Posted on Friday, September 3rd, 2010
The colour red brings images of passion, love and exuberance to mind and to add a strong dash of these qualities to an interior, a sumptuous red rug is a must. Red compliments and enhances so many other colours such as natural greys, creams and beiges and bold blacks, whites and purples. Red also looks wonderful alongside oranges, browns and golds for a real Autumnal feel. These are typical combinations but there are many other ways to use a red rug in the home – whether through the use of highly patterned modern red rugs, bold two tone designs, luxurious shaggy red rugs or a more traditional red rug, the choice comes down to what type of home one has and finding just the right red rug to suit.
Red Hall Runner
A red rug can be used successfully in any room or hallway. It’s the perfect addition to bedrooms that need spicing up and will lift muted design schemes into another plane. Accessorise with red bedding, cushions and curtains and a bedroom instantly becomes a passionate boudoir. Use a red rug in a living room or family room and bring in a lively, warm and dramatic energy. In children’s rooms a well chosen red rug delivers an irresistibly cheerful sense of joie de vivre. And in hallways red runners, give character and interest (especially when patterned).
There are so many different shades of red rug that it’s usually easy to find the right red to go with an existing colour scheme and to create the impression that’s required. Bright, vibrant red rugs look wonderful with other primary colours and also with monochrome styles. Deeper more subdued reds compliment well with earthy tones and neutrals. Maroon is a beautiful shade of red rug that is definitely making a comeback and always looks totally sumptuous. Crimson, scarlet, ruby, burgundy and cherry reds all have their place as well.
Every home really does need at least one red rug to add that much needed splash of colour.
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Posted on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Choose a green rug if you want to add calming and natural tones to your decor scheme. If you love to use houseplants to decorate your home, a deep pile green wool rug will complement foliage and maintain the soft natural feel of a room.
There’s a natural affinity between green and brown shades and a green rug will add toning interest to a pale wood floor. This works particularly well in dining areas, and if you have contrasting floor and furniture wood shades, you can use a green rug with a colour or pattern to mediate between the two wood tones to give a softer overall appearance.
Whilst green is generally thought of as a calming colour, green rugs can also be used to create quite striking decor influences. If you have chrome, glass or clear acrylic furniture, a dark green rug can be very effective in providing contrasts and emphasising the clean, sharp look of modernist room settings. A lime green rug, or a striped rug in bright shades of green, will add a youthful zest to a contemporary living room. Rugs with a pale cream or beige background and minimalist leaf patterns in shades of green or green and brown also complement contemporary living room designs, and they can also be used to great effect as focal point wall hangings.
Above all green is a restful colour. There is something within all of us that associates shades of green with a gentle, pastoral calmness. So it’s no surprise that pastel greens are established favourites for bedroom decor. Modern rugs with patterns incorporating green, and pale cream or beige subtly complement soft green walls and ivory or pale natural woodwork and furniture. Or, try pale green deep pile wool rugs or shaggy rugs to add warmth on cold winter mornings without detracting from the peaceful ambience of the room setting. You can also introduce a pale green floor rug into a pink-themed nursery or girl’s bedroom, and this will soften the general mood of the decor whilst preserving the overall prettiness of the room.
To summarise; the choice and flexibility on offer when using green rugs means that a solution for enhancing any room can easily be found.
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Posted on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
Using Brown Rugs to Dress Your Room For Instant Style!
Choosing to opt for a brown rug for a room may sound a little uninspiring, but only to those with little imagination! There are so many kinds of brown rugs available to buy that a brown rug can bring oodles of style and elegance to any room it is placed in. From fluffy shaggy rugs (either patterned, plain or sparkly), carved rugs that use a variety of shades of brown, beige and cream (plus other harmonising or contrasting colours) to top quality wool rugs that come in an endless variety of designs and traditional rugs that use browns in combination with other complimentary shades – the list of options is almost infinite.
Browns, creams and neutral shades have been an extremely popular combination for interiors for many years, because they effortlessly create a warm, relaxed and welcoming ambience. Team these natural shades up with vivid deep reds, burnt oranges and even purples for a striking, sumptuous look, or use alongside more subtle blues, pinks or golds and you instantly bring in a distinctive element of style to your space – one that is exciting and interesting, but with a homely and comforting feel. Brown is so versatile that it can be used successfully in an abundance of ways, and consequently, many of us will want to buy a brown rug at some point.
