It boggles the mind. Having grown up with a mother whose classic sense of Mediterranean and contemporary style often had my friends declaring that my house was ‘the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen’ has made me a decorating snob.

The whole ‘whimsical country’ decorating craze that sweeps from coast to coast every few years tends to make me cringe. Cows wearing sunhats, little pigs pushing wheelbarrows and chicks and ducks as salt and pepper shakers on my table or sideboard just leave me completely cold.

So the headline of ’25 unique rooster rugs’ drew me with the kind of fascination that made P.T. Barnum a rich man. Rooster area  rugs – 25 different, unique styles of rooster rugs – with the awe that is usually reserved for staring at train wrecks, I clicked on the link and…

What a surprise! There were indeed 25 different styles of rooster rugs, and to the astonishment of my turned-up nose, most were NOT the kitschy style that is usually associated with poker-playing dogs and velvet Elvis wall hangings.

Instead, I found a selection of beautifully crafted and designed area rugs to suit many different decors – and not a single one that screamed ‘tacky’ or ‘camp’. These were rooster rugs that would be perfectly at home in my mother’s unique contemporary/traditional blend style of decorating.

A particular favorite – one that I’d even buy if I were in the market to redecorate at the moment – is Claire Murray’s French Country collection of rooster rugs.

Available in several different colors, the border of roosters on the rug resembles a stamped design that surrounds a field of stylized flowers on a cream-colored background. It’s a country rooster rug – but with that indefinable sense of French flair.

Then another  rug caught my eye,  the  Accents Decorative Rooster Design Wool Rug By Valerie its border of warm sunflowers and a central motif of stylized roosters, the rug has the timeless appeal of colonial styling blended with a hint of contemporary that makes it a perfect fit in a modern country kitchen.

And then I was stopped dead in my tracks by a stunning Oriental style rooster rug that made me redefine my entire line of thought. Oriental rooster rugs, it turns out, have a long history.

The rooster is one of the Chinese astrological symbols – 2005 was the last Year of the Rooster. The rooster is seen as an all-seeing, vigilant guard who aggressively defends his home and his family – but is also kind and trustworthy.

Roosters, it seems, have been perched on roof vanes and mounted on front doors for centuries to help guard the house and drive away bad luck.

So it’s no wonder that – unlike cutesy cows in sun hats and pigs toting market baskets – roosters are a decorating motif that fits into the most sophisticated of decorating schemes. Believe it or not, you really CAN find rooster rugs that will accent your modern contemporary dining room – and why not? Would you turn your nose up at one of the animals that the Chinese consider ‘the most noble of birds’?

Buying a good quality rug for your home is a great investment that will last for many years providing it is looked after correctly. One of the advantages of buying a rug as opposed to wall-to-wall carpet is that you can take the rug with you if and when you move house.

Cleaning your rug yourself is an option but if you have a hand-woven or an expensive rug it is probably best to leave it in the hands of professionals.

Vacuum your rug as required and ensure that you vacuum under the rug as dust and dirt accumulates underneath. Avoid using the beater bar of the vacuum on the fringes as they can easily be pulled loose.

Use a broom to dislodge the dirt or depending on the size of the rug, simply take the rug outside and shake it well. There are times when no amount of vacuuming appears to revive your rug; then it is time to have it professionally cleaned.

To prolong the life of your rug, purchase rug pads to cushion your rugs and provide a softer base to walk on. Rug pads also provide a means of preventing the rug from slipping, particularly on hard wood floors.Just following a few basic steps will keep your rug looking pristine.

Purchasing wall to wall carpet rather than area rugs depends on a number of factors the first being ‘ your preference’ followed by your budget and then whether or not you have polished floors, tiles or slate.

If you have polished floors you will more than likely consider  the purchase of area rugs so that the rug is nicely edged by the wood or tiles. However, wall to wall carpet creates a total look to a room and gives you a nice base from which to incorporate your overall color scheme.

CLICK HERE to read about the advantages and disadvantages  of  purchasing either wall-to-wall-carpet or an area rug for your home.  Our guide will help you to make the decision on which is best for you.

Many fairy tales include reference to the magical flying carpet that whisks the hero and heroine to safety.

Unfortunately, flying carpets do not exist, however, the magic of beautifully designed carpets does.

Add a magical look to your child’s room with rugs and carpets that depict magical fantasy scenes with dragons and Tinker Belland medieval scenes with knights jousting on horseback, elves and pixies sitting and playing on toadstools or attractive nymphs bathing amongst lily flowers.

With so many lovely rugs available today the fun is in the choosing.

The facing side of this fun Tinkerbell rug is made from 100% nylon and it has a non skid backing. This makes it easy to care for as you can machine wash the rug in cold water.

This lovely kids rug measures 40″ x 60″ (100cm x 150cm)

CLICK HERE To buy this bold and bright rug for your young girls room.

Flokati Rugs traditionally come from Greece. They are generally woven from wool, making these rugs are the perfect addition to any home.

The best way to look after your Flokati rug is to shake it out regularly to free any dirt and to lift the wool pile.

Its best not to use a vacuum cleaner but if you do, use an attachment that is gentle on the rug or just the hose but make sure you vacuum carefully so as not to damage the rug..

Authentic wool Flokati rugs should  be washed by hand in warm water using a mild detergent. Although I have seen rugs that are machine washable on a gentle cycle in cold water. Just follow the manufacturers instructions on how to care for your particular rug.

Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry flat in a shady spot. DO NOT place your Flokati rug in the dryer.

If the rug is grubby you may prefer to have it cleaned professionaly.

Dress up the entrance to your home with this attractive outdoor mat.

The Florentine Tiles Doormat feature square and rectangular blocks that have an attractive edging of scrolling vine and floral pattern.

This mat features a molded construction of recycled rubber and has a design that has been heat transferred.

There are two colors available, Terra Cotta as shown and gray.

The Florentine Tiles rug is made in the USA and is suitable for year round outdoor us.

The mat measures approx. 36″W x 24″H