Cotton Rugs
This type of rug is mostly used in the bedroom, dining room, living room, and kitchen and it is the most versatile rug which comes in countless variations like colors, design or pattern, and weaves.
Cotton rugs are also a practical option if you’re looking for low-maintenance and easy-to-clean carpeting. All they need is regular vacuuming, and they are machine washable, too, so stains are a cinch to remove. Depending on how well you take care of it, you can expect your cotton rug to last for a few years; however, it will show wear and tear much sooner than a rug made with a more resilient material such as wool.
As one of the most affordable rug types to buy, they make it easy for you to instantly change the appearance of any room without breaking the bank.
Advantages:
- Cotton rugs are washable, which makes them a popular choice for people with kids and pets! Unlike bamboo rugs, they are great for high traffic areas since they can lessen the noise. Throw your cotton rugs at least once a week in the washing machine and they’ll look good as new.
- Placing cotton rugs in your home can be a great addition since they are inexpensive. It’s the top choice for people who are on a budget, yet still want their space to look trendy. Most cotton rugs are less than $100, but if you want a quality cotton rug, you need to pay a higher price.
Disadvantages:
- Cotton rugs aren’t stained resistant. However, since they are washable, it’s still the best option compared to animal skin rug.
- Cotton rugs slide, so it’s best to use a thick rug pad to avoid any accidents.
- Cotton rugs don’t lie completely flat since they are such lightweight rugs. The solution is to use a heavy-duty rug pad under your cotton rug.
Flat Weave Rugs
Hooked Rugs
These hooked rugs are made by using connected threads of yarn and a crochet hook, the end result is a slightly rustic-looking rug that keeps its imperfection and natural bumps.
Also, this hooked rug is delicate in nature, has a slightly shorter lifespan than some other rug types, and it lasts up to 10 years.
How do you tell if a rug is hand hooked?
Turn the rug over and look at the back of the rug. You will need to look at the structure of the rug and its weave to determine if your rug is handwoven. In a hand knotted rug, the weaving and the knots will always be slightly uneven and not always exact and uniform. Some knots may be larger, and some may be smaller.
Advantages:
- Soft, supple, stylish — but durable. A hand-hooked rug is the less expensive alternative to other handmade constructions. Essentially, this type of rug has the same makeup as a hand-tufted rug, but it uses a crochet hook rather than a tufting gun to push yarn through its pre-made design.
Knotted Rugs
The Knotted Rugs are made up of a special type of loom that creates a pattern out of materials such as silk, cotton, wool, and many more. This knotted rug is aesthetically beautiful and also durable, in fact, many knotted-type rugs are handmade by definition.
This knotted rug is generally more expensive as compared to non-knotted counterparts, they are also known for their durability and longevity, such as in some cases it lasts up to 20 years, also it depends upon whether or not you are taking care or maintenance.
Hand-knotting is the slowest and most expensive way to make a rug. It’s one of the oldest methods of making a rug and dates back over 2000 years. Making a rug using this technique can take anything from a few months to a few years. Hand-knotting requires a specially designed machine called a loom.
The production process involves tying vertical threads, or warps, to the loom, then intertwining them with horizontal threads, called wefts. A carpet weaver then takes yarn, threads it around the warp thread, tightens it to create the knot, then cuts off the excess string. The knots make the carpet pile.
Hand-knotting is time-consuming and can sometimes involve weaving intricate designs, which can need as many as 1000 knots per square inch, resulting in well-crafted rugs. Many traditional rugs are made this way with the skill often passing from one generation to the next.
One 8×10 rug can have anywhere between 1 to 6 million knots or 100 to 800 knots per square inch. The average time to make an 8×10 hand knotted rug is over 3000 hours for one person. That is equivalent to 384 working days.
Caring For a Hand-Knotted Rug
Hand-knotted rugs, like every other rug, need to be rotated. Every few months, rotate your rug 90 degrees to increase the longevity of your beautiful heirloom. This will keep the wear on the rug even, especially if one area is receiving more sunlight or traffic than the other corners. Like other rugs, a rug pad is recommended to protect both your rug and your floor. Your hand-knotted rug will be prone to shedding at first, but after the first few weeks, the shedding will decrease and eventually stop completely.
When shopping for a new rug, make sure you choose a hand-knotted rug that is large enough to fit your room. If you choose a rug that is too small, the room will look smaller, and the decor will seem out of place. Make sure to measure your space before ordering a new rug.