Area Rug Style

Hand-knotted area rugs and machine-made area rugs can have solid colors or patterns. Know which styles of area rugs you like before shopping.

• Persian area rugs: Persian area rugs feature bright colors and elaborate designs that generally fall into one of three categories: geometric designs, floral designs, and pictorial designs.


• Oriental area rugs: Hand-knotted Oriental area rugs can have as many as 1,000 knots per square inch. Authentic Oriental area rugs are made in Asia and adhere to a certain level of quality. Rug makers weave yarn on a loom, knot thread into an intricate pattern, and cut off excess thread.


• Braided area rugs: Braided area rugs work well in homes decorated in the Arts and Crafts style. Flat braids weave four to 12 of the outermost strands over and under various combinations of inner strands. False braids, on the other hand, are made by wrapping fabric strips in a figure eight around stationary cores, which are often made of simple cotton clothesline.


• Tibetan area rugs: Traditional Tibetan area rugs featured a square “tiger” pattern, but contemporary Tibetan wool area rugs also feature vibrant geometric shapes.


• Shag area rugs: Shag area rugs, a staple of the 1970s, are enjoying a comeback. They are now made of better materials than in days past, and their soft, thick fibers provide excellent insulation.


• Flokati area rugs: Owners of soft and highly durable Flokati wool area rugs have many cleaning options. You can even wash them in commercial-capacity washing machines.


• Contemporary area rugs: Contemporary area rugs have clean, spare designs perfect for modern homes. The bright colors and unusual shapes of some of these rugs make them seem almost like modern art for your floor.

Source http://pages.ebay.com/buy/guides/rugs-buying-guide/#1