1. World Menagerie Wilkins Hand Tufted-Gray/Blue Indoor
2. Dash and Albert Herringbone Indigo
3. Safavieh NF114A Basketweave Natural and Beige Summer Seagrass Square
4. NuLoom Moroccan Blythe Area Rug
5. Ikea Hovslund Area Rug
The receiving area of a home says a lot about its owners, which is why it is often made as clean and as elegant as possible. The living room is also the first thing that a person usually sees upon getting home from a long day, and a good lighting in the ceiling plus the best area rugs for living room floors can transform this important part of the house to make it more homey and calming.
This is why in selecting what should be in the living room, one must look for the best area rugs to fill in the floor space better. What exactly are area rugs, though, and how did they come to be?
All About Area Rugs
Area rugs all also referred to as carpets and these textile floor covers usually consist of an upper nap of fabric in an attachment to a rubber backing. The old versions of area rugs were produced from wool, but since this material has gotten expensive, modern area rugs can now be made of synthetic fiber materials like polyester or nylon.
The upper layer is made of twister clusters of the material heated to sustain its form. Carpets are considered bigger than area rugs, but they serve almost the same purpose. However, area rugs are mostly designed for specific parts of the house, most commonly, the receiving area and the bedroom.
The carpet, area rug’s ancestor, so to speak, was invented back in the 5th to 4th century BC and the oldest discovered specimen was found in Siberia. Their existence was initially noticed in the middle eastern countries like Afghanistan and Armenia, and the South Asian countries like India and China. They were also part of the trade between countries in the ancient century.
Materials Utilized for Area Rugs
Modern area rugs now come in different shapes, sizes, and forms. There are also various materials that make the best area rug types out there. There are those made of natural or organic fiber sources: wool, cotton, jute and sisal, and silk and viscose. There are also synthetic variants, namely nylon, olefin, and polyester. Wool ones are definitely great because of their being made of natural materials, being easily dyed, comfortable-feeling, and hydrophobic.
Cotton variants are a good choice as they are lax, long-lasting, and more cost-efficient than their wool siblings. Jute and sisal are both vegetative fibers that can be utilized as a substitute rug material for those with a wool allergy. However, rugs made out of these materials are expected to be rougher and coarser than the first two kinds. Silk and viscose-made area rugs can also be good alternatives due to their adaptable nature. However, they are not expected to be as durable as the other materials.
Just because they are synthetic, doesn’t mean that nylon, olefin, or polyester can’t be your best area rug of choice. Nylon is very nifty and is self-cleaning, therefore, it can last for a really long time. The color may fade, though, but it can be easily dyed again. Olefin ones are considered the most popular because of its texture, easy-clean feature, and its economical price.
Of course, it is not resistant to furniture markings, so it can present permanent marks in its highly trafficked portions. Finally, polyester versions are also a good choice because of their durability and their being economically priced. However, since it’s more challenging to dye, its colors may not be as extensive as the other materials.
With so many variants to choose from and so many materials to look at, finding the best area rug pad can be difficult. Therefore, to save you from this difficulty, we have come up with a list below.
Top 5 Best Area Rugs to Choose
5. Ikea Hovslund Area Rug
Features:
- Comes in a 9 by 10-inch in length and 6 by 7-inch in width
- Flat-woven
- Made from polypropylene
Ikea is not only known for its furniture but also, its good home accessories. This area rug variant by Ikea provides a nice cover for your home floors without drilling a hole in your pocket. It’s got an elegant design and is durable enough for you to use it for years. It’s made out of synthetic fibers; nevertheless, it a great rug for your home.
Pros
Pros
- Very economical
- Long-lasting
- Elegant looking
Cons
Cons
- Not soft to touch
If you’re looking for an economical brand of rug for your home that doesn’t compromise quality and provides a good look to your home, get the Ikea area rug, and you won’t regret it.
4. NuLoom Moroccan Blythe Area Rug
Features:
- Comes in 5 by 8, 8 by 10, and 10 by 13-inch variants
- Made from polypropylene
- Has a non-slip grip rug pad
This Turkey-made variant may not be made with organic materials, but it’s worth the money, nonetheless. It’s made of premium synthetic fibers and, therefore, provides a fleecy feel to your feet when touched. Its neutral color brings elegance and simplicity to your floors. It’s also as stain-resistant as it can get, so your flooring will look nice and clean even if you have pets.
