Carpet plays a significant role and they have salient features not only indicate their style, utility but also their life serviceability, maintenance and appearance. The following discussion discloses them.
Character:
A rug/carpet must agree in expressiveness with the room where it is to be used. It cannot be expected to set the mood of a room, but it must not be in contrast with it. For example, grass or rush rugs carry on the idea of a tropical room or a sun room whereas, rag rugs have a cottage idea and deep pile suggests luxury. Some of the oriental rugs represent primitiveness. Still older rugs, appear to be "antiques".
Style:
Carpets must confirm the style of furnishings in a room. However, the various period styles have their own design. The Early Americanrugs and carpets are excellent in design, color and have textural effects which make them appear homespun. The French styles of Louis XV and XVl indicate the use of floral motifs and subtle colors. Solid pastel colors in broadlooms are most desirable for French furnishings. Bleached oriental rugs are also appropriate.
Victorian rooms required broadloom wall to wall carpeting with plain dark-colored; with large floral and scroll patterns of the original period. The Modern/twentieth century style usually requires plain solid (Solid color is the only one color and no other color combination) colors in carpets of wall to wall. Textural and pattern variations are employed if variety is needed.
Color:
Since the floor is relatively a large area of any room, the color decision is indeed an important one. It is wise, therefore to choose a versatile color that will lend itself to a variety of color combinations. The colors preferred in floor coverings are beige or pale grey-green, off-green, off-white, grey, tan, brown, rust, olive green, grayed yellow, grayed rose and grayed blue. These colors form the background providing interest to allow changes of the drapery and upholstery.
Light colors are the colors of the modem age. They are pleasing and they make the rooms appear spacious and cheerful. They do not show dust or footprints as darker color do. Very light and very dark colors will show foot marks and soil more quickly than the medium hues.
Pattern:
Within the framework of personal likes and dislikes, pattern and texture should be considered in relation to the purpose and theme of the room. Occasionally patterned rugs are usable and even durable. Small patterns carpets are ideal in living, dinning and Bedrooms.
Texture:
Texture variations are needed for contrast with the large areas of slide glares that are used today. They include the cup-loop, cut and uncut loop, straight and twisted yarn or by several heights of pile. These textural variations can easily be felt while using them for various purposes. Texture in rugs and carpets are of higher significance than any other item of furnishings in the home, since these can be used to create patterns also.
Durability:
For checking the durability certain information is required like the kind of fibers used, particularly in the pile, the weight of each kind of fiber, the ply in the yarn, the pitch, the wires and the shot and height of pile. Synthetic multi-ply yarns woven with close piles are more durable. Some good woolen fibers are also used to make durable carpets.
Cost:
The modern market provides a lot of variety in quality at varied costs. Thus a consumer has a wider choice, but a wise consumer will analyze the factors like quality, size, color effect and texture along with cost while making a final decision. For the very low budget felt, rag, hooked, string, jute fiber, and rugs are also good selections.
Size:
The floor covering includes both wall-to-wall carpets and area rugs. It is important that a rug fits the size and shape of a room. The standard sizes available are 6'x 9', 9' x 12' and 11' x I5'. However, other sizes are also procurable on order. A rug should leave about 6-12 inches of border all around it. A rug without a border looks larger than one with a border.
The placement of rugs is an important aspect in floor covering. Small scatter rugs are sometimes desirable in halls, bedrooms and living rooms. In the same room, if more than one is required they must be identical/nearly as similar as possible. Placing the small rugs diagonally violates the architectural lines of the room. Small rugs must be placed before the most important pieces of furniture or can be combined with the various groups of furniture. However it should not stray into the middle of the floor. It is better to avoid too many small rurugs.
Fibers: It is discussed in detail in the preceding chapter13.
Last modified: Thursday, 23 February 2012, 1:18 PM
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