New rugs101 web

RUGS 101A guide for buying or selling today’s rugs

pg.3

Rugs have a history rooted in ancient times. But thanks to new constructions and fibers, the rug world has changed entirely into a more fashionable and affordable industry. The change is constant and can be difficult to keep up with — which is why we creat-ed Rugs 101. Rugs 101 will help

you understand today’s rugs in an easy-to-browse, visual way. Whether you’re in the market to buy a rug, or you’re a salesman trying to learn the fundamentals, our Rugs 101 has you covered.

AN INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTSMANUFACTURING COUNTRIES

FIBER TYPES

CONSTRUCTION TYPES

SELECTING THE RIGHT SIZE

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE

3 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A RUG

5 REASONS TO BUY A RUG

4

6

8

20

30

36

40

pg.4

The four most prominent man-ufacturing countries are India, China, Egypt, and Turkey. Like in any other industry, each country has its comparative advantages. China for instance, is the world’s leader in hand-tufted rugs made

of synthetic materials because of their access to those types of fibers. Egypt on the other hand, has the proper infrastructure and knowledge to create a large vol-ume of machine made rugs.

MANUFACTURING COUNTRIES

pg.5

CHINA China is one of the largest manufacturers of hand-tufted and hand-hooked rugs, including shags. The most commonly used fibers in China are synthetics, like polyester and polypropylene. China is also a manufacturer of indoor/outdoor rugs, which are made of 100% man-made fibers (like polypropylene) that are tested to resist damage from water, UV rays, and mildew.

INDIAIndia is well-known for manufacturing hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs. The most common fiber used in India is wool, although it’s not unusual to find rugs made of synthetic fibers like polyester or viscose.

TURKEYLike Egypt, Turkey manufactures a significant volume of the world’s machine-made rugs. The rugs are power-loomed using essentially the same machines that are used in Egypt.

EGYPTEgypt is the world’s largest manufacturer of machine-made rugs. Rugs from Egypt are power-loomed on a Wilton loom, which essen-tially uses a mechanism to regulate the feeding of pile yarns into the loom to form a pattern. Machine-made rugs can be made using nearly any fibers, although synthetic fibers are most commonly used. Egypt also manufactures shags and indoor/outdoor products, although unlike China they’re all machine-made products.

pg.6

FIBER TYPESPicking the ‘right’ fiber is contex-tual. You have to consider things like cleanability, durability, soft-ness, shedding, color retention, and more. In fact, sometimes syn-thetic fibers like polypropylene or polyester are better choices than

natural fibers because they’re stain-resistant, fade-resistant, and soft. Understanding the 8 fibers on the following chart will help you determine what you should choose based on your needs.

pg.7

CottonNatural, soft fiber

Sometimes used as thread for the base of a rug

Easy to clean and maintain

SisalNatural fiber, stems from the agave plant

Highly sustainable

Does not attract dust and is static free

JuteShiny, vegetable fiber

One of the most afford-able fibers

Second to cotton as the most produced vegeta-ble fiber

WoolThe most commonly used natural fiber in rug production

In rug production, wool usually refers to the fibers from sheep.

Fiber diameter is the single most important wool characteristic, determining price and quality

NATURAL FIBERS

AcrylicModerately priced

Durable, although not as strong as other syn-thetics.

Most commonly blend-ed with other fibers like polyester (this is called a poly-acrylic blend)

PolypropyleneVery affordable

Easy to maintain and highly durable

Bold, fade-resistant color

Commonly used in indoor/outdoor rugs for its UV, mildew, and water resistant qualities

ViscoseSynthetic, shiny fiber — sometimes called ‘art silk’

