The Pros and Cons of Shag Rugs

In the United States, wewent through a shag craze in the 1970?s, when the hot home design trend was wall-to-wall shag carpet in colors like maroon, harvest gold, and avocado. While the shag carpets of the disco decade fell out of style, modern shag carpets and shag rugs continue tofeature prominently in many professional interior designs. These rugs weren?t invented in the 70?s either? shag rugs have been around for hundreds of years in various cultures, from Greek flokati rugs, to Scandanavian rya rugsthat originated in the 15th century.

Shag rugs are stylish, adding a touch of flair to a room. You can incorporate these soft, textured rugs into just about any room design, from bedrooms to living rooms to home offices. They also have insulating properties and are a great winter accent, providing a warm, cozy respite from cold tile and hardwood floors when the temperatures drop here in Wilmington, NC.

While shag rugs are extremely comfortable due to their soft wool fibers, they are hard to clean for the same reason. Here are some things to consider before adding a shag rug to your home.

• Dirt, crumbs, lint, and just about everything else gets stuck between the fibers, and vacuuming a shag rug isn?t necessarily recommended (unless you follow this tip from Marta Stewart). Therefore, although a shag rug could work well in a living room or bedroom, it may not be the best choice for a dining room or a heavily trafficked area where food particles and dirt abound.
• Still, shag rugs are not impossible to clean. Washing them every 18 months to 24 months is the easiest cleaning method. But be sure to treatspills and stains on shag rugs almost immediately, otherwise they?ll become a permanent addition to your dcor ? especially if you opt for a white shag rug to create a vintage or mod look.
• Those long, soft, shaggy fibers also trap pesky allergens like dust and pet hair, too, which could reduce the air quality in your home or be a source of discomfortfor people with allergies.
• If you?d like to skip the hassle of cleaning your shag rugs yourself (shag rugs are heavy when wet, especially larger ones), you can get them professionally cleaned. Bear in mind, though, that carpet cleaning companies often charge more per square foot to clean shag rugs because it?s not easy for them either!
• Because shag rugs need regular cleaning and maintenance, they can become an expensive addition to your home over the course of their lifetime. But, for many a stylish homeowner, the stylish look and luxurious feel are well worth it!

Nylon Rugs: Not Your Grandmother?s Nylons

Considering getting a nylon carpet installed? Nice choice! When we think of nylon, we often think of pantyhose that run easily. But when it comes to carpet, you?ll be glad to know that nylon is the strongest of all types of carpet pile. It?s marked by excellent resistance to abrasive materials, insects, mold, rot, and most chemicals. This is a large part of why nylon is today?s most commonly used carpet fiber. Read on to find out everything else you need to know before going nylon.

Nylon is typically more expensive than other synthetic carpets. But consider those nice nylon fibers an investment ? nylon carpeting is widely considered the most resilient carpet, and should last you for twelve to fifteen years. Its fibers should also maintain their original height and shape. Yes, you can drag heavy furniture across it to your heart?s content ? nylon carpet fibers will bounce back totheir good-as-new look almostimmediately.

Nylon rugs are also stain-resistant, and great at hiding soil. Select branded, premium varieties can be made to resist even pet stains! Consider nylon an excellent choice for high-traffic living areas (think living rooms, play rooms, and dens), and commercial facilities. Plus, it?s versatile ? you can create almost any look you desire with nylon. Think sleek offices, fashion-forward entertaining areas, plush boudoirs, and/or low-maintenance basements. (Glean some more nylon carpeting inspiration over at Houzz.com.

What?s more, nylon carpet piles have a reputation for holding their color remarkably well. Nylon is also static-free (unlike its primitive forms; i.e. your grandmother?s nylons). Technically speaking, nylon retains the same crimp and twist the manufacturer gave it. And cleaning is easy ? because nylon absorbs very little water, it dries quickly. It also responds well to almost all professional cleaning methods and treatments. And, it provides no food source. Yes, it makes for a blessedly inhospitable habitat for mildew. Phew!

And, now for the cons: Nylon fibers are almost always acid-dyed, and rarely solution-dyed. This means they can be prone to bleaching, fading, or absorbing urine. As we mentioned, nylon carpeting is not the cheapest option. While it?s not quite as expensive as wool carpeting, nylon carpeting will run you more than polyester or polypropylene options. But if you?re looking for value and have your heart set on nylon carpeting, consider unbranded nylons. And, know that most manufacturers offer wear guaranties.

The Dating Game: Carpet Fiber Edition

First up, it?s the most popular carpet fiber by a landslide. This one will keep you soil and mildew free all year long. Give it up for nylon!

Next, this up-and-comer is one of the fastest growing carpet fibers of the last few years. Don?t let its history as outdoor carpeting fool you ? it?s great for indoor carpet, too. Give it up for polypropylene!

Third, this fiber is hypoallergenic, making it perfect for all types of homes. It also has a variety of color options sure to satisfy any decor. Please welcomepolyester!

Finally, this fiber is the height of luxury. After one run of your hand through the soft, warm fibers, you?ll be hooked ? even if the price is a little steep. Give it up for wool!

Now that we?ve seen all the contestants, let?s ask the lucky four a few questions to see if they?re the right fit for you.

Question one: How do you feel about crowds?

NYLON: I love crowds! I?m great in heavy traffic areas, so the more the merrier! I am prone to static, but most nylon is treated to make it static-resistant.

