Wool Area Rugs

More and more people today are returning to hardwood surfaces for their flooring needs, forsaking the wall to wall carpeting that has been so popular for more than half a century. Of course, hardwood flooring has many advantages over carpeted surfaces, since spills and other messes are far easier to clean. The only disadvantage to hardwood seems to be in the fact that the surface can be extremely cold when you walk on it barefoot. To counter that, many people use area rugs to cover large parts of their hardwood flooring, and particularly in areas of the floor that see a lot of traffic. Wool area rugs remain one of the best investments that you can make in that regard.

Area rugs in general

An area rug is simply any rug that is designed to cover a portion of uncarpeted flooring. They can vary dramatically in size – from the smaller rugs seen in many entry ways and hallways to giant rugs that sit comfortably in the middle of your living room. Wool area rugs have been used since the days of the ancients, and have always been prized for their ability to withstand repeated wear, as well as for their aesthetic beauty. A decorative area rug made of wool can serve to unify all of the many elements in any room of your house.

Why wool works

Wool has long been recognized as one of the more durable natural fibers that can be used for textile products. While all wool is not created equal – it varies depending upon the sheep from which it was sheared – there is no arguing that wool area rugs are an overall fine investment for your home. Many of these rugs have been used for generations, handed down from mother to daughter over and over again. Wool is a breathable natural material that is easy for textile workers to manipulate into various products.

The source

While many people pay a great deal of attention to the source of their wool area rugs – believing that there is some special distinction to be had from owning a rug labeled as Persian in origin – the fact is that high quality rugs are made almost anywhere on the planet. Even Persian rugs are often not actually from Persia (now known more commonly as Iran) but are instead part of a group of rugs that are made in many places throughout the lands of the Middle East.

Pure versus synthetic

One area in which purists often focus is that of the new synthetic blends. These are wool area rugs that are not technically wool – at least not entirely. The manufacturers of these rugs actually blend their wool with synthetic fibers. While the overall quality is often indistinguishable at first glance, purists recognize these blends almost immediately, and hold them in contempt. The truth is, however, that synthetic blend wool area rugs provide those of more modest means with the opportunity to own large wool rugs at a cost that is often a fraction of that demanded by pure wool rugs.

The cost can vary

Wool area rugs not only come in a wide variety of sizes and styles – as well as various levels of quality – but they also come with a range of prices. There are lower quality rugs that can be had for fewer than one hundred dollars, and higher quality pieces that can run into the thousands. Depending upon your budget and the ambiance you are trying to create, your selection of a wool rug can cost as little or as much as you can afford.