New Zealand has become the largest producer of wool in the world and is second only to Australia in wool exports, so it is not at all surprising that a lot of wool area rugs are made with New Zealand wool. Much of the wool found in exotic carpets, even Persian rugs, Chinese rugs and carpets from many other countries, get their wool from New Zealand due to it’s renowned high quality.

(Photo courtesy of teara.govt.nz)

Many contemporary wool area rugs manufacturers, and Persian rug dealers, advertise this fact because people are aware of the rigorous inspection and grading system used in New Zealand as well as the high standard of how sheep are cared for, the climate, the abundant vegetation, the manner sheered, the length of the hair and many other factors that wool associations like New Zealand Wool monitor.

However, since this wool is of such high quality and so well tested and controlled, it is naturally the most expensive and therefore commercial wool area rug and carpet companies, as well as the small hand knotted area rug makers and weavers will often use a blend of their own local wool and give it strength and softness and added quality with a percentage of the better New Zealand wool yarn.

Note: If you are searching online for 100 % wool, you may see a lot of companies advertise 100 wool area rugs. This simply means 100 % and does not refer to the knot count, the quality of the wool or it’s price. Blends of wool from different places are still wool, and may be accurately labeled 100 % even if only a portion is from New Zealand.

It’s hard to imagine when you look at large wool carpets, but individual sheep’s hair is assessed, measured, selected or rejected based on the length of the hair and the place on the sheep’s body from where it is cut before it has been selected for use in a rug.

For example, sheep have fine, long and very soft hair on their necks, bellies and underarms and shorter or coarser hair in other areas. This hair is called qurk or kork Wool and is considered to be the finest wool which is used for weaving and also found in Isfahan and Nain Persian rugs. However, wool, when used to label clothing, weaving, tapestries, rugs and carpets may be labeled WOOL and you might naturally think of sheep, but it can also mean goat (like the Mohair from the Angora Goat) or camel hair (most commonly used in Serab rugs).

It is still wool, however New Zealand wool will be exclusively sheared sheep wool unless otherwise stated. If you are buying your accent rug from a modern area rug distributor that is well known in your region or if you are purchasing products through a reputable online dealer you can ask about what wool and what quality was used and where it came from and expect an honest answer. However if you are buying in a market or from an independent trader or importer who has select pieces that interest you, you may need to perform some simple tests to check quality before buying.

Testing Wool and Things to Check for when Buying Wool Area Rugs

• Just to make sure wool is wool and not a synthetic imitation, burn a little piece. If it smells like burnt hair it’s natural, if it smells like an acrid chemical it’s not.
• When testing your oriental carpets, give mohair rugs an extra look because sometimes the dyes used on this wool will de uneven or may have run one color into another. Small area wool rugs will look cheap if the dyes have run, especially after they have been walked on a while and begin to show their imperfections. They may also present a problem at the time of cleaning.
• When looking for the exclusive handmade Gabbeh rugs, check that there are not white cotton fringes that will be a clue to their being copies and not true gabbeh from the women of the Zagros region.

Beware of Dead Wool Rugs

Not all pure wool is good wool. For instance in cheap or discount wool area rugs, and many wholesale oriental area rugs distributors that deal in bulk, know it is common for the makers to use the hair that is left over after the long stapled hair is selected.

They may be made into hand tufted wool area rugs in unique designs, yet the second rate hair (that is short and of poor quality) used in making such inexpensive carpets and area rugs will not last.

They may look as nice in a showroom as other more expensive pieces, but in fact will shed quickly and wear poorly. In the industry, wool that remains after the long hair has been removed, is termed Dead Wool.

Gazni and New Zealand Wool

The wool that is often blended or used in Persian or Oriental rugs is sometimes called Gazni wool and is also of high quality because it comes from Afghanistan high mountain sheep who graze naturally on the slopes.

This wool has a sheen, is strong and of high quality. If you see a label on an area rug that says it is a blend of gazni and New Zealand wool you know you have a rug of excellent quality.

Worsted and Semi-Worsted Wool Accent Rugs

To get the long strands and separate it from short hairs, wool is combed and this process is called worsting. You may see rugs that say things like: made from worsted or semi-worsted wool. Semi-worsted will be a blend of high grade long worsted wool and shorter hair.

The top grade would be worsted wool since this means only the longest, strongest hairs have been selected in the combing process and all the rest has been discarded. Modern rugs of high quality should be labeled as to their quality, be they worsted or semi-worsted, and if a carpet doesn’t say, it’s probably of inferior quality.

Pashmina Wool

The wool that is very fine and delicate that is derived from Himalayan goats is called Pashmina and is well known in Pashmina scarves. It is an excellent quality wool, soft and fine and long, but is very rarely used in carpet making or area rugs because it so expensive. It is primarily reserved for high end clothing and very fine scarves and perhaps tapestries. There are some very exclusive designer rugs made from this wool, and they are often used to double as bedspreads or throws and not just floor coverings. In any case, you will be hard pressed to find very large rugs in this wool.

Some companies are mixing New Zealand wool with viscose, or simply using 100 % cotton, and creating what many call a soft Pashmina Shag rug, but this is not really Pashmina – it’s become just a word used to indicate SOFT when it comes to shag area rug collections.
Manchester Wool

Another wool term that is thrown around in the carpet and rug world is Manchester Wool, which despite it’s name is used primarily in Iranian rug weaving. The main use is for a rug called the Manchester Kashan and comes exclusively from Merino sheep which are native of Australia. The use of the word Manchester is because the yarn was at one time processed in Manchester from the wool of Australian Merino sheep and later exported to Iran for use in rug making. Despite this wool having to travel a great deal around the world it is in fact of very high quality, with luster, long staple fibers, and found in excellent quality Iranian or Persian hand knotted rugs.

Testing for Shedding and Quality

Some things to watch for when selecting a wool area rug are poor quality wool rugs that have been later chemically washed to appear to have a better sheen. This will cause the rugs to shed very quickly. The way to test the quality of wool to see if it has been artificially enhanced is to agitate the rug and see if hairs come lose easily. Good quality wool area rugs that have long sheep hair and have not been overly washed will not shed into your hand. Poor quality ones will lose some hairs and this is never a good sign.

Although you may not be able to perform an extensive test of quality in a showroom (especially if selecting a large area rug), you may be able to request that a dealer do a test for you, or you may do so at home immediately after buying, when you can still return the rug should it not be up to standard.

Here is what to do: Vacuum the rug and hen immediately agitate the pile with your hand, back and forth, about a dozen times, then see if there are loosened fibers. Roll this material into a ball and see if the dimension of the ball is larger or smaller than the height of the actual pile. If it is larger than the pile of the carpet it is likely poor quality wool.

Also when you touch a rug, really feel it. Is it course and wiry? Does it feel dry and brittle? If so it is not high quality. Good wool area rugs will feel soft, have a sheen and almost give an oily impression to the touch. This will indicate that the sheep were healthy and it has not been overly chemically treated.

Don’t be deceived by cheap imitations and poor quality because it’s not just about how lovely the rug will look and what patterns and colors have been used, but about how well the rug will wear. Will the shedding cause the knots to loosen? Will the loosened knots weaken the carpet overall? Will vacuuming cause it to shed leaving bare patches, rendering your carpet or area rug unusable for high traffic areas.

So choose high quality new Zealand worsted wool or Merino wool or a blend of Gazni and New Zealand wool (even in oriental rugs styles) and enjoy your traditional or contemporary wool area rugs for a very long time to come.

If you are looking for: Round area rugs, Oval area rugs, Rectangular or Square area rug choices, or if you hope to find exotic Chinese rugs, Tibetan rugs or unique southwestern rugs, please continue reading the articles you’ll find within this site.

Wool rug cleaning is easier than most people think. The primary solution will consist of A quarter cup of vinegar (white vinegar is preferable), a half teaspoon of dishwashing liquid or liquid laundry detergent, and a couple cups of warm water (not hot. However for specific stains you may need to be more precise, so here is a list of some common spills and how to successfully spot clean oriental wool rug with acid fast dyes:

1. Do Not try to spot clean varnish, lacquer, nail polish, lipstick or most colored makeup products. Candle wax and rust also will require an expert carpet cleaner. There are a few other household spills that can’t be effectively treated at home with spot cleaning solutions, like dry mustard, turmeric and saffron. Take your wool area rugs to a professional or call a carpet cleaning expert because you might cause more harm than good by attempting to do it on your own.

2. Pet stains like urine vomit or other odorous substances, as well as Coke, Pepsi and colored soft drinks, and black tea, coffee and red wine, can all be treated with a similar solution. Create a solution that consists of a tablespoon of detergent (the mildest ones will be dish liquid or liquid fabric cleaners. Hand wash wool liquids are ideal – like woolite, but don’t use the oxygenated ones on Persian or oriental wool rugs. Now add about a third of a cup or vinegar and mix that with two thirds of a cup of warm water. First use a towel or sponge to absorb the spill and remove any solid particles. Next use the above solution and using a toothbrush, fabric brush or even a soft hairbrush, work it into the pile and brush outwards – gently, try not to scrub back and forth, just brush like hair, always upward and out. When the stain is no longer visible, use towels to soak up the wetness. You may want to place something heavy on the towel to absorb as much liquid as possible.