Commonly used as a more affordable substi-tute for silk

Some rugs are made of 100% vicose, but most rugs use viscose to accent a pattern

PolyesterVery affordable

Wears well and feels very soft, especially when used for rugs with a thick pile

Moisture, stain, and abrasion resistant

Retain color over time, easy to clean

SYNTHETIC FIBERS

pg.8

CONSTRUCTION TYPESWhile hand knotted rugs are the most prestigious and well-known rug construction, the majority of rugs in people’s homes are less expensive constructions like hand tufted or machine made rugs. The following pages will help you

understand more about the main construction types, including their respective durability, defining characteristics, and how they’re made.

pg.9

Manufacturing TimeTypes DurabilityPrice

Hand Knotted

Hand Tufted

Hand Hooked

Power Loomed

Flat Weave

5 - 7 months

3 - 5 months

3 - 5 months

2 - 3 months

3 - 4 months

20+ years

3 - 10 years

3 - 10 years

3 - 10 years

20+ years

$$$$

$$

$$

$$

$$

5 COMMON CONSTRUCTION TYPES

pg.10

A weaver sits behind a loom and hand ties individual knots onto the vertical strings seen on the back-side of a rug.

Most prestigious, high quality rug construction.

Great durability.

Minimal shedding com-pared to hand-tufted rugs.

Most common fiber used is wool.

Characteristics Process

HAND KNOTTEDDURABILITY 20+ YEARS

MANUFACTURING TIME 5 - 7 MONTHS

PRICE $$$$

Bogart Collection / BG-03 Aqua Ivory

INSIDER TIPThe back side of a rug is the easiest way to distinguish its construction.

The back of hand-knotted rugs show individual knots and the overall design and colors of the rug’s surface.

pg.12

Hand-tufted rugs are made using a “gun” : a hand- operated tool that punches strands of fiber into a can-vas stretched on a frame. The design of the rug is drawn on the canvas, and the worker fills in the pat-tern with the appropriate color fiber. When the rug design is fully piled the rug is removed from the frame and a scrim fabric is glued to the back of the rug. Once the glue is settled the scrim backing helps to hold the fiber pile in place.

More affordable alternative to hand-knotted rugs.

Quality and price depends mainly on what fiber is used. Life span ranges from about 3 - 10 years.

A nearly unlimited variety of patterns, colors, and textures can be used in a hand-tufted rug.


HAND TUFTEDDURABILITY 3 - 10 YEARS


PRICE $$

Allure Shag Collection / AQ-01 Citron


A canvas backing is applied to hand-tufted rugs with an adhesive to hold the yarns together.

pg.14

Hooked rugs are made by tufting loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or rug warp which has been stretched over a frame. The design is printed on the base fabric, and the loops of yarn are pushed through the fabric (similar to the process for hand-tufting).

More affordable alternative to hand-knotted rugs.

Larger looped rugs create a plush, heavily textured rug while smaller loops allow for greater detail in pattern and interesting texture.

A nearly unlimited variety of patterns, colors, and textures can be used in a hand-hooked rug.


HAND HOOKEDDURABILITY 3 - 10 YEARS


PRICE $$

Stella Collection / SL-01 Graphite


A canvas backing is applied to hand hooked rugs with an adhesive to hold the yarns together — similar to hand-tufted rugs.

pg.16

Large machines have hundreds of spindles of fiber that are mechanical-ly woven into a thin mesh backing. The machine is computer-drive and runs continuously to maximize efficiency.

Usually the most affordable rug construction.

Common fibers in power loomed rugs include syn-thetic yarns like polyester, polypropylene and nylon.

A computer dictates tex-ture, design, and color so there is little chance of error in production.

Unlike all other construc-tions, power loomed rugs have distinctive production restrictions. In a power loomed collection, rugs are restricted to a particular set of colors once in produc-tion.


POWER LOOMEDDURABILITY 3 - 10 YEARS


PRICE $$

Charlotte Collection / CT-05 Ivory Onyx


Like hand-knotted rugs, you can see the design/colors on the back of a machine made rug, but has a coarse latex backing that secures it in place.

pg.18

The fabric itself is braid-ed or woven onto a loom to create the structure of the rug — no base material is used so the pile is thin (hence the name “flat”-weave).

