We all know purchasing great rugs is a daunting task. People set out to make a substantial purchase without gathering enough information about the criteria it should be judged on, Part of the reason people find it exhausting and tiring. They have no idea how to judge the quality of the rug they are about to purchase.
All the different options do not make the job easier. This article will be catering to the whirl of questions that take up your mind when you start narrowing down your possible list of options while buying oriental rugs.
And if you have no idea, these are the questions/grounds on which you contemplate your purchase to decide for yourself whether it’s worth purchasing or not.
Quality Check the Fabric
While you make your way to decide on a premium area rug, you need to jot down the material which has been used in the production of rugs. When it comes to rugs, material plays a significant role. It is important to familiarize yourself with the different types and kinds of fibers that are used in the manufacturing of rugs before you let the purchase make a dent in your bank account. Here is a brief description of the most common types of material, for those people who are not familiar with the fibers and if you are, skip to the bottom of this section to learn a quality trick of the trade.
Natural Fibers
Cotton: This eco-friendly material is good with dyes and printing. Making it the perfect companion for prints and designs. They are flat weave and pretty durable, however, expect the fabric to turn brown over time with its constant. Nonetheless, these are soft, cozy, and easy to clean.
Wool: when it comes to rugs, wools make up for a pretty decent fiber. However, expect the wool dependent rugs to be just as expensive. As the lux aura and cozy features, it brings to the room come at a pretty hefty cost. The particular material has pockets in its establishment providing you the breathing room and the ability to bounce back. In terms of durability, it outranks most of its companions and is a very decent color retention material. Most of all it`s environmentally friendly and resistant to water stains.
Silk: it is a commonly known fact that silk-based products are expensive, the same is the case with rugs made of silk. Yet the beauty and comfort it brings to your feet will make the purchase well worth the price tag. Silk-based rugs are flame resistant and can expand up to 20% more than their usual length. However, it is extremely reactive when it comes to chemicals.
Synthetic Fibers
(Polypropylene): Its synthetic nature provides longer durability and a luxurious plush feel and maintains a natural look and feel to 100% rugs. Polypropylene-based rugs are stain-resistant and fairly easy to clean and are light on the pockets. Yet it is not as durable as wool rugs and the resistance only works against water based stains.
Polyester: Polyester is an inexpensive material that possesses all the qualities it is fairly durable and lightweight. It does not shrink and wrinkle. The biggest con that the popular synthetic fiber has is that it is not breathable. Trapping dust, heat, and other bacteria can become sticky and clammy, especially in a humid environment.
Nylon: Nylon is a durable fabric that makes it great for high traffic areas and is known for being the most durable synthetic fiber available. There is no such thing as stain-proof carpets nylon rugs are as close as it gets. Proper steam cleaning every 12 to 18 months is bound to increase the life of your nylon-based rugs. However, it might not be as soft as other options and durability come at a higher cost than other synthetic fibers.
Color and Design
When it comes to color and design one should take two very important factors into account. One is that the colors are not bleeding into one another. Regardless of fiber that should not be the case with any of the rugs. Try wiping the rug down with a piece of damp white cloth to figure out whether the carpet will lose its colors or not.
The second factor is to watch for the clarity of the outline which makes the design prominent. There is no such thing as a preferable design as every individual has their liking. However to make sure that each design is the same as the knot and does overlap or replace the other patterns.
Knots per square inch (KPSI)
The Number of knots plays an important role when it comes to the quality of the rugs. It will determine whether the rug is dense, the clarity of pattern on the rug, and play a significant role in its durability. The more the number of knots the higher the quality of the rugs is. Whereas fewer knots indicate that the weave is loose, Which means that the rugs will not withstand a hefty amount of foot traffic. The damages due to foot traffic will start showing signs on a rug with less KPSI far earlier than on quality rugs.
The number of knots in various rugs ranges from 25 to 1000 KPSI where anything less than 80 is considered poor quality. Rugs with KPSI in between 100- 330 KPIs are considered medium and anything over the range qualifies as a great quality rug with higher durability.
Now that you have the required information about the rugs it`s time that you jot these down when you are looking to make a purchase. One thing to keep in consideration would be to steer clear of hand and machine tufted rugs as they are often mass-produced leaving quality compromised. It is created by taking loose wool and processing it with various chemicals and backed with latex glue emitting fumes which can be hazardous in a closed environment especially. These might be cheaper but the quality is very low. Here are some rugs` inspirations for you to get started on your journey.
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