The area must be dried completely within 24 hours or mold or bacteria may grow. If the carpet is small then take it outside and shake and let air dry, if it can’t be moved, try a fan or a hairdryer (SET ON COOL) and get the area as dry as possible as fast as possible. Once dry, vacuum the entire area to restore nap and soft pile texture.

3. Wool rug cleaning solutions for blood are the most difficult if the carpet is a very light color and/or if the blood has been left to dry. The protein stains are grouped together and these include egg, blood, milk and sometimes things like mayonnaise or mayonnaise-based salad dressings that may also have egg, oil and some form of lactose ingredients. Ice cream also falls into this category if it’s made from milk or cream (popsicles and sherbets are another issue because they have colored dyes – try the above method instead). Milk chocolate is also considered a protein type stain, although pure cacao is more treated like coffee or tea.

So, for the protein type stains like egg, milk and blood, use this formula while attempting DIY wool rug cleaning: blend about two tablespoons of ammonia with a tablespoon of liquid detergent and add that to about a cup of warm water. Mix this solution well and then apply to the stain. This may need to be repeated several times, brushing the stain and blotting, applying solution, brushing gently and blotting. Rinse and repeat.

You can also use professional dry-cleaning solution or solvent but be sure that it’s not flammable. If the stain you’re treating is a mix of things that may contain oil be it natural like butter or olive oil or synthetic like tar or some petroleum derivative, you will have to use a solvent, preferably a pro-dry-cleaning solution that will dry quickly.

DO NOT BRUSH HARSHLY or rub or scrub when using solvent – only BLOT. Please ensure that the carpet fibers are dry right down to the backing before 24 hours, same as tip #2 above.

4. Chewing gum is one of those horrible nightmares to remove because it may penetrate the fibers of the carpet. You may not be able to get all of it, but at least as much as you can before going to a professional. The stickiness can be somewhat eliminated by using ice.

The idea is to freeze the gum but not soak the carpet with water, so use an icepacks or cubes wrapped in plastic so as to not get everything wet. You will need lots of ice because the gum must become so cold, frozen, that it turns brittle and can be broken off or chipped from the carpet fibers. The last little bits of gum that cling to the wool rug should be removed with a professional spot removal solution or you can try the vinegar and detergent mix.

5. Removing ink from a pen that’s spilled onto a wool rug is difficult, but can be tackled quite effectively with a little hairspray (try to use one that’s not perfumed). Spray the ink spot and then let it dry. Then spot clean using just vinegar and water and BLOT. Don’t scrub because ink tends to spread, which is why you’ve used the hairspray.

Dry Foam Rug Cleaning And Deodorizing Powders

Let’s talk about using dry foam and foam solutions for cleaning wool rugs. Perhaps the best way to clean any carpet or rug, especially wool ones, is to use the driest method possible. Dry foam isn’t necessarily dry when applied to the stain, but is called dry foam because the stain or dirt can be vacuumed up when the foam dries. The first step will be choosing the foam product or creating your own, then applying it to the stained region. Third, use an absorbent pad or cloth to soak up as much as possible. The last step is the vacuuming.

There are two products that have amazing customer reviews, both are Woolite products. Everyone says they work marvelously to remove stains, even wine, blood, pet urine and excrement, including the toughest stains and odors. The first product is the Woolite Heavy Traffic spray-on foam, which dries and can be vacuumed afterwards. The second is also called Heavy Traffic Rug Stick, which has a brush applicator. The only negative remarks by users of this product are that the chemical smell is persistent, and people sensitive to chemicals should refrain from using it. When using this intense carpet cleaning solution, maintain the room well ventilated, and wait for the smell to ease (although some people claim the chemical smell persists for up to 2 weeks). However, if you have a spill or pet accident, the Woolite products are a very affordable and effective means to remove stains from both Persian and oriental carpets and contemporary wool area rug flooring that may otherwise be ruined.

Three Cautionary Tips:

1. First, we must address the issue of the latest Oxy (or oxygenated) cleaners. These types of foam products or spot cleaners should never be used on genuine wool rugs. The reason is that oxy cleaners are an alkaline solution and should not be applied to wool silk rug blends or pure 100 wool rug carpets. Please be aware that most say they are safe for wool, but please test a small area or a fringe before ruining your rug if you must use an oxygenated cleaner.

2. The second issue is about the powders that are sold as cleaners and sometimes as deodorizers, especially those that are suppose to reduce tobacco and pet odors. While they may work on low pile carpets, they are never a good idea on fine wool area rugs or carpets because they leave residue within the fiber. It is not easy to remove once it’s ingrained in the carpet and can cause matted areas or what’s known as pilling.

3. The third point pertains to never using hot water or extreme heat when cleaning wool. Wool area rugs can be hand washed, tossed in a bathtub and rinsed, put through a delicate cycle in the washing machine or even hosed down outdoors, but they should always be washed with cool to warm water, never hot, and they must be quickly and thoroughly dried immediately after. Even sheepskins can be washed, submerged in water, just that they must be shaken and dried rapidly thereafter, especially ensure they are dry on the underside before bringing them indoors and placing on the floor.

Wool is not as delicate as people assume, but it reacts adversely to four things:

1. any alkaline solutions such as cleaning products that contain chlorine
2. any extreme heat may cause felting, matting or damage the fibers
3. excessive rubbing or agitating makes fibers break down and retain dirt
4. wool must not remain wet longer than 24 hours as this may cause mold

Vacuuming A New Zealand Wool Rug With Thick Pile Vs a Loosely Woven Hand Tufted Persian Carpet

How you vacuum a hand tufted wool rug, a shaggy wool rug, a silk wool rug blend and a 100% New Zealand wool pile carpet, will not be exactly the same.

Pile and hand-tufted carpets that are of high quality ( are knotted well) and have quality wool fibers that are similar in length, will react very well to being vacuumed regularly with a machine that has a beater bar, which will help to lift dirt from the bottom of the fibers. Pills, which are formed by tangled little areas of loosened fibers can be cut away and therefore the carpet can be kept smooth and new-looking. However, vacuuming a shag wool rug, a sheepskin, a natural hand-tufted rug with a low knot count or oriental rugs that are not of high quality and loose a lot fibers, requires much more care, perhaps a vacuum without rotary brushes any pounding, just good suction with a gentle wand or light brush. Although fussy surfaces and some shedding is natural for all wool rugs, the shag styles and the long haired natural sheepskins may loose too much hair if vacuumed too intensely, too often. In fact, it’s better to shake small rugs vigorously and even wash more frequently than it is to vacuum the long hair or shag designs.

That is true about long hair, natural wool rug designs and sheepskins, however the opposite is the case when it comes to well knotted, closely woven and fine Persian carpets and oriental rugs that are cut pile or even medium thick pile. These wool area rugs and carpets should be vacuumed and the top layers of fuzz lifted. This will not damage the rug, as it is very natural for them to become fuzzy on the surface and this is perfectly okay to vacuum away two or three times per week. Just vacuum in different directions to get as much dirt as possible and to avoid a matted look.

Should Persian Carpets and Oriental Rugs Be Steam Cleaned

This will depend by whom, how often and using what products. If your Persian rugs or oriental carpets are heirlooms, naturally you’ll take them to be professionally cleaned. However, all good quality wool rug design, be they small or large, should be professionally cleaned because steam cleaning at home (if your rugs are 100% wool), and you’re using a rented unit that will heat water and cause steam that may damage the rugs and/or saturate the fibers with water that may not dry properly and cause mildew and mold to grow, or may use alkaline detergents or cleaning solutions that may deteriorate the fibers, simply isn’t worth it. Steam cleaning carpets in the DIY way, using rental machines or home carpet cleaners, is fine for synthetic fibers but not recommended for wool. Call the professionals.

Washing Your Wool Rug At Home

Small wool rugs can be cleaned at home without much fuss. Vacuum the rugs front and back. Take them outside and beat them if you must, but get as much of the loose dirt out while they’re dry as you possibly can. When nothing more comes out of the rug after beating, shaking and vacuuming, then you can use a mild wool rug shampoo, some ammonia and start washing. Rugs can be brushed, but try to do so with the nap not against it. Don’t scrub, brush it like hair. Rinse and repeat as much as necessary.

Natural Wool Rug Cleaning Secrets – It’s about Getting Them Dry, Dry, Dry

The secret to the success of wool rug cleaning will be in the drying. So, try to squeeze as much of the water out as possible and shake if you can, if it’s not too heavy. Lay it on a flat surface in the sunshine to air dry. Turn it over so the back dries also. When it is TOTALLY DRY, it may feel crisp or crunchy. Don’t worry, this is normal. Bring it inside and vacuum or brush it until it’s as soft as before.

Stop Those Colors From Running

By the way, if you have a Persian rug that is very colorful, or any wool rug that you don’t know how colorfast the dyes may be, try a small area first and see what happens using a vinegar and water solution first. You can stop most dyes from running by using vinegar. The same is true for spot cleaning colorful patterned wool area rugs. Use white vinegar and a teeny bit of liquid detergent and water. This should do the trick, even on pet stains.

The Professionals

Cleaning a flokati or shag rug can be done by hand in bathtub, but having a large Persian wool rug cleaned by hand should be done in a place that specializes in washing oriental carpets. Such places will do the washing by hand but they also have presses that squeeze the water from the rugs so that they dry quickly and the end results will be better than getting someone to come into the home.

