Your Floor Covering

Question: I would like to have an appealing look and feel for my floor covering. It’s been past 5 years, since I had done last. Can you suggest me a nice floor covering within budget? – Kate

Answer: Floor covering is one of your largest home-furnishings expenditures. Today it’s possible to gel almost any type. But no matter what you choose; rugs, carpets, or smooth-surface floor coverings only makes good sense to protect your big investment. Here are tips to help you get longer wear from the floor covering in your home:

Keep it clean

Dirt is Enemy No. 1. Rugs and carpets should be vacuumed at least twice a week. If dirt and grit sink into the pile and backing, they will cause fibers to break. Regular vacuuming also eliminates the danger of moths’ breeding. A professional cleaning every one or two years will help add to the life of rugs and carpets.

Good-grade, shag-cotton rugs will not shrink when laundered. They should be vacuumed regularly too. Smooth-surface floor covering should be cleaned and protected by following the directions recommended by the manufacturer. Be sure to ask for instructions when you have flooring installed.

A turn for the better. If you have a room-size rug give it longer life by turning it around twice a year for even “traffic” wear.

Cutouts

Practical hard-surface flooring can be combined with carpeting in interesting and decorative ways. The area under and around the dining table is ready to laugh at spilled foods. The oval cutout isn’t wasted; it’s used in an upstairs hall. In an open-plan home you can use carpeting to suggest walls and define areas. Note how it has been curved to make a transition between the slate-floored entrance way and the living room

Tackles Installation

For wall to-wall carpeting avoid dirt catching tack impressions. See the smooth edge around this tile hearth. Carpet is hooked to grippers along one wall, stretched across the room and hooked at the opposite wall, A new tape makes seaming of carpel strips practically invisible.

Winning team

To save wear on your rugs and carpets, use in combination with hard-surface flooringó tile, slate, brick, linoleum and so onóin heavy traffic lanes. Then use your rug in a free-form style as part of the furniture grouping. This is not only decorative, giving interest and texture contrast, but cuts down on the quantity of carpet needed. You’ll see examples of this use of combination flooring illustrated with this article. If your sod floor covering goes right up to the entrance door, a scatter rug of the same material placed on top of the carpet eliminates the usual hard wear and dirt which concentrates here.

What’s underneath?

A rug cushion or lining is a must. It should come approximately one inch from the edge of the carpel. A too-short cushion will cause a “wear ridge.

Whoops a Spot

Clean those unavoidable, accidental spots immediately on both hard and soft surfaces. It’s a good idea to keep a spot-cleaning kit on hand for these emergencies.

Beware of the Moth

Nationally known manufacturers give a moth guarantee with their rugs, carpets and cushions. Then, when you have your soft door covering professionally cleaned, mothproofing will be renewed. If in doubt about guarantee, it’s a good idea to spray your rugs and carpets with a good spray just like you do your clothes and closets. Be especially careful to spray around the baseboards.

Start Right

When you buy new carpet, the tackles method is a new way to install it. It does away with dirt-catching, unattractive tack depressions. A new seaming method makes seams practically invisible. Also, it’s easy to put in a patch if a hole is burned.

Extra Protection

Get casters or glides for protection from depressions made by heavy pieces of furniture. Glass or plastic glides under beds, pianos, sofas, and other extra-heavy furniture pieces, are a must for longer wear for your floor coverings.

Read the labels and information given you when you buy new floor covering. Care for different types varies with the materials used. It’s always a good idea to check the labels for care information supplied by the manufacturer. Ask the salesman the recommended care, and find out if an instruction booklet is available. Most name-brand manufacturers will send instructions on request. Be sure to file them in a convenient place for ready reference.

“You probably won’t be able to make the turn BO crash where the boards are loose and coast out his driveway to the street and hope that no ears are coming.”

Carpets – Different Types of Fibers

While furnishing your house, choosing a carpet for the house becomes an important decision and is a important investment.

Carpets can change the look of the room rather dramatically so all the care should be taken to choose a right carpet for your house. When you go in the market you will realize that there are different types of carpets available in the market.