A flat-weave’s most defining characteristic is their lack of base material (hence the term “flat”-weave).

Common fibers in flat-weaves include wool, jute, and cotton. Great durability and toughness.

A nearly unlimited variety of patterns and colors, but not textures.


FLAT WEAVEDURABILITY 20+ YEARS


PRICE $$

Rio Collection / RI-01 Red


Being reversible, a flat-weave’s “backside” will appear the same as its “front.”

pg.20

The best rug doesn’t just look great in and of itself — it enhances and complements the entire look of your interior

space. With that, it’s interest-ing how the size of a rug, not just its appearance, can influ-ence the dynamic of a room.

SELECTING THE RIGHT SIZE

Barcelona Shag Collection / BS-03 Peacock Lime

pg.21

TIPS & TRICKS

Define the dimensions of a room with measuring tape.We can’t emphasize the importance of this enough. Outline the area where you want your rug. And consider the location of doors and how they’ll open. Do these simple things up front and you can buy with confidence.

Keep at least 18 inches of bare floor exposed by the rug’s edges.This is a classic rule that works for most rooms. If your room is smaller, then feel free to bend this rule a bit. The key is to get the proportions right.

Bend the rules.With all this said, remember that these are stan-dard rules for standard rooms. If you’ve got an unusual room layout or furniture arrangement, you’ll have to be flexible. Ultimately if you think it looks good, go for it!

Rugs can create an optical illusion — make this work in your favor.An undersized rug makes the room appear small and disconnected. When in doubt, go for the bigger size. It’ll unify the furniture and make the room appear bigger than it actually is.

18

Xavier Collection / XV-04 Grey Gold

pg.23

LIVING ROOM Common Sizes: 5’ x 8’, 8’ x 10’, 9’ x 12’

Selecting a rug size for your living room obviously depends on the size of your room, but also your furniture arrangement.

ALL LEGS OFF THE RUGWhen you’ve got a smaller living room or prefer to keep all of your funiture off the rug (except for a coffee table in the center), go with a 5’ x 8’ rug.

FRONT LEGS ON, BACK LEGS OFF

This is one of our favorite sizes for the living room. With this size, you’ll most likely have all front legs of the furni-ture on the rug with the back legs off. Or just some of the front legs will be on the rug. Either way, this size con-nects the various pieces together and creates a good sense of proportion.

ALL LEGS ON THE RUG

This size generally pulls the furniture together and defines a space.

5’ x 8’ 8’ x 10’ 9’ x 12’

Stanley Collection / ST-01 Beige Green

pg.25

DINING ROOM

In a dining area, the most common mistake people make is selecting a rug that’s not big enough. Make sure the size you select is big enough for the legs of the chair to sit comfortably on the rug — even when they’re pulled out for people to sit at the table. Our rule of thumb is to look for a rug that extends at least 24 inches around the table. And remember to keep at least 18 inches of floor exposed around all sides between the rug’s edge and the wall.

Common Sizes: 5’ x 8’, 7’ - 8’ Round, 8’ x 10’

FOUR CHAIRS5’ x 8’ Rugs are a great choice for smaller sized dining tables with 4 chairs.

FOUR TO SIX CHAIRS

Regular rugs work under round tables too, but a round rug is a better match.

SIX TO EIGHT CHAIRS

Typicaly a 8’ x 10 or 9’ x 12’ rug will work under a dining table with 6 to 8 chairs.

5’ x 8’ 7’ - 8’ Round 8’ x 10’, 9’x 12’

Madeline Collection / MZ-02 Flame

pg.27

BEDROOM

In a bedroom, the size of your bed and the floor area that surrounds it will dictate what size you should select.