Whether you have a contemporary wool area rug or lots of genuine handmade wool rugs from Persia, getting them cleaned at a professional center will help them to last longer. Dirt eats away at the wool fibers and carpets wear out faster when left over long periods of time unattended. Most large cities across the US have professional carpet cleaning services that come and pick-up your rugs and return them when they’ve been cleaned. This is not a cheap undertaking, with prices starting around $125 and going up to about $170, but expert carpet care service is worth paying for. Try to get a Scotchguard treatment done also to protect the rug from quickly getting soiled again. Remember that almost all carpets and area rugs are ore to getting dirty after a cleaning than they were when new. An anti-stain or anti-soiling treatment is advisable for all carpets that will placed in high traffic areas.

Protecting Wool Flooring

Here is some useful informa tion about the patented Scotchgard Protector Advanced formula that helps to repel liquids and stains from penetrating carpet fibers.

1. The latest Scotchgard Protector Advanced Repel Technology is designed to protect the fibers not just on the surface but all the way to the backing. It acts a repelleant so that stains will not form so quickly, in other words if there’s spill the liquid will float on top and not penetrate the fibers to create a nasty stain. It’s therefore easier to quickly blot or wipe up the spill without a trace.
2. Once the treatment has been applied, the carpets have a 10 year warranty that is good against most common household stains.
3. It’s easier to vacuum carpets and area rugs that have been treated because the items that normally stick to the fibers are protected, so dirt and small items that might normally require more aggressive cleaning methods can be sucked up with regular vacuuming.
4. The protection is applied with the professional pump and electric sprayers that the professionals use. It is safe to apply to wool rug designs that are large and small.

5. When there’s a spill, the liquid will create beads and remain on the surface. Wipe away the spills easily, spot clean without scrubbing or brushing, and most importantly, without needing to saturate the carpets with water.

Keep your Persian or oriental hand tufted wool rug heirlooms, and your heavy traffic wool rug runners, protected and clean so they last the way they should.

For more information regarding buying high quality New Zealand Wool Rug designs, braided wool rugs and even specialty Tibetan and Chinese Rug creations that are unique, please browse related posts.

We offer advice and buying guides on antique and contemporary wool rug masterpieces as well as discount wool rugs from online shops that specialize in affordable flooring solutions.

We also offer suggestions of buying Carpet Underlay, especially in the UK, and also offer unique information on Stair Rods that are both ornate and practical. Although we love to help you decorate indoors, we’ve also researched how to make your patio, porch or deck more cozy with Outdoor Rugs that are weather-proof and durable against the elements.

If your looking for unique wool area rugs, shag rugs, flokati and sheepskins, we’ve got lots of recommendations for you, and if you need an elusive Iranian carpet, we show you where the best markets in the world are located and offer a description of Persian carpet motifs and weaves and even how they’re knotted, how to choose them and test them for quality, in the post entitled Contemporary and Classic Wool Area Rugs – Oriental & Persian Rugs.

For a guide to Kids rugs, we offer a selection of unusual ideas, especially for large round educational designs that are one of a kind in the post entitled Discount Kids Floor Rugs. And should you need a zebra rug, even a purple one, we know where to find them. We shop the world for you, so you can relax, snuggle up with a good book or stretch out in front of a fireplace on your very own carpet or area rug.

Decorate, Protect and Reduce Accidents

Residential stair treads don’t have to be ugly plastic, vinyl or adhesive tape with an abrasive none slip surface to offer safety. They can be decorative and practical while protecting feet from slipping on wood, metal and other surfaces without ruining decorative elements. In fact, the latest designs in braided and woven stair carpet treads are so stylish they look as if they were chosen to decorate more than for safety. Here are some of the top products you may choose from:

Versatile CMI Braided Stair Treads

Colonial Mills (CMI) is a manufacturer of high quality carpet, area rugs, flooring and accessories, who have a variety of stair tread collections to enhance home décor themes with the textures and colors you want while offering the protection and safety features you NEED for good grip and none skid on stairways. One of the collections is called the Midnight series, which offers oval shaped, extremely durable, wool, nylon and polypropylene blended fibers, in a small flat braided carpet that’s ready to install on your steps.

The durability is assured when you consider that each multicolored, oval-shaped mini carpet, 8 by 28 inches, is 50% polypropylene and 35% nylon, and 15% wool, and therefore are also machine washable.

Choose your favorite color combination in the Midnight series, which is sold in sets of 13 treads, and simply secure them to your steps with a double adhesive kit.

Why choose the CMI collection?

One reason is that, should you opt for the braided collections, you can choose to mix and match other braided or texture area rugs with the ones that are on your stairs, or vice versa. There are oval and rectangular wool and synthetic area rugs in all the different colors and collections that allow you to coordinate interior and exteriors flooring, stair safety and even decorative carpeting so that everything matches beautifully.

Another of the CMI stair tread collections is called Jefferson, and although it’s also a braided design to protect your stairways and offer a secure grip, the color choices are modern, in solid desert beige, moss green, evergreen, blue ribbon, copper and red steak. In any color you choose, the set of 13 stair tread rugs costs just under $117.

If you choose to go with the Jefferson style, the fiber is also very durable being 100% polypropylene, also flat braided, and reversible, as well as machine washable, in the same oval shape that’s ready to install with a stair tread adhesive kit. This collection is sold in sets of 13 pieces and all are 8 inches by 10 inches in size, which fits on most stairways. Choose matching accent rugs in the same colors and braided rug designs.

The other possibility in the CMI lines is one called Cocoa Bean, which is also a braided tread, but comes in rectangular and oval shapes, and offers a fun mix of natural color blends in each piece – from dark cocoa to light creamy taupe.

This series is more versatile to buy because each piece is sold individually – the oval ones that are 8 by 28 inches cost just $17.95 each and the rectangular ones, which are the same size, cost $20.95 each. However, if you only need a few pieces, this is the more affordable option.

The Cocoa Bean flooring accessory series is 100% cotton and is made in India, but is also easy to care for by shaking or simply sweeping the steps and treads with a broom. In this case, it is suggested that you apply a pad under each small rug to get better grip and avoid skidding. Also, please be aware that because the items are cotton and more natural in nature, there will be slight variations in color and size, although this is part of the charm of this particular collection.

By the way, we just discovered that the Cocoa Bean design can be purchased as a set of 13 pieces, in either oval or rectangular, for about $220 in oval or about $260 in rectangular.

The complete set is offered through CNS Rugs and can be ordered online, and includes free shipping. The oval ones are in stock (at the time of writing this post) and can be shipped in about 3 days, but the rectangular pieces are on backorder.

When you choose small readymade rug stair treads, you can also choose matching carpeting and accent area rugs for your entryway or at the bottom of your steps.

In the Cocoa Bean collection, the rectangular or oval matching area rugs start at just $69 or $89, and really long runners, which are 6 feet or up to 9 feet long, cost between $189 and $279 (when in stock).

Adhesive Kits For Non Slip Stair Treads

If you’re going to add carpet, rugs or some kind of woven or fabric material to your steps to help with safety issues, and to decorate, it is recommended that you use an adhesive padding below the rugs to avoid any possibility of skidding. One of the most practical kits is the Colonial Mills Kit which is a complete white rug installation pad in a roll that’s 28 feet in length and 6 inches wide. The padding is sticky on both sides so it will adhere to both the stair and the carpet. It’s really easy to use. All you need is a measuring tape and some scissors! It costs $42.50 per roll, so calculate how many rolls you need and order with the carpeting or rugs so that they arrive at the same time.

BrookStone Indoor Outdoor Stair Treads For Excellent Grip

If you haven’t heard of the innovation behind the Brookstone products, then you’ll probably be happy to discover what they have in stair accessories.

Their unique treads can be placed on steps that are indoor or outdoor because they absorb water and mud and other dirt so that the stairs remain protected and skid-free. One thing is that they are also larger and so can fit a variety of stairs that other treads are just too small to adequately cover. They are 30 inches long and 8 and a half inches wide.

When we first took a look at this product, in order to give our readers a balanced review, we were sure they would be excellent for casual outdoor areas, but were concerned that they were too industrial looking for wooden or antique staircases that people didn’t want to hide. However, it has been brought to our attention by a variety of individuals who purchased this item that it is in fact lovely on natural wooden stairs, especially since there are four colors to choose from, two of which are natural-looking in dark taupe and grey which look good with wood, as well as the more modern colors that are solid forest green and navy blue.

It has been suggested that these sets of 4 non slip stair tread designs are excellent but require adhesive (or small tacks) to anchor them down. They do not come with adhesion so get some tape and secure them to the steps. The set of 4 costs $60, and will be shipped by Brookstone in a couple days unless you specify their next day delivery option.

While you’re at Brookstone, look into their doormats and innovative Waterhog runners and entry rugs. Their flooring accessories are loved by people who have pets and children, who have high traffic in the home and those who need to protect quality flooring or expensive carpets, tiles or hardwood surfaces.

The other thing you may need, to finish off a stairway that is being carpeted, is rods to hold the carpet secure, especially if you’re going with wall to wall carpeting and not just small area rugs or adhesive tread kits. So, we offer useful advice on choosing the best stair rod designs in the related post entitled Decorative Antique Brass Stair Rods. We explore a variety of styles and manufacturers and make recommendations that are decorative and affordable as well as safe and practical for the home.