Different styles of brown rug will generate different impressions in a room and so choosing carefully which type to go for before you buy a brown rug is important. A brown rug can really enhance your chosen room by adding some depth if the rug is in a solid brown colour. Patterned brown rugs can unite various elements in a room, by highlighting other colours and shades used in the decoration. A shaggy brown rug will add texture and a fantastically cosy feel. A brown carved rug can bring a touch of sophistication and an architectural quality. So buy a brown rug, but be sure to give some thought as to which one is going to bring the most benefit to the interior of your home.
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Posted on Monday, August 30th, 2010
You know that a house is not a home without a red rug, so you’re thinking of introducing one into your space. Well not before time. Red rugs are so totally versatile, they will nestle comfortably in any space in any home and defy anyone not to have something complimentary to say about the fabulous impact they make.
Take a space that’s been decorated in white or some other neutral palette. Some say that it’s the latest trend and that pale is interesting. Some just call it bland. But hey, whatever the opinion, throw a smart red rug in there, plain or patterned, and what do you get? A stunning accent in an instant that creates a focal point, and can single-handedly tease out gentle shades of ivory, blond, romantic creams or any other neutral decor combination it meets, to stunning effect. The red rug has dressed up your space.
Of course there is no denying that red rugs are show offs with a liking for razzle dazzle and drama. Everyone loves them and they stand out, allowing you to be creative and to add some theatrical flair to set off your decor and furnishings alongside them if you choose. They offer great options for your room schemes: team red rugs with red sofas and walls of similar and contrasting shades for dramatic effect; set off sparks in the bedroom by teaming hot red and black rugs with red or black satin or silk bedlinen. Pure electricity. Accessorise your modern rugs with a mix of cherry red, raspberry, plum or other brightly coloured cushions and lamps for added vibrancy; place traditional red wool rugs on dark wood floors or with dark furniture for elegant appeal; select rug patterns in vivid jewel shades for an ethnic inspired feel.
Red rugs with deep, earthy tones bring a sense of warmth and seasonal welcome to a room. Opt for thick pile and luxurious textures. For a festive touch, indulge yourself by contrasting red rugs with decor accessories in rich greens and gold. Magical. So now you’re planning to introduce a red rug into your home and you’re asking why it took you so long!
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Posted on Friday, August 27th, 2010
We will shortly be increasing our range of children’s rugs featuring popular Disney characters, so in the meantime, here are a few examples of established favourites.
Baby Mickey Rug
Mention Walt Disney and most people think of Mickey Mouse. Not really surprising since this endearing little chap has been around for a long time, and he hasn’t aged a bit since his birth in 1928 and his appearance as the star of the first sound cartoon. Despite going on to acquire a girlfriend, Mickey retains a childlike quality and his eternal youth is perhaps the key to his timeless appeal, a part of a parent’s childhood which they can pass on to, and enjoy vicariously through, their children.
Any small child will be enchanted by a cute Mickey Mouse rug and you can select a predominantly blue rug to suit a traditional boy’s room decor or “unisex” versions with yellow or red backgrounds. For a real “little girl’s room” effect a charming pink striped Minnie Mouse rug really sets the scene and provides the palette for the colour scheme.
Disney Tinkerbell Rug
Over the years Disney has enthralled kids with cartoon versions of traditional and more recent fairytales and stories such as Snow White and Peter Pan, and the continuance of many of these tales as pantomimes ensures their eternal appeal. Tinkerbell has always been the heart-wrenching heroine of the Peter Pan story and Disney’s Tinkerbell rug captures the essence of her delicate charm and goodness and will enhance any young girl’s bedroom. Winnie the Pooh and his pals Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet have captivated children for decades and are portrayed in a delightful pastel Disney rug with an interesting “follow the leader” border, which is ideal for bedrooms, whilst Winnie and his never-ending passion for honey are captured in a “fantasteriffic” 100x150cms children’s rug which makes a super playmat.
Winnie The Pooh Rug
Disney’s Cars rugs featuring the residents of Radiator Springs are ideal for pre-school and primary schoolchildren, it’s also likely that enthusiasm for Cars rugs will persist for some time, with a Cars 2 sequel in 3-D planned for 2012.
Radiator Springs Rug
All our Disney rugs are machine woven with soft, 100% acrylic pile, so there’s virtually no pile shedding and they’re easy to maintain. Another great advantage of buying Disney rugs is that you can readily find bedding, nightwear, toys and decor accessories to match if you want to create a themed bedroom for your child.
