Carpet and Rug Definition

U.S. Requirements

• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission defines large carpets and rugs as a finished fabric or similar product over 6 feet long with an area greater than 24 square feet. Small carpets and rugs are considered to be smaller than the aforementioned dimensions. Resilient floor coverings such as linoleum and vinyl tile also fit these descriptions.

Materials

• Carpets and rugs are made from the same fibers, most commonly wool, silk, jute, and a variety of synthetic materials, including polyester, olefin and acrylic. Carpets are generally thicker and more luxurious, covering floors from wall to wall. Rugs may have an edging that is not applied to carpets.

Patterns and Themes

• As carpeting covers an entire floor, designs are much more limited, often simply involving solid colors or random swirls that can end abruptly. Rugs are often characterized by their design characteristics. Common themes are Persian, Oriental and European.