Another item that you’ll need is Carpet Underlay (cushioning or padding) to make the carpet softer underfoot as well as to protect the underside of expensive carpets and area rugs. On Stairways this may also be essential to add better grip to the small treads you attach. Some basic foam cushioning may be all you need. (Please refer to our related post.)

You will also appreciate the information we’ve gathered on the average Carpet Prices for wall to wall flooring sold by the roll or by the square foot/yard. Choose the top manufacturers, the best quality Stainmater carpeting collections and other top brands, and plan your budget in advance so you know all the costs involved before starting a project.

If you’re about to add a little spice to a room by remodeling a bathroom, kitchen, dinning area, patio, deck or living room, and need a few scatter rugs, Large Rugs, round rugs, or even children’s educational Floor Rugs, please browse the topics that are specific to these subjects. We offer guides to finding the best, the most unusual, the most affordable and the top rated products for the home.

Foreign Accents Rugs – A Little Rug Goes A Long Way

Expert interior designers such as Steve Appel and Lee Whitehead, from a Baltimore company called Nouveau Contemporary Goods, know how to choose a home accent rug that will satisfy even the most demanding client’s taste. So when they pick area rugs and unique carpeting designs by Foreign Accents for some of their contemporary creations, we want to know why.

What’s so special about Foreign Accents rugs? How is it that something small on a floor can pull a home decorating theme together? To answer that, we need to take a look at the people behind Foreign Accents, the unique individuals, namely Trish & Wolfgang Rempen, who took their dream of scouring the world for the top contemporary area rugs into a reality.

From A Garage In New Mexico To The World

Trish & Wolfgang Rempen, of Foreign Accents, made little rugs go a long way by hand selecting the choicest pieces, which were unique and affordable, and offering them to the world. At first, back in 1984, they didn’t have fancy showrooms or exclusive designers using their carpets in show homes, in fact they began in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in a small garage. After their first retail space, they were able to expand into Albuquerque just 3 years later, and within 11 years, had built up such momentum in the contemporary area rug market that they needed to build their own warehouse.

Meanwhile, they attended the design and furniture fairs across the US and exhibited their international wares, which originated in more than 30 countries, and eventually gained such recognition in the industry that they were honored three times with the Best New Product Award by the famous New York Home Textiles Show.

Their passion for finding the top international manufactures of unusual, and high quality, contemporary rugs has lasted more than 25 years and continues. They now offer their wares to designers, exclusive furniture stores and dealers around the world.

It’s no wonder that interior designers like those at The Interior Design Group in Nanaimo, British Columbia and the above mentioned Nouveau Contemporary Goods in Baltimore, and many others like the Nordby Design Studio in Portland as well as exclusive furniture shops like Collectic Home in Austin Texas, offer the Foreign Accents rugs to their clients.

The unusual motifs in textured pieces, and the fibers that vary from wool to synthetic, along with the selection of contemporary colors in pile carpets, shag and even leather (amongst other materials), makes their accenting rugs a top choice.

Other designers who have been known to choose select items from the Foreign Accents collections are those such as Mary Sherwood from Lake Living Lifestyles – an interior designer for exclusive homes in the Lake Gaston district of Littleton, NC.

The Main Accent Rug Collections

There are eight main collections, each unique.

Bistro Loft and Luxe

The first is the Bistro line that offers plush rugs and small shag variations as well as select items crafted from durable polypropylene. Within this series you’ll find two different styles, namely the Bistro Loft and the Bistro Luxe. Both offer thick pile, rich weaves, high quality poly yarns, and stain and soil resistant treatments which make them ideal in main living spaces that may get high traffic.

The Loft and the Luxe designs are modern, however some are earth-tone semi floral or geometric translations of circular forms and shapes as well as natural elements, while others are purely neutral beige, tapes, browns and black and white blends that are contemporary yet very elegant – even luxurious yet unobtrusive and not overpowering. The Bistro series is made in Belgium and has about a half inch pile.

Chelsea Hand-Tufted

The second series is called Chelsea and features a vibrant collection of handtufted pieces in a range of different fibers made in India.

There are unusual pieces in this line that range from leather and suede to viscose. Amongst them are mottled color blends in neutral two-tone creations and rounded stone motifs as well as large eccentric swirls, spirals and colored stripes.

Crisp modern lines in some are only outdone by the circular fingerprint patterns of others or by the blending of modern animal print patterns into unique geometric divisions.

Round Accent Rugs From All Collections

The third group they showcase is simply called Round Rugs, which is self explanatory, however many of the pieces are carved. This is an extensive collection of round area rugs in a variety of unique fibers and textures that includes what they call the Fettuccine Shag. If you know what fettuccini is like and what shag is, then you have a good idea what the carpet will be like, namely: satiny strands of shag with a sheen! This accent area rug design comes in gorgeous colors like raisin, wine, champagne and metallics like silver, gold and bronze, as well as black.

There’s also a line, (within the collection) called the Starburst shag, which offers an unusual textural element and a array of colors that includes rainbow, pastels, silver, charcoal and even a lovely modern turquoise. Since round rugs is about the shape of the carpet and not the fibers or style in and of itself, the collections of round pieces overlaps into other collections, such as the Elementz and the

Festival styles (only round) and the sumptuously soft Angelhair shag that has a shimmer. There’s also a metallic braided design that’s available in silver. They’re all made in India and most offer a pile that’s between an inch and an inch and a half in length.

Elementz – Fetuuccini Shag, Angelhair and Metalic

Elementz offers a selection of carpets that are metallic or have unusual blends such as braided shag and even the softest collection of angelhair pieces.

It also includes some of the afore mentioned Fettuccine shag, the rich Starburst shag, in all the colors from in the round rug section, such as wine and turquoise, even multicolored rainbow and antic, as well as soft neutral tones like champagne, black or metallic gold.

Festival Colorful

The collection called Festival is an explosion of color, geometric shapes and forms that is a series primarily hand-tufted and carved in what is called Favriel. What is Favriel? It’s a material that’s specifically known for its ability to retain intense color and offer a textured feel that’s akin to wool while being a none-shedding acrylic that’s very durable and great for high traffic areas.

The Festival collection offers rugs that are thick and plush and luxurious to the touch, custom crafted, dyed and tufted by hand in China. The pile of these carpets is from a half to three quarters inch in thickness. The sizes of these pieces are around 5 by 7 feet, however specific sizes can be ordered

Martini Chic

Another series by Foreign Accents rugs is the collection called Martini. These are contemporary pieces with swirls and circular motifs in modern red, black and white colors that have a chic uptown Martini bar feeling. Ideal to combine with stainless steel, sleek metals and glass, leather or modern furniture that’s minimalist or architectural in shape.

The carpet itself is finely tufted by hand in India using a variety of multi-fibers that allow for a textured, carved allure for which Foreign Accents is famed. These are exceptional quality carpets, not cheap accent rugs that you can get just anywhere. They boast being the best tufted rugs on the market and best of all, they can be customized to suite your needs. The pile is about an inch thick and the sizes are usually 5 foot by 8 foot (unless other dimensions are requested). Remember that if you want to order any of these pieces online, the ones that are in stock will ship quickly, but the custom variations can take up to 12 weeks.

Designer Home Accent Rug Creations by Michael Payne

There’s also a designer line by Michael Payne. Although they are also hand-tufted and/or carved and use the wool-like acrylic yarn called Favriel, what separates them are the singularly artistic geometric patterns from the visionary inspiration of designer Michael Payne.

They are much more than area rugs, but considered floor-art, with motifs and vibrant colors set in half to three quarter inch pile carpets.

Ragtime Fun

The final series is called Ragtime and it’s all about multi fiber and textured (handmade tufted poly, made in India) to look like plush stone squares or tied rags, depending on the piece. These are very plush carpets with an inch to an inch and a half pile. Again, the standard sizes are about 5 feet by 8 feet, but custom orders are possible.

Because many of the products mentioned are stain resistant, treated with fire retardants and protected against mildew and mold, some can be used outdoors or can be a kitchen accent rug where spills and traffic might make other cheap carpets not a good choice.

Other Stuff

We love the modern and versatile Foreign Accents collections, but we also offer information on oriental and Persian wool area rugs, as well as outdoor rugs that can withstand a lot abuse from the elements. We provide guides on buying carpets and also on choosing the best Wool Rug cleaning solutions, and offer specific recommendation on how to care for your carpets.

There’s also a segment that’s specifically written for those who are upgrading or decorating their bathrooms and are looking for bathmats, water resistant rugs and Bathroom Sets.

We know that most carpets and rugs will wear better if they have a protective layer of padding under them, therefore we offer a guide on buying Carpet Underlay, and although the products we suggest are mostly for the UK market, the ideas are valid for wherever you may live.

And, if you’re installing runners on stairs, you may be wondering where to get Stair Rods that are affordable. We provide a guide on what’s offered online and provide basic information on carpet installation.

If you have a particular carpet or rug brand that you’d like us to review, we’d love to hear from you. Even if you’d just like to show off your own design or how you’ve decorated a particular room, we’d be delighted to have a look, and if it’s eye-catching and unusual, we might showcase you in one of our posts.

