Natural sisal area rugs will add style and elegance to your room’s decor

Sisal rugs are a natural product made from the fibers of the Agave Sisalana plant. Because the material is derived from plant fibers, sisal is not only strong and durable but quite affordable. The benefits are not only in the quality of the product but also in the look and feel. Sisal rugs are an elegant addition to any household.

Sisal fibers tend to be course so often when these rugs are being manufactured other softer materials such as wool mix combinations and cotton are added to give the carpet a softer feel.

Although the sisal rug has a softer feel it is still very hard wearing. The wool mix does result in a slightly higher cost but it is an option available for those who prefer the softer style of rug.

Sisal area rugs are an elegant looking rug with natural colors ranging from pale yellow to an almost white. Sisal fibers can also be dyed which greatly increases the variety of colors and weaved designs now available. This style of rug will suit almost any home.

These rugs are perfect for a wood covered floor particularly in a dining or living area. If you have wall-to-wall carpet, sisal rugs are an affordable way of protecting those high traffic areas that will see a lot of wear and tear. As the dirt falls through the thick weave it makes for easy cleaning, as the rug can simply be picked up and the dirt effortlessly swept away.

Sisal area rugs come in a variety of shapes to suit most rooms. The options available include hall and stair runners as well as sisal installed to cover a room from wall-to-wall. These rugs generally come standard with a latex backing to prevent slipping and sliding of the rug.

Because sisal area rugs come in lovely natural tonings they are ideal for the arts and crafts addict to paint. They are very porous and absorb paint well, so apply the paint thickly and generally two coats of paint are required. Sisal is ideal for stencil work, although dab the paint into the fibers and do not use paper towel to blot the paint. Always put something under the sisal rug when painting to protect the underneath surface.

Capel Incorporated, a business that traces its roots back to 1917, creates a wide range of  Capel rugs that are at home in any decor and style of room.

The styles range from bright, whimsical contemporary Capel rugs designed for children’s rooms to elegant patterns inspired by the beautiful traditional designs of India, Persia and Europe.

Capel rugs features rugs in several different design collections, including area rugs in the Bob Timberlake line, Dick Idol Capel rugs, the Colonial Williamsburg line and the Capel kidz line designed specifically for children.

Capel kidz features whimsical designs in bright clear colors. They have all the quality and attention to detail that has made Capel rugs a national bestseller for decades, but the designs are lighthearted and fresh, with appeal for children of all ages.

The Capel rugs Calypso line has a bright, island feel with rugs that feature fish and starfish, or slices of bright raspberry watermelon and pink and blue flowers. Kid-oriented with lots of play appeal, they also wear like iron, thanks to the materials and construction. Other lines in the Capel kidz rug collection include My Room, with colorful drawings that could have been pulled from any art teacher’s bulletin board of best student artwork.

The Colonial Williamsburg Capel rugs collection includes classically colonial designs in rag rug styles as well as patterns derived from European designs of the Colonial era and homespun wovens that might have graced the floors of any Colonial home. Of particular note in the Colonial Williamsburg line of Capel rugs is the China pattern rug – a stunningly executed round rug in the classic Blue Willow china pattern.

Designer Dick Idol has his own line of Capel rugs that suit a Native American theme and would be beautifully at home in a contemporary or traditional colonial room. The Dick Idol collection includes ‘brindled cowhide’ rugs that are real tanned brindled cowhides, as well as chunky plaids and Hudson Valley designs that are based on the Hudson River blankets.

The most extensive collection of Capel rugs, though, is the Bob Timberlake collection. The versatile rug designer has created patterns that range from braided rag rugs to flat woven sisals in Native American designs, plaids and stripes.

No matter what the style of your room – indoors or out – Capel rugs has a rug that will suit it beautifully.

If you are designing your home with a southwestern décor then southwestern or Navajo rugs will really add the finishing touch. Authentic southwestern rugs are traditionally made by Native Americans and are hand-woven using traditional designs.

The art of weaving Southwestern style rugs is time consuming. In fact the preparation of the yarn often takes longer than the actual weaving. It is for this reason that a number of Navajo Indians are using commercially produced yarn. Today machine-woven Southwestern style rugs can be purchased, and although not authentic they can create the affect you are looking for.

Southwestern area rugs portray the colorful and varied heritage of the Navajo Indian. Many of the designs represent images of crops, rain, feathers, lightning, animals and other nature symbols that are important to the Navajo culture.

