strands.

Durability & Maintenance

Wool rugs have a thick, strong and dense pile, which makes them very durable. They are also resistant to stains and spills and do not get damaged easily even when placed in high traffic areas. All of this makes them so much easier to maintain and keep clean with a periodic light sweeping and vacuuming.

The Wool Is Sourced From Sheeps

The Wool Is Dyed With Different Colors. Despite its deceptively fragile appearance, silk is a pretty strong fiber by itself. However, the fiber gets damaged and breaks easily with excessive handling or when placed in high traffic areas and the rug tends to lose its sheen prematurely. To prevent this from happening and to extend the life of your silk Oriental rug, it must be placed only in areas that do not get too much traffic and they must be handled very delicately when cleaning. Using your silk rug as wall decor is the best way to prevent the rug from getting damaged.

Cost

Wool Oriental rugs cost much less than silk Oriental rugs of the same size. The higher price of silk rugs is a combination of both – the higher cost of the material and the additional labor involved in their creation.

Which Type Of Rug Is Better Suited To You?

If you would love to own an Oriental rug but you have a limited budget, you may want to start by checking out woolen rugs. While these may cost less than silk rugs, however, you should know that they are not necessarily cheap. The cost of the rug will depend on its size, complexity of design, knots per square inch and place of manufacture. Where you want to place your Oriental rug is another factor you should take into consideration. If you are looking for a rug to place at your entrance or in the kitchen, living room or dining room, you may be better off choosing a woolen rug, which is more durable and is better able to withstand the wear and tear of everyone walking over it. If you are looking for a rug that you can use as a wall hanging or to uplift a quiet corner that does not get much traffic, it is
definitely worth investing in a magnificent silk rug.

Myth vs Facts about Throw Rugs

Myth 1: A machine made throw rug is more durable than a handmade throw rug.
Fact 1: A handmade throw rug, which is woven by skilled weavers, is much, more durable than a machine made throw rug.

Myth 2: Buying a silk rug, means I'm getting a pure silk rug.
Fact 2: A silk rug can either mean a pure or artificial type of rug. It is best to perform the "burning test" in order to detect if the rug you are investing is a pure silk or artificial/synthetic rug.

Myth 3: Cleaning of rugs should only be given for washing to dry cleaners?
Fact 3: It is highly recommended to not give your rugs for cleaning to dry cleaners who might use chemicals that are only meant for cleaning of garments and in turn can spoil your precious rug. It is best to give your rugs for cleaning only to rug specialists who are masters in their field for best results.

Myth 4: The value of a good quality throw rug decreases with time
Fact 4: The fact is just the opposite. If a rug is made with great quality material, be it silk or wool and has great color combinations, unique design pattern etc. it would certainly appreciate with time. As time elapses, a good quality rug ages like fine wine. Moreover, considering how laborious the rug weaving industry is, there is more demand than supply, which makes your special rug go up in value.

Worried about styling? Give this a read

Hooked or rag style patterns seems appropriate for a circular rug with exact size. Swirly pattern is the best out there for round rugs While at first this can seem like a daunting task, it's really quite easy if you keep a few simple tips in mind. Mix it up with this advice.

1. Use odd numbers

Use a minimum of three patterns, and stick to an odd number. Odd numbers just seem to make things work, whether you're creating a color palette or potting plants.

2. Mix pattern types

Try to keep your patterns from clashing. The main pattern will likely be your inspiration and the largest in scale, while the least important will be the smallest in scale.

3. Choose a color scheme

Pull patterns together with a common color scheme. The largest scaled pattern will have the most colors, The medium scaled pattern will have a few colors and the smallest scaled pattern will have only one or two colors.

4. Vary textures

Fabrics should vary in texture and material to add interest. Mix a cotton and linen with a sheen to keep the combination from feeling too flat.

5. Maintain balance

Too much of any pattern can be overwhelming. No one wants floor-to-ceiling floral. Spread patterns evenly throughout your space to prevent the room from becoming unbalanced.

6. Don't mix whites

If multiple patterns have white backgrounds, make sure they're all in the same color family so they don't take away from the combination already developed.

7. Cheat with companion fabrics

Many companies make pattern mixing much easier by creating fabrics meant to coordinate with one another. All you have to do is choose the color palette, and use the corresponding patterns.Are you worrying about its cleaning? Check this out Unless the rug has a tag clearing stating that it is dry clean only, most throw rugs can be washed, even those with a rubber backing. Follow these simple steps for the best results.

Step One: Check the Label

Since many rugs don't include specific fabric content or the tag may have been long lost, it is important that they be washed separately from other laundry the first time you clean them. Your throw rug may be inexpensively made and use a dye that is not color stable. Of course if you have two or three rugs that are exactly the same, they can be washed together.You can test for color-fastness by rubbing the rug with a clean, damp white rag or wet a cotton swab and rub it onto the fibers of the rug. If color transfers to the rag or swab, there will be dye bleeding.

Step Two: Treat Any Stains

Inspect the rug for stains. You'll have better results if you pre-treat stains, especially food and greasy spots, before washing. If you know what caused the stain, follow the correct stain removal technique for the culprit. If you're not sure, use a stain remover like Zout or Shout or a bit of heavy-duty liquid detergent (Tide or Persil) to the stain and work it in by gently rubbing with a soft bristle brush (an old toothbrush works great). Allow the stain remover to work on the stain for at least fifteen minutes before washing.

Step Three: Ready to Wash

With any type of washable rug, use cold water and a liquid detergent. Never use chlorine bleach to whiten or disinfect if the rug has a rubber backing. The bleach will cause the rubber to flake off.If you need to whiten or brighten a rubber-backed rug, use an oxygen-based bleach. Follow the package directions as to how much product to use per gallon of water. Give give the oxygen bleach sufficient time to work. For maximum performance, allow the rug to soak in the oxygen-bleach solution for several hours or overnight. To disinfect washable rugs with a rubber backing, use a pine oil or phenolic disinfectant like Lysol.If you have a front load or top load high-efficiency washer, loading the rugs into the washer is simple. Add your detergent and toss in the rugs. Since these washers do not have a central agitator, balancing the load is more simple. Try to wash two rugs together or add some towels for best results during the high spin cycle. For standard top load washers, the load should be balanced around the center agitator. An unbalanced load can cause wild gyrations and even harm your machine. (Learn how to balance a washer here) If you don't have enough rugs, wash tennis shoes, towels or rags to balance.If you have a number of similar rugs to wash, you may want to head to the local laundromat and use one of their larger commercial washers. You'll save time and water by washing all the rugs at once.

Step Four: Time to Dry the Rug

After removing the wet throw rug from the washer, always air dry. High heat can shrink the rug or cause the rubber backing to deteriorate. Dry on a clothesline or dryer rack away from direct sunlight or excessive heat. Direct sunlight can fade some colors.If the rug is terribly wrinkled, it can be tumbled in a clothes dryer using the air only cycle. NO HEAT! Or, you can use an iron to smooth the rug but that should be avoided on rubber-backed rugs.

What About Dry Clean Only Area Rugs

If the label states "dry clean only", call a professional. Most of these rugs have backings that will fall apart if exposed to too much moisture. You can, however, spot clean stains using a carpet stain remover or following the tips for removing specific stains from carpet. We've Got your Decorations Covered :) The Rug Mall carries throw rugs in different colors and textures from over a wide variety of leader Mills all over the world, innovating design with a beautiful touch of Old-School craftsmanship. They are reinventing throw rugs in fashion-forward ways that make them feel less country and more up-to-date. So, let's grab a few!