POLYPROPYLENE: I prefer small, intimate gatherings, since my low melting point causes carpet fibers to melt together in high traffic areas. I?m very durable in low traffic areas, though!

POLYESTER: While I won?t melt like some other fibers here, I am susceptible to crushing if in a crowded area. If that happens, loose yarn can fuse together and decrease comfort.

WOOL: People love spending time with me because I?m so luxurious and soft! I?m better suited for rugs rather than carpet, but will hold up well in high traffic areas.

Thanks contestants!

Question two: Would you enjoy a room with lots of sunlight?

NYLON: I prefer rooms that don?t receive direct sunlight, as my colors will fade when exposed to sun. I?m resistant to many things, but sunlight isn?t one of them.

POLYPROPYLENE: Because my colored dye is infused during fiber creation rather than afterward, I am extremely sunlight resistant. With my history as outdoor carpeting, I?ll keep the colors bright, even in direct sun.

POLYESTER: I am fade resistant, so bring on the sun! My color will last for years without experiencing sun damage.

WOOL: I?m not the biggest fan of the sun, since I?m not sunlight resistant. I?d prefer to be out of direct sunlight, and in a cool, dry area to prevent mold and mildew, too.

Final question: Would you be compatible with a home that has children or homeowners prone to spills?

NYLON: Of course! I am extremely stain resistant, so I?m prepared for any accidental spill!

POLYPROPYLENE: I?m also great against stains, though oil-based stains need to be cleaned immediately.

POLYESTER: Stains are no problem, but I do pill and shred. This may be an issue with animals or children who?d pull the fibers loose.

WOOL: I?m naturally stain resistant, but I do require regular maintenance to retain my integrity. Also, I?m prone to bald spots and loose fibers, so like polyester, I may be an issue for animals and children.

Outdoor Carpets in the Coastal Carolinas

One of the many joys of living in a coastal area like southeastern North Carolina, isenjoying mild weather almost year-round. To maximize livable space in their homes, lots ofCarolinians create second living rooms outdoors, or on their porches, that featureeverything from sectional sofas to flat screen televisions to full kitchens. Outdoor carpets can be used to tie these ?rooms? together, or to provide a comfortable walking surface instead of concrete or wood.

But, because Wilmington, NC? along with our neighboring beach communities? sees a lot of sun, a lot of rain, and a lot of sand, there are specific considerations to keep in mind when searching for the perfect outdoor rug:

Weather: While bright sunny days areperfect for working on your summer tan, they?re not great for all outdoor carpets. If the rug will be entirely outdoors with no cover, then carpet experts recommend polypropylene because not only maintains both the color and integrity of the carpet, it also wicks moisture to prevent mildew. Likewise, man-made materials such asnylon and polyester are usually mold resistant, and last longer outside than natural materials like bamboo and jute when exposed to high humidity and persistent afternoon showers.

Durability: In beach communities like Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Southport, NC, outdoor carpets also need to withstand salt and sand which gettrapped in the fibers. For outdoor carpets, short carpet piles are best. Long carpet piles tend to harborsand and debris which can warp and stain the carpet over time. Though outdoor carpets do not last as long as indoor carpets, you still want to select a durable outdoor rugthat will last through many summer barbecues and Monday night football games in front of the outdoor television.

Placement: Placement probably matters the most when considering which outdoor carpet to purchase. If a carpet has some cover from sunlight, such as a porch or pergola, then you can choose from a wider range ofmaterial and color options. Indoor rugs can even be used in covered outdoorspaces, though they are lessdurable then outdoor rugs, especially in coastal climates like ours. Additionally, the angle of carpet placement affects its longevity. Placing an outdoor carpet on a slight slope allows water and moisture to drain and prevents mold and mildew from growing between the fibers.

Drawing a blank when it comes to redecorating a room? An area rug can be the perfect way to spruce up a drab room, insulate your home, or just give a warm place for bare feet to stand. Additionally, area rugs can set the tone for a new room?s color palette or tie together existing color choices by complementing the tones in your artwork, throw pillows and other home accessories.

But area rug selection can go awry in one big way: size. No matter how great the color or print, an area rug that?s the wrong size can make your room look poorly decorated or unfinished. Here are some tips on how to select the perfect-sized area rug for your soon-to-be-perfect room.

Measure Your Space: Often, we select rugs that are too small out of fear they won?t fit in a room. Measure your space clearly so you know what you?re looking for when you head to the showroom. For example,ideally a 9?x11? room needs a rug that?s 8?x10?.

Visualize Your Rug: Move the room?s furniture and lay masking or painters? tape down to help get an idea of how things will look. This can also help soothe anynervousness that might lead you to buy a too-small rug for the space!

Move It Aside: If you?re looking for a hallway rug, push all of the hallway furniture up against the wall and measure the space between. You don?t want furniture half on and half off hallway rugs!

Leave Room to Breathe: The ideal size for your area rug is big enough to feel luxurious, but not crowded. To avoid a sense of crowding, the rule of thumb is to leave between 12 and 18 inches between the edges of your rug and the walls of the room.

Keep All Four on the Floor: If you?re choosing an area rug for a dining room, the rug must be, at a minimum, large enough for each chair to have all four feet on the rug when comfortably pulled away from the table. This is a good measurement to take at home, before heading to the showroom.