The Art and Beauty of Rug Hooking

Rugs are pieces of art that can be showcased through wall hanging or just simply using it as it is – a floor decoration that can be used to separate areas of your house. As time evolves, different kinds of rugs were made and invented by people. Other materials such as wools, nylon and other kind of fabrics were also introduced to create varieties of rugs. Truly colourful and pleasing to the eyes, rugs became a sense of statement in one’s home.

The rugs that are usually made by the experts in the field were also used to form another kind of art which is called rug hooking.  Rug hooking is an art and craft activity that is done by pulling loops of fabric through a base which is the rug itself. Tracing back its history, rug hooking originated in England during the 19^th century. At that time, rug hooking was distinguished to be the work of the poor because the ones who practice the said art are the workers in weaving mills. The workers are then allowed to collect pieces of unwanted yarns. Those yarns were used by them to make rugs. Yarns and everything that may seem to come handy were used to make rugs during that time. Rug hooking was considered as a country past time of the poor. Country in this context is partly defamatory more than complimentary.

But as time goes by, people of other nations have looked at the hobby as a form of fine art. In fact, in Canada, rug hooking is considered as a high form of art. Rug hookers have taken the next level of experimenting techniques to form better pieces of rugs made of hooked wools and fabric. Aside from techniques, hookers, people who practice rug hooking, became open to using other fabrics aside from wool and yarn to create better pieced of rugs.

One does not need to be an expert in order to do rug hooking. Hookers said that once you have known one technique, you can already consider yourself as a master of the craft. With a normal rug as a base, and pieces of fabrics to be hooked, one can already practice rug hooking.

Alternatively, if you want to use rugs as a decoration and yet you feel that you do not have much time to do rug hooking, you can opt for other types of rugs such as traditional rugs, wool rugs, modern rugs, designer rugs and more. At Fantastic Rugs, with the variety of rugs that we have on hand, we are sure that there is a piece that will suit your taste and personality. Order a rug from us and take advantage of our free standard delivery on most rugs to mainland UK. For more information about our rugs and our free delivery services, visit our website or give us a call at 01234 220076.

Shaggy Rugs Pros and Cons

In the modern era, a contemporary look in home decor is in trend and shaggy rugs will make an excellent accessory to any modern dwelling. Shaggy rugs are available in a wide array of colours according to your taste and home design; they are the perfect companion to the quintessential sofa or couch.

Shaggy rugs or shaggy carpet are aptly named after their ‘shaggy’ appearance. A shaggy rug has gained in popularity, as it provides a very soft feel underfoot. It gives any room a very cosy feel. Available in a variety of fibres including wool, acrylic or cotton, shaggy rugs are also sold in long, short and mini versions. The distinguishing features of the shaggy rug are the long yarn fibres that are attached to the back of the carpet, giving it an irregular pattern.

Pros

 

Plush Feel 

Shaggy rugs have a very soft feel giving you a ‘walking on air’ feel. The long, fibrous strands collectively make for a cosy and inviting atmosphere in the room.

Availability

With their growing popularity, shaggy rugs are readily available and a regular among other varieties stocked by many stores, including Fantastic rugs.

 

Durability and Style

Shaggy rugs are well suited to areas that are frequently in use and that receive high traffic. Wool shaggy rugs are durable, naturally stain resistant and insulating. Insulation provides warmth during the winter and a cool haven during the summer to give respite from the heat. Shaggy rugs have a unique quality and serve as a focal point in contemporary modern living.

Cons

Proper Care

Shaggy rugs are high maintenance, as dirt easily sticks to the long strands of yarn on the carpet. Regular vacuuming in between the fibres, row by row, may become a necessity in order to work out any dust or dirt from the middle of the rug. The trick is to remove spills and stains immediately in order to maintain and protect the rug.

Frequent Shedding and Yellowing

Shaggy rugs are crafted out of long strands of fibre.  Prone to shedding, shaggy rugs will initially lose some of their fibres. The shedding diminishes over a period of frequent use. Wool shaggy rugs can yellow over time from exposure to sunlight, certain detergents or due to the latex that binds them together. Bleaching may solve this problem or the use of hydrogen peroxide but it would be more advisable to seek the help from a carpet cleaning expert.

Extend the Life of Your Wool Rugs

Just like any other investments, rugs should be taken care of if you want them to last longer. Fortunately enough, your wool rugs are easier to clean because wool rugs are dirt-resistant in composition. Wools fibres are opaque and dirt doesn’t show as much as with some clearer, brighter man-made fibres. It’s true that wools are probably one of the most cost-effective types of rugs because they are easy to maintain. However, that fact doesn’t exclude the need of cleaning them once in a while.

Some people say that vacuum has the most damaging effect on rugs. High powered vacuums can even pull the threads out of the back of rugs and cause sprouts to appear. But for wool rugs, that is not the case. Vacuuming your wool rugs twice a week will save you the penny to buy new one. However, for other rugs, it can still be advised to use vacuum cleaners for as long as the beater bars in the cleaner are removed.