Common Sizes: 5’ x 8’, 8’ x 10’, 9’ x 12’

FULL SIZE BEDLaying the rug horizontally under the bed is your best option here. You certainly want to have some of rug exposed on the top too. Let your room size and personal preference dictate just how much rug you want showing at the foot of the bed.

TWIN SIZE BED

Since twin beds are small, take the bed’s positioning and overall size of the room into consideration. And if you’ve got two twin beds in the same room, a 9’ x 12’ works wonderfully for pull-ing the look together.

QUEEN SIZE BED

Just like full size beds, you’ll want to layer a rug horizontally under the bed. Both an 8’ x 10’ and 9’ x 12’ will work, but remember the larger rug has the effect of making your room appear bigger.

KING SIZE BED

A king size bed calls for at least an 8’ x 10’ and usually a 9’ x 12’. Anything smaller will appear out of propor-tion.

5’ x 8’ 9’ x 12’ 8’ x 10’, 9’x 12’ 8’ x 10’, 9’x 12’

Terra Collection / TE-02 Charcoal

pg.29

PATIO

Just like selecting a rug for your living room, you must consider the scale of your patio furniture arrangement before selecting a rug. One of the most underrated benefits of indoor/outdoor rugs is their ability to unify an outdoor furniture arrangement, which allows us to create a cohesive look in an open space.

Common Sizes: 2’ x 3’, 5’ x 8’, 8’ x 10’

INDOOR OUTDOOR MAT INDOOR OUTDOOR RUG INDOOR OUTDOOR RUG2’ x 3’ 5’ x 8’ 8’ x 10’

pg.30

It’s possible to keep your rug looking as beautiful as it did coming out of the package, but it’s going to require a little

cleaning and maintenance.Follow this simple but import-ant advice and your rug will stay looking as good as new.

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE

pg.31

VACUUMING

Regular vacuuming is essential for removing deeply embedded dirt and prolonging the life of your rug. Before you vacuum, make sure you consider your rug’s construction.

Vacuum regularly. We recom-mend once a week with a reg-ular pile (especially in the first month), unless it’s a looped, braided, or shag rug.

If the rug has a loop or braid texture, remove the beater bar setting. If it cannot be removed, set the vacuum on the highest possible setting.

For shag rugs, shake them outside first to loosen dirt and other particles. Then carefully use a hand held attachment on vacuums for shags.

Regular Pile Loop/ Braided Shags

pg.33

CLEANING BASED ON FIBER

Proper cleaning is contextual, dependent on the type of fiber used in the rug. A breakdown of proper cleaning on common fiber types are listed here.

CottonSmall rugs can be machine washed in warm water with a mild detergent. Larger rugs should be treated with a dry cleaning powder.

WoolShedding in wool rugs is completely normal. Vacuum wool rugs at least once a week for the first few months. Use a common wool cleaning detergent or create one with a teaspoon of neutral detergent and a teaspoon of pure white vinegar combined with a quart of warm water. If a liquid stain, absorb as much as possible before applying the cleaning solution.

SisalUse a dry cloth to blot the stain, then use water and pure vinegar together to treat the stain. Be sure to wring out the cloth prior to applying the solution, as excessive moisture is not healthy for sisal rugs.

JuteLimit the amount of moisture used when treating a stain (never steam clean). Treat stains by dabbing a small amount of club soda or a cloth dampened with mild soap.

PolypropylenePolypropylene is one of the most stain resistant fibers as it resists moisture damage com-paratively well. Follow wool cleaning instructions.

PolyesterPolyester, like polypropylene, is one of the most stain resistant fibers as it resists moisture damage comparatively well. Follow wool cleaning instruc-tions.

ViscoseAvoid placing a viscose rug in a high traffic area, as it does not take moisture and heavy foot traffic well. Professionally clean or use a spot cleaner with very little moisture.

AcrylicUse a common cleaning de-tergent or create one with a teaspoon of neutral detergent and a teaspoon of pure white vinegar combined with a quart of warm water. If a liquid stain, absorb as much as possible before applying the cleaning solution.

