SHOP ALL AREA RUGS

Some additional wool terms:

• Luster wool has a gloss or sheen to its appearance.
• Worsted wool is a fine grade of wool often used to make designer suits; it has been processed in a way that makes the fibers less fuzzy.
• Wool blend area rugs have some portions constructed from wool and other portions constructed from other materials, like silk, viscose, sisal, or lyocell. These other materials introduce contrasting texture and sheen, highlighting patterns and other design elements.
• Mohair wool is actually made from the hair of an Angora goat rather than being harvested from a sheep.

What about stain-resistant area rugs or custom-cut rugs?

In addition to offering handcrafted rugs that are made by artisans in set sizes, we also offer custom-cut rugs, cut to your specific size from larger pieces that are machine-woven on a wide loom. Online, we sell these in area rug sizes, but when you visit a Design Center, you can order custom-cut rugs sized to cover an entire room floor or even a flight of stairs.

Our custom-cut rugs are sometimes made from natural materials, like wool or sisal, but they’re often made from synthetic materials like nylon or polypropylene. These materials are stain resistant, which makes them great for high-traffic areas or for households with kids and pets.

I see terms like hand-knotted, handwoven, and hand-tufted. What do these mean?

Hand-knotted rugs can take as long as a year to make and are truly works of art. Artisans tie individual knots in yarns of different colors around vertical yarn strands—called the warp in weaving—to create intricate designs, bit by bit, as you can see in this video.

• NOTE: The number of knots per square inch is less about quality and more about what it takes to make a design look great. Patterns tend to require fewer knots while bigger stretches of solid color require more.

Handwoven and hand-loomed rugs are made on a loom strung with vertical yarns—the warp. Artisans thread in horizontal yarns—the weft—push them downward, and then start the next row. Watch this video to see a handwoven rug being made.

• A flatweave area rug has no pile, which makes them very durable and easy to clean. They’re great for high-traffic areas and as a bonus, some are reversible, which makes them even longer lasting.
• A soumak weave creates a slightly thicker rug than a standard flatweave, but also without a pile.

Hand-tufted rugs start with a backing: Artisans use a device to push yarns through to create rug’s top surface. Hand-tufted rugs feel great underfoot because they tend to have a higher pile, but they may not be the best choice for high-traffic rooms.

Rugs can also be power-loomed, which means they’re machine woven. One popular type of machine weave is the Wilton weave, in which the machine creates both the backing and the pile of the rug simultaneously. Machines can also create flatweave rugs using stain-resistant materials.

What is an area rug’s pile? What does looped vs. cut mean?

A rug’s pile is the height of its surface above its backing, if it has one. Hand-tufted rugs, shag rugs, and frieze rugs (these are shag rugs that twisted yarns for a tighter look) tend to have the highest piles and a more cushiony feel when you walk on them.

If you look closely at a rug’s surface, you will see that the yarns either form loops or individually cut strands that stand up from the surface. Some feature both looped and cut portions, i.e. cut-and-loop piles, that create differences in texture across the rug’s surface.

What size of living room rug or bedroom rug do I need?

Find the best advice for choosing your area rug’s size and placement in our rug buying guide, where we offer recommendations almost every type of room. You can also upload a photo of your room into our rug visualizer to preview the rug in your space, in different sizes.

Do you have area rugs for outdoor use?

Yes! Our indoor/outdoor rugs are made from durable elements that are both weather and fade resistant. It’s still a good idea to store your outdoor area rug when you’re not using it.

How do I take care of my area rug to make sure that it lasts?

Each rug comes with its own cleaning and care instructions, but here are some general principles:

• Direct sunlight may cause your rug’s colors to fade. Rotate it periodically to even out its light exposure and to ensure even wear.
• Vacuum without using a beater bar, i.e., with an upholstery attachment or with the beater bar turned off.
• Fibers will naturally shed or sprout up from your rug from time to time. Clip spouted yarns with scissors until they’re even with the pile; if you pull them out, you could loosen more yarns.
• Blot any spills quickly using a clean white cloth. If you notice stains or just want to have your rug cleaned periodically, consult a professional.

We also recommend rug pads to keep your rug in place, to give it a more cushioned feel beneath your feet, and to help your rug last longer by keeping its yarns or backing from coming into contact with the floor.

Do you have more questions? Click the Designer Chat icon or contact your local Design Center—we’re happy to help!