The collections of childrens rugs on offer is set to increase as more people move towards accessorising their children’s personal space, and are wanting fresh new designs in line with changing trends.
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Posted on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Using Contemporary Rugs to Create a Desirable Room!
When you select modern rugs for your home you should, and will no doubt have in mind a number of must haves that need to be satisfied such as colour, size, shape, function and so on. As the seasons change, so too will the colours reflected around your home, along with the time you spend thinking creatively about changes you need to make to capture the essence of any of these subtle shifts. Your rugs are vital accessories that are going to be with you through this time, so when placing them, don’t just take them for granted or forget about them; remember, every rug makes a statement and has a special role to perform in your home. Don’t underestimate the power of your mood to influence your unique style, and think very carefully about which rugs are likely to live up to your expectations and provide the atmosphere you desire.
For example, when nights begin to draw in, it’s hard for sun lovers to let go of summer pleasures, but why should they when there is a staggering selection of contemporary rugs in abstract and traditional floral patterns available to help retain those summery feelings, whatever the season. And there are bold geometric designs in stunning colours to trigger memories of summer holidays in hot, sultry climes or to encourage plans for exotic adventures yet to enjoy. Large tapestry design rugs sprawled as temporary patio centre pieces on barbeque evenings spent with family or friends also double as wall hangings. And for those with a keen interest in the environment, leaf pattern rugs can convey the loveliness of autumn, and there are subtle rug designs denoting the natural world that may help to keep alive thoughts of spring and its associated re-growth.
Cold seasons with their emphasis on home sweet home, bring rug textures to the centre stage. On chilly days, deep pile wool rugs, shaggies and sheepskins are so tempting and sumptuous that no comfort lover or self respecting floor could be without one. No need to turn up the heat with any of these beauties scattered around, their mere presence adds instant visual warmth to their surroundings.
Whichever type or style you opt for; when it comes to modern rugs with fashionable designs the choice really is endless.
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Posted on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
It’s official! No home is complete without a beautiful shaggy rug. They provide a rich sense of comfort, warmth and cosiness and look particularly striking in modern interiors. Depending on your colour scheme, you may have decided that the perfect addition is a red shaggy rug and it’s a very good choice. Red is a colour that never seems to go out of fashion.
A red shaggy rug creates a solid block of colour that has an element of softness and mellowness, even when dyed in the brightest of reds. It’s the soft edging and deep pile, that are integral parts of a shaggy rug, which manage to create this soft, warm feel. Red shaggy rugs can be found in a diverse assortment of red tones including deep, rich raspberry, bright pillar box red, intense but mellow maroon, and multifaceted reds that remind us of summer sunsets. So whatever shade of red you want and however deep you would like the pile, there are plenty of red shaggy rugs to choose from and there’s bound to be one that will be the ideal addition to your interior.
Red shaggy rugs are available in a good variety of materials such as wool, polypropylene and super soft acrylic and also come in many designs including the very popular sparkle rug. Shaggy sparkle rugs contain reflective strands throughout that bounce light and create a shimmering effect and are perfect for those that want an extra wow factor in their living space.
You don’t just have to stick with a solid red colour either, there are red shaggy rug designs that utilise complimentary colours as well as geometric patterns, floral designs and even wave type patterns as well.
Bring a dazzling splash of colour to your home with a red shaggy rug and enjoy the ultra soft feel under foot – you’ll be glad you did.
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Posted on Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Handmade or Machine Made Rug? How to Choose Which is Best for You
Handmade rugs are woven and knotted by hand, a method which is labour intensive and time-consuming, whereas machine made rugs are generally mass produced using powered loom technology. The result is that machine made rugs are less expensive than those that are handmade, an important factor if your budget is limited. Handmade rugs are made with natural fibres – typically wool, silk or cotton – with limited demand on energy resources. Power loomed rugs tend to be made of industrially produced synthetic fibres such as polypropylene, acrylic and viscose (although some may be woollen or wool/synthetic mixtures), which may have some influence on your choice if your interests lie with the environment.
Good quality handmade oriental rugs may last for several generations and can appreciate in antique value. The life of machine made rugs is in the order of about twenty years, and because of their mass produced nature they don’t have value as antiques, so if you are looking for a family heirloom you would obviously need to consider selecting a handmade rug. This value distinction is very important because traditional tribal/oriental rug patterns have an enduring popularity, and over the past thirty years there have been enormous advances in power weaving technology which have increased the availability of these designs.