Natural Fibers Synthetic Fibers

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:Premium Grip Rug Pad, Secure Grip Rug Pad, Outdoor Grip Rug Pad, Dual Grip Felted Rug Pad.

pg.35

RUG PADS

Use a rug pad! Rug pads prevent rugs from sliding, buckling, and wrinkling. This helps with safety and prevents premature aging of the rug. And vacuuming is easier with a rug pad. Listed below are examples of pads offered by Loloi.

To order rug pads email orders@loloirugs or online at loloirugs.com.

Premium Grip Rug Pad Secure Grip Rug Pad

Outdoor Grip Rug Pad Dual Grip Felted Rug Pad

Strong Grip for indoor use on hard surfaces.

Strong Grip for indoor use on hard surfaces.

For outdoor use. For indoor use on both carpet and hard surfaces.

pg.36

3 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING A RUG

Tempo Collection / TP-01 Samba

• Color• Design• Texture

pg.37

COLOR

The first thing you should consider is how the colors in the rug coordinate with the existing colors in your room. Remember, the colors don’t necessarily have

to match up perfectly but they should be comple-mentary to each other. Trust us, when you get the color right everything else becomes so much easier.

On left: Warm and bright seat cushions match the warm and bright colors in the rug perfectly, creating a room that is not only cheerful but harmoni-ously colored.

On right: The cool me-tallic grays and blacks in the room necessitate cool color tones in the rug. Here the cool aqua and beige colors in the bogart rug complement the existing colors in furniture and walls, creating a serene atmo-sphere.

Juliana Collection / JL-27 Rainbow Bogart Collection / BG-03 Aqua Ivory

pg.38

Let your personal style and existing decor guide you to select either a traditional, transitional, or contem-porary rug. When in doubt transitional designs are a

smart choice as they tend to work in most interiors, ranging from traditional to contemporary rooms.

On left: The elaborately pattered chairs draw your eye in this room. Rather than compete with the pattern in the chairs with a patterned rug, it’s best to select a solid design with colors that complement the chairs like this hand-knotted rug from our Byron Collection.

On right: The patterned rug looks fantastic here, creating an eye-catching focal point that does not compete with other furniture in the room. This is because the other furniture is patternless which allows the rug to garner attention.

Byron Collection / BB-01 Metal Hermitage Collection / HE-16 Latte

DESIGN

pg.39

Design and color may define a rug to most onlook-ers, but the visual effects of texure should not be underestimated. Not only are textured rugs visually

intriguing in themselves, they offset the solid surface of your floor, drawing your eyes into the dimensions of the rug.

On left: Sometimes texture is the defin-ing characteristic in a rug. Here, Hera Shag features a long twisted yarn that not only feels comfortable underfoot, but makes it distinctly different from your average shag rug.

On right: Brighton il-lustrates how impactful it is to combine texture and pattern. Brighton is constructed in a cut pile / loop combination, with certain parts of the design strategically raised to create a high /low effect. This allows the pattern to ’pop’, creating dimension and overall visual interest.

Hera Shag Collection / HG-01 Blue Brighton Collection / BT-04 Grey Gold

TEXTURE

pg.40

5 REASONS TO BUY A RUG

Create a focal point in your room

Add comfort and warmth underfoot

Protect flooring and furniture

Muffle sound

Cover imperfections

Sahara Collection / SJ-08 Mediterranean

pg.42

TO ORDER FULL SIZES OR 18” SAMPLES FROM STOCK

P 972.503.5656 | F [email protected]

B2B | Ask your Loloi sales rep

SHOWROOMS ATLANTA DALLAS HIGH POINT LAS VEGAS NEW YORK

LOLOI HEADQUARTERS4501 SPRING VALLEYDALLAS, TX 75224972.503.5656

Entertainment & Humor

New rugs101 web