The Navajo are famous for their beautiful and durable hand-woven wool rugs. The natural lanolin in the unprocessed wool yarn has given the Navajo rugs a reputation of strength and longevity.

The beautiful earthy tones and colors of southwestern rugs will suit a variety of home decors. They are particularly suited to wood-stained floors and rustic furniture as the vibrant colors really stand out. The strong emphasis on geometric styles and patterns also makes them a perfect addition to a contemporary style home.

Southwestern or Navajo rugs are so striking they can also be used as wall hangings. The beautiful designs and intricate weave patterns make them a focal point in any room.

The range of styles and colors is enormous so you shouldn’t have a problem finding the right southwestern rug to match your décor.

When shopping for a southwestern area rug, not only take into account the size and complexity of the design but also the symmetry and neatness of weave. Navajo rugs are unique and reflect the artist’s style. If you see a rug you like, buy it. As with all purchases you make, the most important factor is that you like the rug.

Advantages of stair runners

If you have a set of stairs in your home then you may be thinking about whether to purchase a stair runner.

Apart from the fact that a stair runner looks aesthetically pleasing on your stairs they also have many advantages:

Protection from wear and tear

Your stairs are high traffic areas and without a stair runner your wood stairs will see a lot of wear and tear. It is quite common to see indents in stairs which have developed over the years from constant use. It is a lot more economical to purchase a carpet runner to protect your stairs than to have the stairs fixed.

Provides protection in case of falls

If you have little ones in the house then a stair runner is a must. A carpet on your stairs will soften minor slips and falls.

Softens the sound of footsteps

Anyone with teenagers in the house will know the feeling of heavy feet stomping up and down stairs. A carpet runner on the stairs will help to deaden the sound of heavy feet.

Provides traction

Polished wooden stairs can be a danger particularly to toddlers, children and the elderly. A stair runner will help to provide traction and thus reduce the likelihood of falls

Ensure that you either have the stair runner installed professionally or follow the manufacturers instructions to ensure the runner is installed correctly.

Have you ever seen the vast selection of stair runners, and wondered what they are useful for? You’re not alone. Many people don’t understand the great needs that stair runners fill until they truly begin to investigate these rugs. To help you get thinking about stair runners, we’ve outlined four of the best reasons that you should consider adding a stair runner to your room’s décor.

The most obvious reason to add a stair runner to your room’s décor is that will add a great dimension to your decoration. For example, if your home is covered in hardware floors, you likely have area rugs scattered throughout it. Why not carry that great design look to your stairs? A perfectly selected stair runner will complement the design and add to it.

Next, noise pollution is another great reason to add a stair runner to your home. We’ve all heard the clumping of someone going up and down stairs, but with a stair runner, you could reduce that noise. Just think, no more waking up in the middle of the night as someone noisily goes down the stairs to get a glass of water!

If you have carpet on your stairs, you should know that it is one of the first areas where the carpet is likely to get worn and threadbare. But you can prevent this from happening by putting a stair runner over the carpet. If you don’t, and the carpet becomes worn, you may end up having to replace all of your downstairs carpet if the color or pattern of yours has become discontinued.

Finally, if the carpet on your stairs is already worn and threadbare, but you can’t afford to replace it, you could use a stair runner as a way to cover up the damage. Just place it on the stairs to give the illusion of new carpet, and not the old tattered carpet.

So you see, stair runners serve many purposes.

Beautify your bathroom with a soft, luxurious bath rug.

There are few feelings as unpleasant as stepping onto a cold tiled bathroom floor on a frosty morning. What could be better than having a beautiful soft bathroom rug that will absorb the cold and keep your toes from becoming chilly. bathroom rugs not only help to keep your toes warm but they also help to beautify your bathroom.

Bath rugs also protect your floor from falling objects which can easily crack tiles. An area rug on the floor can change the whole perspective of a bathroom and give a lift to a jaded room.

Bathroom rugs are available in a variety of colors and patterns, so you are sure to find one to suit your bathroom décor. Bath mats have the added benefit of being generally inexpensive because of their relatively small size.

When choosing a bath mat, ensure that is specifically made for bathroom areas. As we are all aware, bathrooms generate a lot of moisture which means that mold and mildew can easily develop. Bathroom rugs that are designed to deal effectively with this sort of environment will last longer and look better than other types of rug.

Ensure that the bathroom rug you purchase is either hand or machine washable. Bathroom mats take a lot of wear, particularly if you have little ones who can easily spill toothpastes and soaps around the bathroom so you will want a bath rug that is easily washable.