Computer controlled looms can use up to fourteen colours in a single rug, and by cross weaving can produce more than forty shades of colour in vibrant or muted palettes using synthetic fibres. Soft-touch synthetic fibres are also being incorporated in machine made rugs to improve their texture (and feel), and some machines have been modified to use wool and other spun yarns.
These technologies have not only increased the design potential for modern rug patterns, but have also made traditional rug patterns readily available to a much wider market. It is now possible to find good quality machine made rugs in copies of traditional designs such as Aubusson and Bokhara patterns, at prices far below the cost of handmade originals. So, if you love traditional rug patterns and you wish to make a sophisticated design statement, a machine made traditional rug would be an excellent option. Since you would also avoid the cost likely to be incurred with a handmade rug, you would also be in the fortunate position of being able to afford another new rug at some time in the future.
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Posted on Thursday, August 19th, 2010
Why You Shouldn’t Overlook The Potential of a Shaped Rug
Let’s be honest. When it comes to choosing rugs for the home, most of us do rectangles. We don’t do shapes. We like to play it safe because we feel comfortable with symmetry, and we know that our beautiful new rectangular wool rugs will fit nicely with, yes, you’ve guessed it, our rectangular or square shaped rooms. And you can’t get more predictable than that. It’s also likely that our furniture is situated around the sides of our rooms leaving something of a void in the middle; comfortable but perhaps a little boring. If so, maybe it’s time to break with convention and be more creative by livening up our living spaces with a complete rug makeover. This is where shaped rugs come into their own. 
Of course, we need to think about the variety of shaped rugs available and the spaces we want to use them in. Round rugs, as an example, will not only fill empty spaces and create focal points in the centre of living rooms, they will give the impression of circling or radiating outwards to connect with items of furniture which then appear to be well placed rather than backed against walls. Alternatively, round rugs can be used to frame treasured items or furniture that we wish to display, and in dining rooms they can mirror circular tables by being positioned underneath them. Likewise, oval rugs make a trendy impression placed under oval tables. In zoned areas, it’s a good idea to contrast rug shapes to give even greater definition to the different functions of spaces.
Sheepskin rugs add panache to any space, and of course, half round rugs are versatile too. What can look cosier or more inviting than one of these semi-circular rugs placed in front of a fireplace, or snuggled at the side of the bath ready to be stepped on. In children’s bedrooms the floor represents the play space, and the more interesting the space the more children are likely to settle and engage in their activities and learning. Kids’ shaped rugs in bright, circular shapes can define their play area, and car shapes are also great for firing the imagination.
Whether you have a large or small budget to work with, you can create instant style with shaped rugs. You will be amazed at how they transform spaces to add that much desired wow factor, even if your room decor and design remains the same.
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Posted on Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Make the most of your room with a Traditional Rug
An oriental area rug undoubtedly brings a sense of the classic to any room that it is placed in, effortlessly. This style of rug looks particularly good in homes with a traditional or country feel, but can also compliment more modern interiors as well, especially if a lot of wooden furniture is used alongside. The natural feel of an oriental rug in combination with pieces of wood furniture are instinctive partners in the realms of interior design and home decoration.
Oriental area rugs tend to encompass designs most often found in traditional rugs, such as a clearly defined border, subtle yet contrasting colouration and a lot of floral and natural motifs. These kinds of designs have been around for millennia which is a testament to how enduring the patterns are and how much they are appreciated around the world.
Due to the time honoured methods used in making oriental area rugs they tend to have a naturally thick pile, which means that they feel wonderfully soft underfoot and provide a truly luxurious, velvety element to a room scheme.
One element that can nearly always be found in an oriental rug is the application of rug carving techniques within the design. This carving provides the added dimension of texture which is done in such a way as to bring out the design and give a unique 3D effect.
The modern day oriental area rug can be made from one or more of a variety of materials and is not limited to wool, although being the traditional rug material, wool or wool blends are the obvious choice for many. When price is a big consideration some decide on an acrylic or polypropylene oriental area rug, that while definitely better for the pocket, does not loose any of its oriental charm.
Whatever your interior or price range an oriental area rug is certain to add that lasting quality, as all traditional rugs do with ease.
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