Leave us a comment regarding your favorite rugs and carpets, perhaps an antique wool rug you might have inherited or found while traveling, or tell us about your best carpet cleaning tips, and we’ll share them with our readers.

Need an exotic area rug to accent a room but are tired of the round oriental rugs with the usual Persian motifs and colors? The contemporary round rugs crafted in Egypt from the Kharma and the Kharma II collections by Sphinx are not your average carpets, but modern twists on ancient themes that offer an air of exotic without being traditional.

The colors used by Sphinx are rich but not exactly oriental classics, offering choices such as aqua, turquoise, emerald green, or even plum, lavender and rose. There are unique color blends in vibrant orange and yellow, mottled shades of earthy tones in karmic-like aura motifs, geometric shapes and circular patterns that whisper thoughts about the cycles of life.

With a touch of exotic, the sumptuous luxury of oriental quality and ancient techniques are blended with modern technology, creating home decorating accents that inspire individuality. With high quality construction, and the look of natural hand-washed yarns, but crafted the advanced fiber technology formulas that offer protection against stains, mold, mildew and the effects of heavy traffic, the Sphinx Kharma collection stands out in two separate worlds – the world of chic contemporary home design and the world of quality oriental carpet craftsmanship.

Isn’t a round WOOL rug better than a polypropylene one?

Yes, normally this is true, especially when it comes to traditional hand-knotted Oriental carpets where the beauty of the item rests in the rich natural dyes, the finest wool, the highest fiber count, the thickest pile, and so on, making the rug more an investment in an art than merely a decorative or functional piece. Although wool can be protected to withstand an immense amount of use, and abuse, and in general will mean owning a higher quality carpet, the fact remains that in many contemporary homes, there is humidity, dirt from foot traffic, children who accidentally spill things, and even pets that make owning an heirloom quality wool area rug not as practical as we’d like. Let’s also not forget that most of us have tighter than usual decorating budgets, and the word “affordable” is an extremely attractive one when it comes to flooring accents.

How affordable are the Egyptian Sphinx collections?

They’re very reasonably priced. In fact the round rugs we recommend, which vary in size depending on the style, start at under $99, and for the large 6 foot round designs (which are large enough for a main living room or under a dining table), are priced under $350. The 8 foot ones, which are a massive size, cost under $550. If you’re browsing the possible choices in the 8 foot and 6’ round rug collections in wool (or synthetic fibers), you’ll very quickly see that the ones we suggest are excellent value.

Sizes of The Modern Round Rugs By Sphinx

The small round rugs that you may think might work in front of the kitchen sink or at the entrance to a doorway are not the best shape for such places and therefore not the ones that Sphinx specializes in making. Mat-type area rugs that are sometimes called “scatter rugs”, and can be used to stand on while washing dishes or to wipe your feet at the door or porch, are actually best when rectangular in shape, or even a half moon design. These are usually low pile rubber-backed carpets and are seldom chosen as the focal point of a room.

Having a teeny round mat isn’t really practical, so we suggest that if you’re wanting a matching look throughout a room or perhaps in a kitchen and dinning room space that’s open, try placing a 2 foot by 4 foot rug beside the sink and (in the Kharma collection) these cost just $97. They’re large enough to have space to stand on and move while the rug won’t go slipping around like many of the teeny ones do. They’re small enough to pick up and shake while cleaning yet large enough to run a vacuum over.

Consider using a long runner-style rug or carpet in the kitchen and matching it with a round one in the dinning area. In fact, it’s much more interesting to have a blend of long narrow, square, rectangular and round, than all the same shape, even if you do choose an identical pattern.

All the items you see featured here in this post, be they shown as square or round images, are available in round, square and rectangular shapes and also in runners like the 2 foot by 7 foot one that costs only $199, or the longer 9 foot long runner for under $250.

Now, with the same motif, choose the large central carpet for under the dinning table, the best for this location is almost always a round rug. These can be had in the 6 foot sizes for $347, in the 8′ round rug designs that are identical for $548, and in the 10 foot carpets for about $897.

Remember that a 10 foot carpet is 10 feet in diameter and therefore appears to takes up more space than one that’s square or rectangular and blends with the edges of a wall or the corners of square furniture. Keep in mind that a round area rug under a square or rectangular table is a delightful decorating idea to soften the harsh edges of furnishings. Just make sure that you buy a large enough piece so that the legs of the table can rest on the rug or at least appear centered should the table be longer or wider.

Looking For Discount Round Rugs?

The Sphinx collections, from Oriental Weavers, are available online through a variety of discount shops like Rug Sale and Area Rugs Club, and often there are bargains or special offers for additional discounts even on some of the items we’ve recommended.

The problem is that not all the shops carry the rectangular and the round pieces that are identical. For example, some of the modern colorful carpets only come in runners and rectangular shapes. Nevertheless, having identical patterns for a long runner or a kitchen scatter rug as well as the larger carpet that may be placed under a dinning table (or one that acts as a focal point in a living room) isn’t necessary. Often using contrasting colors with a mix of plain and patterned rugs, spread throughout an open area, like a loft, creates interest as well as a means to bring two diverse themes or concepts together, allowing for more unusual furniture pieces, even modern and antique, to come together without appearing out of place.

Mixing It Up

When it comes to carpets, mixing it up a little can be a decorating choice that’s more exciting than perfectly coordinating identically matched items. It will take a little more creativity, but the results may be well worth the effort.

Consider some outstanding results by designers who mix up the colors and styles to create unique effects, such as what ABR Interior Design in Dallas Texas, did with the open space where the living room has a colored square/rectangular rug and the dinning area has a large round rag rug under the table.

Amongst other ideas that this room offers as inspiration, the floor accents highlight the contrasts in texture, color, patterns and even the mix of diverse furniture time periods. In the end, what pulls this room together is the way the contrasting rugs compliment each other, adding to overall subtle elements that may otherwise clash.

For more design concepts and area rug suggestions, both how to decorate with them and where to shop for unique pieces, please browse related topics.

If you’d like to get more ideas, like how to really mix it up with a blend of Far Eastern, Moroccan, Mexican and retro modern styling (like this ingenious room featured in the Designers Guild) and lots of other fun and funky color and texture blending techniques that incorporate area rugs, check out the posts such as Where To Buy Large Rugs Online, which offers unique recommendations for flooring collections as diverse as shag and modern black and white sculpted pieces.

Get familiar with where to buy discount carpet at Rugs Direct and save on brand name items like those crafted by Calvin Klein and Liz Claiborne as well as unique Persian rugs and Modern creations by Trans Ocean.

In the article on Home Accent Rugs you’ll find some creative contemporary styles and lots of decorating concepts using the modern, vibrant and colorful international designs collected by Foreign Accents Rugs.

We also give concise Wool Rug Cleaning tips for when you have a specific carpet stain you must remove, and general rug care solutions that are affordable and practical even for those with children and pets.

Stainmaster Carpet Prices

It’s not the cheapest choice, but in many circles it’s considered one of the best options. However, when you start to price carpets, you’ll find that the same company offers many different levels of quality and styles for different budgets, and that’s true of Stainmaster. About the cheapest Stainmaster carpet prices you’ll find will be those offered by places like Owen, where they have nylon frieze in all the popular neutral colors for about $2.44 per square foot, in other words, just under $22 per square yard.

This price quote, of around $22 per square yard, also includes the famous Stainmaster Tactesse collection as well.
What is Tactesse? It’s a carpet that uses two-ply twisted yarn in what is called barber pole, which means it twists two different colors together, to allow for a subtle blend of color that appears evenly distributed throughout the carpet.

Depending on how the fibers are twisted, and what colors are mixed, the effect can be very subtle or more dramatic. In the Tactesse collection, you can choose from 25 different colors, all blended perfectly to give a rich designer quality look to your floor.

However there is also another Tactesse line that’s part of the Soft Luxury collection that’s a little more expensive. Although also a twisted nylon fiber, it’s even richer and plusher underfoot. This is one of the top collections that offers you a choice of 20 colors, many are modern and vibrant, with the well-known Stainmaster Xtra Life warranty, which if you aren’t aware is a 10 year quality guarantee that it will retain its texture and will not soil. That line costs just over $3 per square foot (or almost $28 a square yard), and comes in up to 12 foot widths, especially good when pricing wall to wall carpeting solutions.

Just as a help to choosing the brand names, which can be confusing, here are some of the collections that are Stainmaster quality and fall within the average $2.44 to$3.11 carpet price range:

1. Irresistible
2. Dream World
3. Artist’s View
4. Fresh Perspectives
5. Ride the Wind
6. Soft Luxury

Within these categories you’ll find tweed, frieze, the Tactesse collections, as well as twisted and textured variations.

Looking Specifically For Berber Carpet Prices?

If you’re looking for berber carpeting, then you probably already know that this is a looped design that is usually chosen for high traffic areas or commercial spaces, and often has a versatile multi-tone coloring that doesn’t show wear or dirt as easily as some other choices. Berber was exclusively wool at one time, and therefore high quality but quite expensive, however with technology have come some more affordable options.

There are now some good alternatives that offer a choice of cut and uncut loops, and even combinations that give the carpet a textured look and are crafted more affordably using high-end nylon fibers.

