Posts Tagged ‘shag rug’

Tips for Finding the Best Shag Rugs

If you decided it was time you changed something about the way your living room or bedroom looks, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some great tips on how to buy a nice and even cheap shag rug and use it to really spice up the room or create a mysterious and exciting corner, which can become your escape whenever you feel you need to relax and forget about your crazy schedule or stressing job.

Because shag rugs have become quite popular, you should not have any trouble finding some really great ones. Now it all depends on your personal needs, desires and budget. You don’t have to fear about things such as hard cleaning and maintenance, as these rugs are not at all difficult to clean. All you really need in most cases is a vacuum cleaner and make sure you don’t vacuum upright, because you risk pulling out the piles. Still, if you are worried about your shag being dusty, you should choose one made of wool. It might be more expensive, but at least you will know for a fact that wool is a natural dust and dirt repellent.

If you are thinking of going all the way and buying a leather shag rug, you need to know these rugs are only to be dry cleaned, so they make for an excellent choice in rooms with high traffic.

As for the shape of your shag rug, choose a round shag rug for a dining area featuring a round table, and buy an oval rug to place it under an oval or rectangular table. Octagonal rugs are an exquisite choice and you can use them with square tables. As for their colors and patterns, make sure they perfectly match your furniture and room decorations. There are so many different varieties in terms of colors and patterns to choose from that you should not have any headaches while trying to make your pick.

As for their prices, they really depend on the type of materials they are made of, their size and pattern complexity. Some of them are handmade, so they are more expensive. You can also have them custom-made for an extra fee.

Where to Find Jersey Shag Rugs

Jersey shag rugs add a lot of style and personality to a room.  Among the different types of shag rugs, jersey cotton rugs are one of the most popular because of their affordability. Another factor which lends to its popularity is that jersey shag rugs are quite durable and easy to clean. These rugs are made from the same material used for cotton jersey shirts which means they are machine washable.  An important thing to remember when choosing shag rugs is to check if they are colorfast. Rugs with darker colors do tend to fade and bleed out when washed. If you are not sure if your rugs are colorfast, it would be best to wash them separately to avoid staining.

You can find jersey shag rugs from a variety of places like home improvement stores, specialty home & garden boutiques, and furniture showrooms.  If you don’t quite know what shad rug to buy, showrooms are the place to go. Popular home improvement stores like Ikea offer a great selection of shag rugs and shag carpets, and they have a floor-wide display of different furniture arrangements that will help give you a better idea on which rugs best compliment your space.

There are also the ever dependable bargain superstores such as Target and Wall-Mart that have become a shopping haven for home owners on a budget.

If you’re still testing out the “shag rug look”, and not very concerned with durability, Target has a few jersey shag rugs on sale that definitely won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

There really aren’t a lot of shops specializing in shag rugs so you may have a hard time looking for a particular color or style.  The quickest and most convenient way to shop for them would be online.  One of the best go-to places for online shopping is still Amazon.com. You can find a few listing of quality jersey rugs there with prices well below $200.  There are also a few specialty online stores like rugsusa.com, and cnsrugs.com.  These stores sell several styles and colors of jersey shag rugs with prices ranging from $40 to $300 and up.  These sites offer free shipping within the US and also give special discounts and incentives for repeat customers.

Strategies for Choosing the Best Shag Rugs

Shag rugs first gained popularity in the US in the 1960’s and 70’s.  During the retro era, shag rugs with rich and vibrant offbeat colors were all the rage.  But these rugs have a longer history that dates back to Ancient Greece where the so called Flokati rugs were hand woven using goat’s fur, and were used as blankets, beddings and floor coverings.

These days, shag rugs are more than just a nostalgic novelty. They are often used as decorative statement pieces to add dimension and color to an otherwise dull and monochromatic space.

Shag rugs come in a wide array of shapes and sizes and are made from a variety of natural and synthetic materials. Those made with natural fibers like, wool, leather and cotton are usually more expensive compared to those made with synthetic fibers like polyester, acrylic, and nylon. But overall shag rugs are relatively inexpensive compared to other types of area rugs.  You can find most that are well under $100.

With all the options available, choosing the right shag rug can be quite an overwhelming task.  Here are a few strategies in choosing the best shag rug for your space:

Figure out how much space you have available.

One of your foremost concerns is to choose the right shape and size of rug to fit your living space, so you need to measure the area you plan to cover beforehand. It’s also a good idea to keep a tape measure on hand.

Choose a rug that compliments the style and theme of your room

Bring pictures and color swatches when shopping for a shag rug. These will help you choose the appropriate colors and patterns that will best compliment your room. You can buy color swatches and charts online for less than $5.

Pick the right material for your space

If the room you’ll be placing the rug on gets a lot of traffic, choose a more durable material like leather and wool which can withstand a lot of wear and tear. For bedrooms and lounge areas, plush shag rugs with longer and denser pile work best.

Choose a rug that is functional and will fit your lifestyle

Shag rugs not only look good, they also add warmth to cold tiles and concrete floors and help protect hardwood floors.  If you have kids or pets, pick a rug that is easy to clean, and have a shorter pile.  Also consider choosing materials that are antimicrobial and hypoallergenic so you won’t need to vacuum or clean them too often.  The less cleaning and maintenance a shag rug needs the more time you get to enjoy them.

With its versatility and affordability, it’s no wonder why shag rugs are making a comeback. They are definitely one of the easiest ways to jazz up and add personality to a room. As Austin Powers would say, “They are very Shagadelic, baby!”