Another way of taking care of your rugs is by becoming sensitive about the dirt that your rugs get. If your kids or pets had soiled your rugs, be sure to clean the dirt rightaway. Or in other cases, if the stain is caused by foods, scoop up the food residues and try to absorb the liquids the moment they spill onto your rug. It’s important to note that you should only use a paper towel or cloth to blot stains. Letting the stain dry on your rug will cause you extra work will only damage your rug -- both causes additional bother to us.

Steaming can be a very effective way for wool cleaning. By letting the steam get into the fibres of your wool, the residues or dirt will let loose on the fibres of your rug. This can make your rug extra easy to clean. Furthermore, it is strongly discouraged that you rub your rugs because it can cause pilling and matting. It’s not advisable to soak your wool rugs in water. Wool rugs have fibres that can absorb more water than synthetic fibres. Soaking them and then letting them dry would take time. Wool rugs will become evidently heavy as well. Excess soap and water can ruin your rug, too.

Every rug owner should know the practice of rotating their rugs 180 degrees every six months to ensure even wear. Exposure to direct sunlight will always be a factor to consider when placing a rug in a room. Rotating the rug will help your rug looks balanced in colour. Besides, all fibres, dyed or un-dyed will normally change over time.

But above all these, it’s safe to say that the easiest, safest and effective deep cleaning solution for any type of area rugs is to have them rolled up and taken away for cleaning by experts.  Not all wool rugs are the same for they have different fibre thickness. The best way to extend the life of your rugs is by reading the cleaning instructions for your rugs carefully before setting up the piece of art in any area of your room.

Runner Rugs

Runner rugs are used in narrow spaces such as hallways and stairs. This type of rug is made greater in length than width. To give the people a platform to the place where you want them to lead to, a runner rug is best to be used. It leads the eyes of the visitors to certain places in your home.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RUNNER RUGS AND AREA RUGS?

While both area rugs and runner rugs give a touch of colour to a pale room, the two have differences. One is that area rugs are made to be under certain furniture to group them together and make them look like they belong together in an area. Runner, on the other hand, is a rug that leads the people to the narrow spaces of the house such as stairs and hallways. Basically, the size of area rugs and runners defines the difference between the two. Area rugs are usually made to be of any size but mostly square while runners are made in a rectangular form and narrowly to fit perfectly in a limited space of a room.

IN WHAT AREAS ARE RUNNERS GOOD TO USE?

Generally, runners compliment wood flooring to contrast the colour of the floor and furniture. This type of carpeting can add a decorative element to hardwood made floors while making them warmer and comfortable to walk on. Even basements and wooden stairs that are not carpeted can be improved through using runners. However, runners can be used not only on wooden floors but also on the following areas of your home:

1. Kitchen - Since the space in the kitchen is also limited, floor runners can do its wonders by fitting nicely down the length of your cabinet or counter space. While the floor is being maximised in appearance, the runners can also provide a cushioned area for your feet to stand on when washing dishes or preparing food.
2. Bedroom - We all know that area rugs are the most common decoration used in beautifying the room space. However, because of its size, so much of the rug ends up hidden under the bed making some parts of the design unseen. Alternatively, the long and skinny shape of runners makes it perfect to be used in bedrooms. Runners can be used on one side of the bed or even on both sides of the bed if the bed is positioned in the centre of the room. Furthermore, runners will surely keep your feet cosy by providing a warm landing in the morning.
3. Walk-in closets. Typical walk-in closets are “mini-rooms” that fit two people at max. Runners are perfect for this kind of mini-room for it creates a focal point underfoot that suggests the space feel like a “real room.” The runner will draw attention away from its small size creating an illusion that the closet is spacey.

For a room that needs decorating, adding a rug will be the perfect and most cost-effective answer. Through using runners, your hallway or corridor will not look empty or barren anymore. 

Tips on How to Decorate Your Home Using Shaggy Rugs

Shaggy rugs are soft, textured and chunky home accessories that you can use to decorate your house. Instead of having a regular rug, why not choose a shaggy rug that can definitely change the mood of your home? The use of rugs as home décor has, once again, gained popularity. Our modern ways of living has not changed the way we feel about having a cosy home. Shaggy rugs are the most commonly used rugs at home today. From the living room, to the bathroom, people prefer the feel of shaggy rugs against one’s skin over other rugs. 

Shaggy rugs can be made from various materials such as cotton, wool, nylon and many others. They are also known to be durable and most ideal to be placed in areas of the home where there is much foot traffic. If you are thinking of decorating your home using shaggy rugs, here are some tips that you can take note of.

Shaggy Rugs with Playful Hues.  These types of rugs are best placed in the children’s room to make it look more fun and youthful. On the other hand, you can also place them in an all-white or all-black room to add a hint of colour and make the room look more interesting. 

Shaggy Rugs with Animal Print. Ideal for rooms with not much colour, animal print shaggy rugs are central pieces in themselves. They tend to attract attention and are usually placed in the living room or bedroom. These rugs add greatly to the personality and feel of a room.