The Off Broadway Stainmaster collection that has the 10 year warranty, as well as a 7 year stain and soil resistance assurance, and a lifetime antistatic guarantee, and also retains its color, and is protected by the Dupont Teflon patented soil and liquid repelling system, costs just $2.60 per square foot (about $23.40 per sq. yard), and is available a little cheaper if bought by the roll. Choose from over 30 colors!

If you need large quantities of carpet consider another solution. Instead of buying retail, check out:

Cheap Wholesale Carpet Prices – Berber Collections

The best wholesale carpet prices on the Berber lines are available through Georgia Carpet Industries and offer a complete series called Jessica’s Jewel Berber carpet, which comes in 8 color blends, and also the second series called Jake’s Gem which is a line with pronounced color combinations, for just $0.84 per square foot if it’s cut, or even better at $0.67 if bought by the roll. It’s 100% olefin carpet fiber with a 23 ounce weight, and if purchased by the roll, has a 12 or 15 foot minimum.

Mohawk Carpet

Carpet pricing for Mohawk lines is also varied like the other well-known flooring manufactures because of the various different collections and fibers available.

The main collections are crafted with what they call SmartStrand fibers and come in eight different styles under three basic lines called Design Savvy, Fashion Knowledge and Intelligent Style. They also claim an incredible resistance to stains because of having been treated with a product that can’t be washed off.

The other unique thing about the SmartStrand carpeting is that it is said to be eco-friendly. The Mohawk carpet prices range from about $1.96 for the Sweet Dreams Frieze sold in rolls, or $2.26 for cut pieces, to the plush designs in the same series, like the Warm Fuzzies for $2.60 per square foot (or just $2.28 by the roll).

The rich colors available are impressive, too many to list, like Grape Jam, Eggplant, Candy Kisses, Bamboo, Honeysuckle and Sweet Potato. There are also Sculptured Tapestry lines for about $1.80 a square foot or just over $16 a sq. yard. If you buy in rolls, with a minimum charge that will apply, you can save even more by paying just $1.53.

Georgia Carpet Industries Discount Carpet

For a series that’s ultra plush and only coats $.063 a square foot, check into the Dedication II collection that’s sold through Georgia Carpet Industries and is a textured plush carpet that comes in all the colors you can imagine, including Mahogany, Candy Apple, Powder Puff, Purple Passion and soft neutral tones like Hazelnut, Wheat and Sunset Beige.

If you see something you like in their online catalogue and want to be sure the color is the same off-screen, just click to order some real carpet samples which will be sent to you.

Carpet Installation

While budgeting for your wall to wall carpet, especially if you require a large amount, please consider two additional factors:

One factor is the delivery time it will take to get from the warehouse to your home. Consider these timeframes when ordering online. It can take as little as two or three working days to receive your orders in some regions, but as much as a week or more in others.

The second factor is that there are sometimes additional charges per square foot (or square yard) for delivery and this can seriously affect your overall carpet price. Sometimes there is just a flat shipping rate based on the palette weight which may be as little as $50 or as much as $90. Please be sure to get an exact quote and a free sample to verify the color, BEFORE placing your order online.

You want to know all costs are included and be sure that the color is what you desire. Remember that is some cases when you buy carpet online, if you have not requested a sample, and your carpet arrives and it’s not what you’d hoped, you won’t be able to return it. It’s a strange policy that some companies hold to, but a good one, because it forces you to get a sample and know what color and texture you’re getting in advance. This saves a lot of hassle for both you the buyer and the carpet retailer.

The last concern is finding good carpet installation prices, and we can’t help too much in this area because you’ll have to hire a local carpet installer, and prices vary from region to region, although it’s possible it be around $.050 a square foot (that may or may not include cushion /underlay).

Some people claim that it’s cost effective to use places like Home Depot, and as far as we know, their carpet installation price are set at about $0.88, however that was also for cushioning. Some independent carpet installers can charge as little as fifty cents a square foot as stated above, but will likely have a minimum charge for the overall job. It is well-known that bathrooms are always a bit more expensive (usually you should add about $50) and stairs….ouch! there’s usually a minimum of $150 to start.

For more information regarding Stair Rods and Carpet Underlay, please browse related topics. Aside from wall to wall carpet recommendations, and price information, we also have suggestions for Accent Rugs, Decorating with Round Rugs and even tips for Wool Rug Cleaning.

Stair rods hold your stairway carpets in place and add a decorative final touch. The most popular brass stair rods in the US can be found through online shops like Stair Crazy. For stair rods UK residents can have delivered easily and quickly there are also online options like Stairrods UK where a wide selection of designs are available. Let’s look first at the products available in the US, then we’ll explore the options in the UK.

Brass Stair Rods in The USA by Stair Crazy

Woburn is a name you can keep in mind because their stair rods are solid brass. They are sold in 3 different widths and have 7 different finishes and 3 bracket options. All the sets are sold complete with rods, brackets, screws and finials. Choose between solid rods, hollow rods, triangular rods and clips.

Another brand name to keep in mind is Akeman, which also have solid brass stair rod designs with hand turned finials. You can select from 4 widths, 6 bracket styles and 8 different finishes.

The first is the ball stair rod, the second is called the beacon design, the third is the castle design and the forth is the oval solid brass stair rod. The fifth end design is a turret style, and there is also a finial available in the antique brass stair rods collection by Akeman.

Homepride Stair Rods are a hollow design, but also have brass finishes as well as gold, silver and antique models. Homepride are very cheap stair rods which are made from 12mm aluminium tubes and come in standard 36″ lengths that can be altered by cutting either at the time you order or by the professionals who will install the carpets and rods.

Another option that is very decorative, are the Royale stair rods that are triangular and made from hollow brass.

The most popular design is the Beaumont which has a decorative runner and ending, and is available in 7 different finishes, including a very elegant lacquered antique brass stair rod that is ideal for plush antique style carpets and will accent wood or marble flooring that may show along the sides of the carpet or stair runner.

Another beautiful option, instead of full rods, is the stair clip, which can be had in the Victorian style that is solid brass with a variety of finishes, including antique pewter and black wrought iron. These antique brass stair rods can be a final touch that gives a wooden stairway a classy accent, or may even be used to accent a rustic country cabin theme. They are very versatile and affordable, and easy to install.

If you have a modern designed home with a crisp white or grey or even black carpet that’s a minimalist design, these clips are just the thing, and since they come in what appear to be white and chrome stair rods collections, they can be modern elegant without necessarily having a total antique look.

Zoroufy Stair Rods

Some of the most famous stair rods are crafted by Zoroufy. Their neest collection is called Stair Jewel™ , which is a high-end line that has intricately carved motifs and a patented interlocking bracket for a smooth clean-line style without ugly screws that show. They have four basic styles called the ball the acorn, the urn and a pineapple style. They are all solid polished brass stair runner rods of the finest quality.

About Zoroufy

Zoroufy has been creating decorative stair rods and improving the design of stair rod brackets since 1970 due to Hassan Zoroufy who was first a fine oriental rug and tapestry trader. However, in the 80’s, wall to wall carpet and stair runners became popular and therefore the Persian and oriental carpets needed to be fixed in place by stair rods and stair clips that would accent the excellent carpets.

The fine designs that were innovated became very popular and Zoroufy began delivering stair carpet rods to many retailers n the floor covering world and soon expanded to offer products not only in the USA, but in Canada and even to the European market. The Zoroufy stair rods are of the finest quality, used in elegant homes as well as hotels and other commercial settings.

Stair Rods UK

In the UK, one of the places to get chrome stair rods and antique brass designs, as well as cheap stair rods for a limited budget, is Stairrods UK. They offer all the best brands and styles like Royale, which has the triangular styles called Eastern and Promise which are thick hollow stair rods that are very ornate finials and may be suited for grand staircases. They also have the Premier line which is a solid traditional country range with machined finials, or the Vision line that is contemporary including crystal tipped stair rods that come in 7 different finishes.

If you need antique designs the Tudor and the Blacksmith collections are ideal. The beautiful Blacksmith line is all hand beaten rustic and may be ordered in 3 different finial accents.

They also carry the cheap Homepride hollow stair rods that come in different finishes for those who are on a very limited budge.

For those who want to order the Victorian stair clips in the UK, there are the solid brass Stargrip and the aluminium clips.

For information on carpet underlay in the UK and the US, and for ideas on where to buy large rugs, runners, Persian and oriental carpets and even wool area rugs or the popular shaggy shag rug and zebra styles, please continue browsing our related topics.

If you’ve been looking for the top brands like 828 International or even the famous Karastan rugs from American Classics, then you need to shop direct and benefit of savings that are between 15% and 50%. You can even shop for the brand name items like the ones from KAS Oriental, American Cottage Rugs and even the popular Kathy Ireland area rugs for up to 10% off regular prices.

If you’re looking for designer area rugs from Learning Carpets, like the Andy Warhol collection, you can save between 15% and 20% just by ordering your rugs through rugs direct instead of shopping at a showroom.

Have you had your heart set on a Liora Manne or an Angela Adams creation but just couldn’t afford it? Then try buying direct and save. It’s just a click away.

How about a Liz Claiborne or a natural rug from Anji Mountain Bamboo?

You can select the same beautiful natural designs just that you will pay about 25% less. And for 15% savings on the Martha Stewart collections and 20% savings on the famous Bob Timberlake designs, go to rugs direct and stop yourself from paying too much.

What about Calvin Klein originals and the fabulous Memeni designs?

