What Is an Area Rug?

History

• Area rugs have been around for thousands of years. Depending on the needs of the community, they could range in size, shape and color. One of the older, well known (and still used today) styles is the Persian rug, which dates back more than 2,500 years. Persian rugs are known for being beautiful, artistic creations that often represented a person's wealth or prestige within the community. However, other communities, such as Native Americans, may have used the rugs to keep the home warm in colder months or as cushioning for a softer sleeping place.

Appearance

• Sold in every color under the sun, today area rugs can be mass produced in factories by machines. They come in different textures with different thicknesses, depending on the type of material used. Rugs can be made from wool, cotton, synthetic blends, old scraps of fabric, grasses such as bamboo and even more creative items, such as old leather belts or animal pelts.

Sizes

• Rugs come in every size and shape imaginable, from 2 x 3-foot doormats to larger 8 x 10-foot area rugs. Many companies also offer customizable sizes to fit rooms of any size or shape. Also available are ovular rugs, round rugs, kidney bean-shaped rugs and longer runner rugs for hallways or other heavy traffic areas. Sizes for these rugs can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer and the needs of the buyer.

Uses

• Rugs have many purposes, from decorative to necessity. They can be used over hardwood floors to prevent the floor from becoming damaged in a heavy traffic area. Area rugs can be used beneath furniture for visually anchoring the item in the room or to prevent the furniture from damaging the floor beneath. In the U.S., rugs are often used for decorative purposes but also to cover up cold, hard flooring, such as tile or cement, to create more warmth in the room.