Shaggy Rugs with a Solid Colour. Best placed in monochromatic rooms – either to match a theme or to stand out from it – shaggy rugs with a solid colour are the easiest ones to place anywhere around the house. If you are going for a formal look, it is recommended that you purchase a rug with a neutral hue, so it can fit almost anywhere. 

Shaggy rugs come in different sizes, shapes, materials and hues. All you need to do is to ensure that your choice would fit the look that you are going for. Keep in mind that it’s all a matter of styling and matching colours – if you are not confident with your choice, try seeking the help of a friend or looking for ideas through magazines and other resources. At Fantastic Rugs, we offer a variety of stylish, affordable and high quality shaggy rugs that you can choose from.

Wools: High-Traffic Area Rugs

Rugs do not only give warmth and cosiness to our rooms – rugs also connect us to our space. When buying this piece of art, we should always remember that rugs should be treated as a textile product.  Thus, the furry things under our feet should also be cleaned and maintained. However, one may formulate an argument about the real purpose of rugs. Of course, rugs do not need to be flawless and they are meant to be used. Perhaps, the best way to answer this juxtaposition is to put the perfect rug in the best area.

Choosing the right rug for your home’s high-traffic areas such as living room, where you entertain your guests, and dining room, where you serve your specialities to your guests can be considered as an investment. Doing so means that you choose a rug that is durable and will surely last. For us, wools are the best material that can be used in areas where people walk to and fro. Why? Because:

• Wools can be easily cleaned.  Wools are stain resistant. Furthermore, they contain natural oils that can prevent dirt from adhering to the yarn. However, using it for a long time may change its appearance. Using a vacuum cleaner, you can already get rid of the dirts and residues that are stuck in a wool rug. But if you feel that using a vacuum cleaner is not enough, you can try using dry extraction powders. On the other hand, it is not advisable to use cleaning solvents when cleaning a wool rug. Scrubbing the rug excessively and letting it be soaked for a long time in a cleaning solvent will damage its quality.
• Wools make us feel luxurious. If luxury is the only consideration in choosing the perfect rug for your high-traffic areas, perhaps, silk is the best answer that you may think of. On the contrary, people should avoid using silk rugs in their living room because of a number of reasons. Aside from the fact that silks are not durable, silks are too soft and smooth that it may cause an accident to the person who would walk over it.
• Wools are fire resistant. You may wonder why this quality of the wool is included here in the list. I will explain why. Most of the time, our living rooms and dining rooms have several windows. The windows let the rays of sunshine pass through our house. By using a rug that is fire resistant, you can be at peace that nothing bad will happen to your house while you are away.
• Wools are cosy. Lastly, wools are made of continuous fibre loops that provides warmth to our feet. Naturally, our reason for buying a rusg is to treat our feet and avoid the feeling of stiffness.

Now that we know that wools are the best rugs for your living room and dining room, let us take a quick look at these fantastic wool rugs that will perfectly suit your taste:

It is also good to take note that it’s better to choose dark-coloured rugs for your high-traffic areas. A plain black rug is good but a patterned rug is better because the illusions of the fabric will definitely hide the dirt.

If  you want to  know more about rugs and what rugs are best for the other areas of your home, you may find this article interesting.

Why are Rugs Good for Wall Hanging?

Hanging of rugs on the walls is not a new trend. However, the application of rugs for wall hanging has expanded over time. Aside from the many things that a rug does to our house flooring, it can also be used for hanging. Here are the reasons why:

1. They can be used as an art. Opting for rugs instead of expensive paintings is a good idea if you are a practical person. A fine art can be expensive and many people would not probably opt to spend lots of cash just to buy something that they will just hang on their walls. One painting costs twice or thrice the price of an elegant rug.
2. They create an instant focal point in the room. Instead of putting your rugs on the floor, hanging it on the wall may create a better decoration in your house. Hanging a rug behind a furniture that you fancy will make the furniture more outstanding and appealing to the eyes of your visitors. Rugs add up to your house’s friendly atmosphere, too!
3. They can be used to customise your room. There are some rugs that appear to be too good to just set our feet upon. We sometimes have a feeling that certain rugs are not okay to be soiled by our feet. However, rugs don’t always have to stay on the floor. You can try adding some personal touch to your room by hanging your rugs instead of just putting them on the floor.
4. Rugs can be used to reduce noise levels. Who would’ve thought that the most overlooked thing in the house can be useful in reducing noise? Because of its thickness, a rug absorbs the sound waves better than plain walls. Rugs are useful, most especially if you are living in a crowded apartment. Amazing, right?

In line with these, we included some of the rugs which we think will look good on your walls:

This Funk Rug Multi will surely blend with a white walled room with minimalist-designed set of furniture. The funky bright colours will create a lighter mood to a plain room.

On the other hand, this Bob Marley rug will fit well to break the colour of any dark painted room walls. The design of the rug will without a doubt complement your music room.

This Harlequin Bamboo rug is indeed a great wall decoration that will add a cozy feel to your place.

To find more of these decorative rugs, please feel free to browse on our page and check out the rugs that we offer!