Yes, they are also discounted when you buy factory direct rugs online.

If you’ve been browsing the pages of Nourison carpets and rugs and the Couristan collections and finding them out of reach because you have a limited budget, then get a discount of as much as 10% or 20% on select pieces, or try to Rugs Direct collections of their own that come at about 30% savings.

What about Oriental and Persian rugs, round area rugs, wool rugs and shag?

Yes. You can get a discount on the beautiful Studio by Karastan, Jaipur Rugs and even the gorgeous Surya carpet collections, up to 30% off.

And how about domestic brands like Trans Ocean carpets and United Weaver?

Yes. Discounts apply, between 15% and 20%, on specific carpets and area rugs and runner rugs when you order through Rug Direct dealers online.

How to place an order with Rugs Direct

It’s really easy.

1. Browse their collections.
2. Order online using a credit card
3. You may also choose to fax your order if you feel more secure
4. A toll free number will allow you to place an order or receive service and advice

At this time the services of Rugs Direct do not include international delivery. You may only take advantage of these remarkable savings on carpets and rugs if you reside in the United States or Canada.

For more information on ordering indoor and outdoor rugs, buying carpet underlay, selecting bathroom sets and even choosing stair rods for runners and stairway carpeting, please consult the related topics specific to your needs.

Interactive children’s floor rugs; alphabet and letter squares for building customized kids floor rugs; large bilingual designs and international map and globe style childrens floor rugs to stimulate imagination and discovery; fun game center rugs and carpets that help teachers and parents educate and entertain; durable rug flooring designs crafted specifically for children and for use in high traffic areas; cute baby floor rugs that are ideal in the nursery or playroom – that’s what this weeks rug review is all about, plus suggestions on durable, easy to clean kitchen floor rug designs for families with children and recommendations on where to shop for discount floor rugs online.

The latest area floor rugs for kids are not just decorative pieces that keep kid’s toes warm, but are also educational, interactive and activity centers and game boards, designed to educate and entertain in fun and unique ways. The large floor rugs that re available through a company called Kids Carpet are colorful and well crafted pieces that stimulate children’s imaginations and may be ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, baby rooms, play areas and even daycares and schools where children can interact with each other and with the carpet they sit on. Let’s take a closer look at the kids floor rugs that are interactive and versatile.

Foam alphabet squares are nothing new, but woven carpet squares that are cozy to sit on and yet easy to play with are a new concept. Each carpet square has a letter and an image to help children learn phonetic sounds that match a letter. The pieces are large enough, 1 square foot each, to be an individual mats and are great for playing games with groups of children. These pieces may also be placed on the floor all together to form a carpeted area, and since they are very durable, will work even in high traffic areas or commercial centers like daycares and childcare facilities within stores or offices. They are rated as fire safe even in commercial applications. They are sold in sets of 26 for just under $150. If you’re planning on using these squares to cover a floor, that is an excellent price for a 26 square foot kids floor rug.

There are dozens of ABC and alphabet children’s floor rugs that are practical, but some of the newest incorporate games, like the ABC Caterpillar design that can be used as a game board to play while children sit on the carpet in a circle. The ideas for using the carpet are only limited to the teacher’s and children’s imagination.

One of the most innovative ABC floor rugs for kids is the Feelings Bold Colors design that is sold through Kids Carpet. It is a fun, colorful design that has large squares with images of feelings that can be used a means to communicate difficult emotions, open communication between adults and children by using the pictures to discuss their feelings and offer a means for young children to express themselves even by pointing to the images and in that way creating a means to breach a gap between parent or teacher when vocabulary of a child may be limited. It can also be a teaching aid for learning about self confidence and a way to play games with other children in a healthy open way that brings emotions and feelings into the open.

Another fantastic innovative childrens floor rugs concept is the one that incorporates alphabet and seasons and has interactive pieces that match the images on the carpet. With shapes, seasons and letters, children can play a variety of games, alone or in groups, at home or in a more formal setting.

A scientifically engineered carpet for kids that is said to aid the development of both left and right brain activity is the labyrinth alphabet rug. The concentration required to navigate a labyrinth can help to calm children as they play quiet games that lead them to the central star. This carpet is recommended for a space that is either for reflection, quiet-time or placed in an area to reward a child for good behavior. The activities and games that can be developed around this carpet are numerous and the design that is colorful and inspiring is at the same time designed to sooth and calm, not excite.

Large floor rugs that stimulate sports are another innovation that has come to the world of carpeting, like the Baseball Field Rug, which is the largest baseball carpet that’s commercially for sale. Kids floor rugs that can serve as a complete covering for a recreation room or playroom are few, but this 7 foot rug is large enough for a game or simply as a decorative enhancement to an area with a children’s sports theme.

But not only are there area floor rugs for sports and alphabets and games, but also to stimulate global ideas and understanding of other cultures and languages, like the Bilingual Town Rug.

Children can have fun while learning about the areas and buildings that make up a town, but not just any town, but a bilingual one, where all the words are in both English and Spanish. Learn about culture, about geography, about town relationships, right and left, directions and expand English vocabulary and practice Spanish.

Another rug flooring option that’s ideal for children’s playtime activities is the Cruisin’ Around the Town Road Rug that allows children to add cars or other toys to pretend to travel and interact with each other and their environment. It may be a means to teach directions, right and left, accept instructions, learn about traffic signals or just have fun. Even if these carpet floor rug ideas are just used as part of a decorative theme, they will still be a unique addition to a children’s bedroom, playroom or childcare facility, since they are colorful and high quality pieces suitable for high traffic areas and even commercial spaces.

If you like the items that you see here, you can save a lot of money by buying from discount floor rugs centers that operate online, like Kid Carpet, where you pay only for the rug and not for the middlemen or showrooms or sales clerks. The unique floor area rug designs we have suggested in this article, when ordered online, will be delivered free of charge within the US.

Kitchen Floor Rugs

One of the things that is often impossible to own when you have children is a rug in the kitchen or dinning room because kids spill things and drop food and drinks and therefore most families opt for tile or easy to care for flooring solutions that will not be ruined by stains. However, there are options for having a dinning room or kitchen floor rug that is designed especially with families in mind. One such fun and versatile piece is the Latitude Aztec design, that’s designed for high traffic spaces and is crafted so as to be easy to clean and not show stains. It may be used in a kitchen, living room, dinning room or even a playroom since it’s very colorful and matches a multitude of décors. It’s also very affordable starting at just under $150 for a large 3′ 10″ x 5′ 4″ rectangle, but can also be ordered in sized up to 10 feet.

There are also colorful area rugs that suitable the heaviest traffic areas, like theaters, which would make a kitchen or home dinning area seem simple by comparison. The patterns being wild and fun make spills and stains invisible, and the carpet itself is so durable that it can be cleaned more frequently than many other cheap or discount floor rugs that will become matted and worn looking. The beauty of this design called Lava, is that it’s not very expensive. For example a large 6 foot by 12 foot rug will cost under $250. This is industrial strength, commercial grade high traffic area rugs at home carpet prices.

Another really great solution to having rugs in the kitchen and high traffic areas in a home with children is the Prism Carpet Tiles. These are not only fun and funky by design but very practical since they can be installed individually, and also removed piece by piece if one should be stained or damaged. Replace sections of the carpet without having to pull up your entire floor should such a need ever arise. These pieces of rug have sticky backs so they won’t move around, but are not so difficult to remove like the ones that glue. These carpet tiles are ideal for kitchens because they can be vacuumed or wiped with a damp rag to keep clean. And you don’t need to worry if you have to replace one or two pieces, your entire carpet pattern will not be ruined because each tile is a complete pattern of its own. Each piece is 36 inches square, so you can cover quite a large a surface for a very affordable price. Individual tiles start at just $32 each and they come in 6 fun contemporary colors. Mix and match or choose one or two that can be created into a checkerboard or design of your choice.

Baby Floor Rugs

In a different category are baby floor rugs, in part these floors rugs must not be so durable and high traffic resistant, but more about softness and design. Used to decorate and give warmth to a nursery or a space where a newborn can lay or play without too much movement and usually with few spills and stains. Designs that are subtle and delicate, yet still child-like are ones like the Fancy Fiddler, which has a gentle pattern spread over the carpet that is not too overpowering even for an elegant nursery that is mostly neutral tones. It gives just a touch of whimsy and fantasy without it being too bright.

There are also fanciful little rugs to add just a splash of color or to give a theme, like the Mary Had a Little Lamb faux braided rug that’s a soft place for baby to play or rest or for mommy to sit while reading a bedtime story. These delightful baby floor rugs are ideal to decorate in small spaces, since they come in oval and round shapes that can be placed in front of a crib or beside a rocker or at an entrance, or placed as a focal piece in the center of the room. A 3 by 5 foot round rug like this one costs just under $150, so it’s reasonably priced. It’s also easy to order online from the Kids Carpet shop and will be delivered free in the US.

There are many other designs to choose from that are braided rugs and wool or cotton chenille for softness, and you may also want to consider shag rugs for a baby’s room. If you would like more information on where to buy sheepskins, round area rugs, wool rugs, large rugs and even get help with carpet underlay suggestions, please browse related topics that suite your specific flooring needs.