Pros
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Pet-friendly and child safe
- Easy to sanitize
- Comes in various designs
- Economically priced
Cons
Cons
- Quite thin
If you’d like a proven-to-be stain-resistant kind of rug, this is your brand. According to user reviews, it’s incredibly easy to clean and looks elegant considering its economical price tag. This is truly made to last.
3. Safavieh NF114A Basketweave Natural and Beige Summer Seagrass Square
Features:
- Has a seagrass base with cotton border
- Comes in 5 by 8 and 8 by 10-inch variants
- Suitable for contemporary, farmhouse, coastal, rustic, casual or transitional home designs
If what you consider to be the best area rug pad is one that is neutrally colored, sturdy, and less demanding, then Safavieh’s seagrass variant can be a good choice for your home rug. Its bohemian-themed weave design is made from seagrass fibers that are not only cheap but also environmentally friendly. You’ll truly get nature feels in your home with this product.
Pros
Pros
- Organic
- Eco-friendly
- Suitable for various styles
- Easy to clean
Cons
Cons
- Not very soft
If you’re like the flexibility to move your rug around or if you’d like it to easily suit various interior designs, then Safavieh’s area rug is a good choice for you. You will also have less trouble with sanitizing it.
2. Dash and Albert Herringbone Indigo
Features:
- Comes in 2 by 3, 4 by 6, 6 by 9, 8 by 10, and 9 by 12-inch variants
- Has a Chevron pattern
- Cotton-made
Did you decide to buy a cotton area rug under bed type? Well, this product by Dash and Albert might be perfect for you. This 0.25-inch pile heightened hand-made cotton rug is from India, with a primary Chevron pattern and a simple yet elegant design.
Pros
Pros
- Elegant looking
- Durable
- Cost-efficient
- Soft
Cons
Cons
- Quite thin
- Easily sliding
If you’d like an elegant looking rug to place under your bed or in your living room, this area rug variant can really suit your taste. Since it’s handmade, you can ensure quality and uniqueness in every thread.
1. World Menagerie Wilkins Hand-Tufted Gray/Blue Indoor
Features:
- Comes in 2 by 3, 3 by 5 4 by 6, 5 by 8, 6 by 9, and 8 by 10-inch variants
- Has an oriental pattern
- Wool-made
Topping our list of the best area rugs is one by World Menagerie. Comes in colors blue and gray, this one, too, is handmade and of Indian origin. However, it’s made of wool, which means it is as soft and as durable as you want it to be. It’s crafted through the power loom technique, and it’s got an oriental design that will surely suit all parts of the house.
Pros
Pros
- Elegant looking
- Durable
- Cost-efficient
- Thick
- Soft feeling
Cons
Cons
- Easily gets in contact with hair-and-dust rubbles
If you’re a fan of wool and would like that area rug under bed to be nice to touch and long-lasting, get this variant for your home, and you will surely love being barefoot and carefree in your home.
Final Thoughts
Selecting an area rug for your home can be difficult. There are a lot of things to consider. You have to consider the design of your home, the furniture where the rug will be anchored to, the floor surface, the colors, and how you’d prefer its texture to be. You may opt for an intricately designed needlepoint one, but it doesn’t do well with highly trafficked areas.
You may want a fur-feeling shag type that comforts your feet with its very long threads but doesn’t do well with pet hair and stains. There’s also a cut and loop style that highlights elegance but may have markings if used for furniture anchorage. The flat weave ones are usually thinner, but there are awesome in usually walked on portions of your home.
Loop and cut piles ones feel comforting in your feet, but these may lose quality over time due to highly exposed fiber endings. Oriental area rugs make your home look fab and fancy, but they may not feel as good as their thick-piled counterparts. This holds the same for kilims, which are definitely detailed but may not be your best bet when it comes to texture.
Each area rug type has its benefits and downsides. However, if you buy with a purpose, you will be able to select the best one to suit your needs. Check out the list above, and you’ll find that rug shopping doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, you may find your next area rug above.