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.

Advantages and disadvantages of carpets and area rugs:

Purchasing wall-to-wall-carpet or an area rug for your home is a major decision based on your own preference and your budget. So this guide has been prepared to provide you with some of the advantages and disadvantages of each, to help you with your decision.

Advantages of wall-to-wall carpets

• Carpet is permanent and therefore does not shift around on the floor
• Absorbs noise
• Provides insulation for the entire floor
• It can cover a badly worn or stained wood floor
• There are a wide range of textures and colors available

Disadvantages of wall-to-wall carpets:

• Once it’s installed, it can’t be moved
• Professional installation is required to install the carpet which will add to the cost
• Cleaning and repair of the carpet has to be done in-house

Advantages of area rugs

• Area rugs can be moved from room to room or from house to house if you relocate
• Area rugs can be rotated to avoid wear and tear in high traffic areas
• Area rugs can have amazing designs that won’t overtake a room like wall-to-wall carpet which should best be left in neutral colors
• They look elegant on wood floors
• Area rugs can be used to cover wall-to-wall carpet in high traffic areas like hallways and entrance ways
• Unlike wall-to-wall carpet, there is an enormous variety of designs, colors and textures available to choose from
• Area rugs can be sent out for cleaning and repair
• Area rugs can provide a focal point in any room
• Cleaning underneath the rug is easy
• No installation is required
• Can be a lot cheaper than wall-to-wall carpets

Disadvantages of area rugs

• Area rugs can shift or slide – use anti-slip rug holders to prevent this from happening
• Any unsecured edges may lift and cause tripping

Deciding on whether to have wall-to-wall carpet or an area rug ultimately comes down to personal choice. Hopefully this guide has helped with your decision-making.

Once upon a time, our mothers used vinyl rug runners to protect their floors and carpets from dirt and damage. Rug runners are growing in popularity again, but they’re no longer textured, hard vinyl, or simply strips of leftover carpeting cut to fit a narrower room. Instead, designers are creating patterns and motifs that work especially well in narrow, long spaces to make the most of the design possibilities.

A rug runner can help accent a narrow entry hall, bringing colors from two rooms together to create a natural transition from one room to another. In the process, it can help protect your floor surface from damage, provide a natural pathway for people to walk on and serve as an anchor for design details in space that is often left bare and unused. It can warm a stone floor, accent a wooden one and protect your good carpet.
 
Rug runners are narrow strips of carpet or rug that are generally laid down the center of a hallway or narrow room. There’s nothing that confines their use to hallways though. Rug runners make natural dividers in large rooms, for instance.

A rug runner on a bare floor—or in a contrasting color to the basic carpet in a room—can define a path between furniture groupings, or serve as a visual dividing line between a sitting and dining area.

There are many uses other than the traditional ones for rug runners. An outdoor patio rug runner, for instance, can subtly encourage children to stay to a particular path when traveling from pool to garden to patio. A textured outdoor rug runner can also provide a non-slippery surface for walkways and stairs in the patio area.
 
Likewise, a cotton rug runner in a bright color can serve as an area accent in a nursery, either in front of the crib or on the floor by the changing table.

Have a long counter in your kitchen that runs from sink to wall with cabinets between? A rug runner that picks up colors from your kitchen wallpaper and floor can provide a comfortable path along its edge, and keep your feet from getting weary while standing at the sink. There are also rug runners designed specifically for stairways that can help reduce wear in the center of stairs where feet usually land.

For quality and style, choose a Shaw Rug

Shaw Industries are well known for the superb quality of their carpet. Started in 1946, Shaw established itself by providing proprietary coloring techniques for area rugs, floor rug products and dyes for tufted scatter rugs. They have since grown to be the largest manufacturer of carpets in the world. Shaw manufactures area rugs, carpet, hardwood, laminate and ceramics.

Shaw’s range of area rugs is enormous with styles ranging from modern through to traditional. You can find a rug to suit any décor including southwestern designs, contemporary, floral and novelty.

For the kids there is a fun range of kid’s rugs in bright, bold colors and styles including sea themes, modern designs to suit teenagers, and fun designs by Kathy Ireland that the kids will love.

Shaw rugs designed by eminent artists and designers such as Kathy Ireland, Phillip Crowe and William E Poole will really add a unique touch of class to your home décor.

For a more traditional look, Shaw manufactures Persian style rugs as well as classic floral rugs and antique designs. Classic styles in a range of sizes and shapes including carpet runners are widely available.

You can’t go past the purchase of a Shaw rug for quality, design and hardwearing capabilities.

Some tips and hints to help you choose a reputable carpet cleaner

Choosing a reputable carpet cleaner can be a tricky business. And although the majority of carpet cleaners are tradesmen who guarantee their work, there are, unfortunately as with any business, some disreputable tradesmen.

Your carpet will most likely have been one of the most expensive purchases in your home so you will need to be satisfied that the carpet cleaner knows how to treat you carpet correctly.

General maintenance should be carried out regularly to ensure that the carpet stays in as good condition as when you purchased it. This will include regular vacuuming and spot cleaning of stains as they occur. Using a quality stain remover is important to ensure that no permanent bleaching or damage is done to the carpet. Always spot check an inconspicuous area of the carpet before using a stain remover.

Every 12 to 18 months you should consider bringing in a professional carpet cleaner to provide your carpets with a complete and thorough cleaning. If you have pets or children, or if you or any family member has allergies you might need to have this service done more regularly. This may also be so required for any high traffic areas of your home.

Consider the following when choosing a carpet cleaner:

• Select a carpet cleaning business that is aware of different carpet types and their carpet cleaning needs.
• Ensure that you are given a quote and are told what is included in the price.
• Ask friends or relatives about good carpet cleaners that they have used.
• Ensure that you enquire as to how long your carpets will take to dry.
• Ensure that the carpet cleaner is licensed and insured.
• Check to see if the moving of furniture is included in the quote
• Do they also clean area rugs, braided rugs, shag carpets etc?

Once you have done your homework you will have the satisfaction of knowing your carpet is in the hands of professionals and can be guaranteed of a great outcome.