The best and most affordable bathroom rug sets and accessories are available online at the Bed Bath Store where you’ll find all the top brands and latest designs in soft cotton chenille shag and microfiber and all the top brand names like Mohawk Mills.

Bathroom sets are no longer just the old drab pastel colors and crumbly rubber backed mats in crunchy synthetic fibers that feel stiff and unnatural, but about soft, cozy natural and new manmade fibers that are snuggly and beautiful.

There are vibrant contemporary colors and shapes as well as traditional designs, but the latest innovations make even the little retro pink bath mats have new life by being softer and more flexible than ever before. If you’ve been reading home decorating magazines and dueling over the rich textures and colors that are shown in the pictures, but disappointed when you go to the bath shops and find they are priced way beyond your budget, take heart. You can have the newest products and the latest designs without spending a fortune if you shop online and cut out the big department store and bath boutique markups.

Let’s take a look at what’s available and what prices you can expect to pay for the most popular styles of bathroom rug sets, bathroom accessory sets and even those luscious thick bathroom towel sets that will bring your bathroom to life.

We understand that bathroom décor is primarily undertaken by the ladies, and often the color choice is the first and most important factor. So let’s start with some color swatches so you can decide the general scheme or theme and then we’ll go into textures and measurements and shapes and finally specific items and their prices.

First, the soft rich colors of shag and chenille are anything but drab or dull. The bathroom rug sets you can buy through the Bed Bath Store come in pinks you never dreamed existed, rich wine colored pinks and maroons and burgundies. They also come in delicious caramel and rich espresso, or even a luscious russet auburn tone that’s really hot with decorators this season. If you want an elegant, neutral or understated minimalist look, then you can select ivory, linen or pure white. For natural sea and beach themes that are still as popular as ever with bathroom decorators, try a sea glass shade of shag to bring the ocean to your toes, or go with a classic country look with clean green ivy. Match the bathroom mat sets with tank covers, shower curtains, towels and other bathroom accessories to give the room a pulled together look that’s all in a similar tone.

In the beautiful Tiffany Bath Rugs collections by Mohawk Mills the colors are just as vibrant or as neutral as you desire. They range from a soft rose hue to the deep red of garnet. Your bathroom accessories sets can be soft and cool fog blue or Indian spice in orange or rich cocoa. For contemporary bathrooms there’s deep black, and for classic looks there’s sage with it’s subtle hint of green and neutral beige to blend seamlessly with stone or tile flooring.

And if you wish to drape your bathroom in wall to wall carpet instead of just bath mats the choices are rich and soft in textured designs from the collection of Madison Wall To Wall Bathroom Carpet available also from the Bed Bath Store. The Madison wall to wall bathroom rugs are not only great for decorating but are durable since they’re made from olefin pile, which is soil and stain resistant, won’t fade and is resistant to mildew and also comes with a skid free backing. Best of all it’s washable in any large or commercial sized washing machine. The rugs come in large 5 feet by 6 feet or 5X8 dimensions and all you have to do is cut the holes you need t accommodate all your bathroom fixtures and quickly and easily have wall to wall carpet in your bathroom. The colors hat you can choose are really modern and elegant like Franklyn blue which is soft, or deep navy. In the most modern colors that are really trendy, there’s also soft peridot green and sand. In the jewel tones there’s rich burgundy and hunter green, and for classic pink there’s a delicate dusk rose. Naturally there are the neutral grey and whites and blacks, but there’s also the chocolate brown, which has become the decorators new black for 2010.

Remember that all these swatches apply to many of the bathroom shower curtain sets, towels and other accessories, so if you go with one or two of them you won’t end up hunting all over town for the items that match.

You can put together complete bathroom sets once you know the color or design you want, and the best place to start is with the carpet or rugs or bathroom mat sets that will lay the foundation for the room.

Aside from the color you paint the walls, the color of your flooring is what will determine all other aspects of the bathroom design.

If you want texture or a pattern or motif, you can also select rugs and a bathroom accessory set that all combines. One of the collections that is tasteful, has some texture, but isn’t too busy with patterns or complicated motifs is the Homestead Bath Rugs collection that is also by Mohawk Mills. The texture is subtle to add just a touch of dimension without taking over the space. You will be able to use these bathrooms sets even if you choose plain or other patterns for the rest of your bathroom vanity sets, shower curtains or even towels. As you can see in the swatches, the waves or lines in each rug are just slight variations of the deepest color, which allows decorating options, like bringing out the softest color or the darkest and that way not having a monochromatic color scheme. The light mahogany is well suited to bathrooms with classic wood cabinets and brass or gold accents, perhaps even antique style taps and faucets. The chocolate truffle design is luscious and rich for the newest modern bathroom concepts that use brown instead of black.

Soft sage and toasted almond can be incorporated into Asian minimalist looks by using bamboo or palm tree bathroom set motifs on the vanity or as accents wherever needed. Seascape and serene blue work very well for the more traditional bathrooms that have a water or beach theme and may even be accented with deep navy tones or teal colors to bring out some richness, or can be accented with the softer pastels for a more classic bath. Lavender blossom is one of those very feminine shades that can be used in a French country or rustic bathroom theme. It needn’t be girly or floral, but it can be accented with white or even wood and brass accessories to give a light homey country feeling.

Naturally there are the retro hot pink toilet covers and tank covers and complete bathroom sets that have a slight vintage feeling, which are a very hot trend for 2010, but you needn’t feel you have to go with pink bathroom sets to get that vintage or retro look. You can choose the fluffy toilet and rug or mat sets in a variety of fun retro colors like vintage basil green or laurel green that’s actually a grey variant. Choose antique white for a more classic look or go with simply taupe for a touch of antique elegance.

For a fun vintage or retro blue go with the stargaze blue or Excalibur for a platinum or steely grey that can be accented with chrome. For an 80’s theme try the wild vibrant purple mysterioso, and for a 70’s retro that is back in vogue go with the coffee bean brown. Get inspired by the past and then bring your bathroom into the future with bathroom shower curtain sets and rugs and accessories that make it a place you want to be.

But how much will complete bathroom sets costs?

Complete bathroom sets cost a lot less than you might think. Here is a list of the top selling products we have discussed and what they cost:

• The Madison Wall To Wall Bathroom Carpet sets start at $49.99-$59.99
• The Royale Wall To Wall Bathroom Carpet By Mohawk Mills starts at just $11.99and goes up to about 89.99

• The Cotton Reversible Bath Rugs that come in 25 beautiful colors start at just $29.99 and for really large sizes are around $120.
• Gorgeous soft Egyptian Cotton Bath Rugs that have none skid backs are just under $30 and go up to about $120 for the largest sizes.
• Small Tweed Bath Accent Rug sets tart at just under $20.

• The luscious Tiffany Bath Rugs that are made by Mohawk Mills start at just under $15 and go up to about $30.
• The beautiful Frieze collection of Bath Rugs and sets also by the famous Mohawk Mills, which are all made in the USA, start at just under $13 and go up to about $20.
• The collection called Soho, which is a richly textured high pile rug starts at just under $15 and goes up to just over $30.

• The textured and subtly colored Homestead collection starts at around $14 and goes up to about $45 for the largest bathroom rugs.
• The Royale Bathroom Rugs that are nylon and very easy to care for are really cheap at just under $12 for the small ones and just under $30 for the largest versions.
• The cheap bathroom set designs by Carlyle, which are cotton loop bathroom rugs, start at just $11.99.

• Lucious high-tecj microfiber bath mats by Verto that are about 17″ x 21″ in size cost only $17.99, and the larger 21″ x 34″ are priced just under $30.
• The newest trendy shaggy shag rugs in rich cotton chenille that come in the luscious chocolate brown, white and natural cotton colors start at just $11.99 and go up to around $30
• Gorgeous thick spa microfiber mini bath mat sets are very affordable at just under $18 and come in all the fabulous colors we’ve discussed above.

• The larger spa microfiber tub mat versions are just under $18, as are the blush pink designs, but the white and linen colors are about $23 and come in round shapes.
• The largest natural microfiber bathroom sets are about $30 and come in beautiful shades of water blue, aloe green and gray, as well as chocolate and natural linen tones.
• Fun yellow poppy cotton bathroom rugs with delightful patterns start at just $18 and go up to about $21 for large sizes. And you can choose yellow, red or green poppy motifs for the same price.

• Some other patterned bathroom accessories sets that are fun and stylish include the Croscill Spa rugs that have leaf designs and cost just under $35, and the other Coscill rugs that also come in soft chenille are just under $25.
• Light and summery designs like the sunflowers bath accent rug or the funny outhouses rugs or the kids bathroom sets, like the Just Duckie designs, are all under $30, with some being under $17.

• Breezy designs like the Tropical Seashell Bath Rug are just under $26 and other seasonal speciality bathroom sets with Chrsitmas and animal motifs are between $12 and $27.
• Cool bamboo bathroom sets are priced really cheap at under $12 to $14.
• And the retro or classic pink bathroom sets that we showed you by Mohawk Mills start at just $14.99and go up to just under $30. The Regency designs which are similar bathroom tank sets that include toilet covers and floor rugs, and are nylon, also by Mohawk Mills, cost just a little more, between $17 and just under $35.

For more detailed information of indoor and outdoor rugs, as well as carpet underlay, large rugs, Persian carpets and even unusual round area rugs and shaggy shag rugs for any room of the house, please browse other related topics.