One of the types of carpet is the cut pile carpet and there are wide variety of look and texture in the cut pile carpets. You would be able to find several themes in this type of carpet and you could choose the one that suits your home or your mood. They are highly durable and a proper maintenance of such carpets given to professional carpet cleaners can make the life longer.

There are five different types of cut pile carpets and they are

• Saxony
• Velvet
• Textured cut
• Frieze carpet
• Shag Carpet

Saxony carpets are not the best type in these five carpet types as they have tendency of retaining the footmarks and vacuum marks in the carpet. It is also not as smooth as the velvet type. It has extraordinary texture and it needs special attention in cleaning. The texture cut is most popular for two reasons as they are multi colored and have the capability to hide the stain and footmarks.

The other type is loop pile carpet and they are utilized in places where there is very high traffic. Loop pile carpets are very easy to clean and have better tolerance to dust and dirt.

The cost differs because of the type of material is used to make the carpet. So while choosing the perfect carpet for your house you need to learn about the different fibers used and the cleaning requirements of the same.

You get carpets made from natural fibers and some are made from synthetic fibers. Wool, cotton and silk these are some of the natural fibers with which a carpet is made.

Sometime you get mixed fiber such as wool and nylon. Nylon fiber is moisture resistant so it is easy to maintain. You can actually wash it and it will dry quickly. On the other hand wool carpets are dirt resistant so they need little washing.

While choosing the carpet make a note of the fiber used and if it suits your budget then go for it.

Arzu Rugs

The move for eco friendly products is reaching an all time high as more and more consumers are becoming environmentally aware.

However, simply being green no longer cuts it. Consumers are urged to buy products that encompass the whole meaning of eco friendly which is to be good for the environment and to better the social concerns where the products originate.

Arzu Rugs accomplish both and are quickly being recognized not only for their eco friendly quality but for their artistic quality as well.

The rugs, which come in a variety of sizes and styles, are created using all natural materials.

Handspun wool and natural dyes from plants and fruits are used avoiding any harmful synthetic materials and harsh chemicals Afghan women then create the rugs on their looms making a unique and special product.

Arzu also strives to ensure the best quality of life for these women and their children providing families, with a much needed source of income, and access to health and educational facilities.

This is all done in an effort to help the Afghan women create a better life and break free from the poverty that has so thoroughly gripped the nation.

Arzu Rugs are truly 100% organic and eco friendly.

The designs for these masterpieces are breath taking.

Some are created using traditional tribal designs and others called Hope or Path communicate a subtle message that is sure to find a place in any home.

The Arzu Rugs are a great way to decorate while helping women who would otherwise have no means for food or shelter.

Each rug is carefully woven with the grace and master of a true artist. Images courtesy: decorati.com

keep reading about….

contemporary area rugs

rugs and carpets

Contemporary Area Rugs

The newest trend in floors is to rip away the carpet and put down hardwood or tile floors.

Following this trend adds a certain sense of class, not to mention the ready availability of Risky Business moments.

However, the lack of carpet can become boring so the need of area rugs should not be overlooked.

Area rugs have been around for centuries and continue to hold a place in homes.

Area rugs have several uses, among them being protecting the floors, adding color, and even covering up areas of damage. Read more

Changing a Room with Fifty Dollars

Everyone wants to change things up from time to time – it keeps your house looking fresh and maybe even stylish.  But who has the money or the time?  Actually, you do.  All you need is one hour and one open mind, and maybe $50 in your wallet to spend on new materials.

Changing a room isn’t about getting rid of what you have, it’s all about moving around what you already have.  Since you’re the only one that’s going to realize that you only moved things around, you can make your room look completely different with just a few small changes.  Try moving all of the furniture away from the walls, for example, or move it all to the outskirts of the room.  Just do the opposite of what you have right now.

You can also dress up any room with area rugs for next to nothing.  Add a colorful rug to the middle of the room to draw attention there or you can hang them on the walls to make an impact.

New lampshades on your lamps can make a huge difference too.   Changing up your decor is as easy as moving or taking away things you already own – try it today.