Selection of Carpets and Rugs
For the decorative
reasons and because floor coverings usually involve a substantial (large) sum
and become more or less a permanent possession, it is important to make a wise
decision in their choice. Personal likes and dislikes are very important when selecting
floor coverings. Some people cannot bear to live in a room without a soft rug;
others enjoy the cool, clean feeling of a smooth hard floor. Some people
dislike having a floor become an accented area with brilliant colour or pattern
while others like such colours and designs under foot. Before buying a floor
covering, it is necessary for a housewife to be familiar not only with the
decorative effects produced by its pattern, colour and texture but also about
its weaving qualities and special uses. The following factors should be kept in
mind while selecting the floor covering:
v Size: One of the first problems to settle in the selection of floor
covering is whether to have a large rug or a wall to wall carpet. The advantage
of a rug is that it can be reversed to prevent wearing in spots and it is more
easily handled. How much of the floor should be covered? There is no one answer
but here are some of the factors to be considered. A wall to wall carpet is a
good choice for any room that one wants to make appear larger. If the same
carpeting is extended throughout adjoining areas and rooms, the effect of
spaciousness is increased still further and the floor will provide a feeling of
unity.
If
a rug seems to be more desirable than wall-to-wall carpeting, it should be
chosen in relation to the size of the room. Floor coverings cut exactly to fit
the shape of the room presents an attractive appearance but the traffic lanes
will show signs of wear more quickly. Small scattered rugs are sometimes
desirable in halls, bedrooms or living rooms. Those in the same room should be
identical or as nearly alike as possible. If used on a plain carpet, it should
be like it in its background coloring. A rug should have a minimum margin of
6”-12” all around it in the room. On a stairway, a strip of narrow carpet is
sufficient unless the lower hall is carpeted from wall-to-wall.
v Colour: As the floor is a relatively large area of any room, the color
decision is, indeed, an important one. Besides, the rug will remain for a longer
time than other color areas. It is wise, therefore, to choose a versatile color
that will lend itself to a variety of color combinations. A deep, rich cherry
red, for example, combines beautifully with white, pale blue, pale green, grey
or light pink. Light tones in carpets or rugs make rooms seem spacious and
cheerful. The floor covering should be selected before the wall paints or the
home fabrics because the range of colors is more limited in rugs and carpets
than in other furnishings. In all such areas which receive heavy traffic, one
should choose floor coverings that do not show soil and can be easily
maintained.
v Durability: Durability in a carpet or rug is greatly affected by the density,
depth and the compactness of the pile. It is also dependent upon the quality of
yarns used. Another important factor is the amount of twist given to the yarn.
It may be one, two or three-ply, according to the number of strands twisted
together. Fibres or yarns may be natural, like wool and cotton or man-made like
nylon and rayon. Sometimes two or more different fibres are combined in one rug
or carpet. Wool is generally considered to be a superior fibre for carpets
because it is resilient, durable and color-fast. Cotton fibres are soft and
crushable, they soil easily and are likely to fade but wear fairly well.
It
also washes easily. Nylon is very durable, easily cleaned and resists mildew
and moths. It is used alone or added to other fibres to give them strength. It
resists abrasion and does not show signs of wear rapidly. Rayon is crushable
and generally undesirable so it is used in the less costly rugs. But it has
good luster and take dyes well. It shows signs of wear rapidly. The acrylic
fibres are long wearing and have stain removing properties and thus can be
easily cleaned. They look like wool and have some similar qualities. Jute and
hemp help to make firm backs for carpets and rugs. Jute is strong and
inexpensive but will decay under moisture. The rug with the largest percentage
of the most durable fibres will wear the best. The height of the pile is also
important but it is not as important as thickness. High pile is luxurious but
it crushes somewhat more easily than short pile.
v Pattern: It is a matter of personal preference whether or not one wants to
emphasize the floor with pattern but there are some practical points that must
be considered. Patterned rugs have less tendency to show soil or foot marks
thus such rugs may be desirable for certain areas. Floral designs may provide a
charming atmosphere that is both interesting and tasteful. Large designs in
floor coverings are more attractive in large rooms. A patterned rug draws
attention to the floor. A good rug or carpet may last many years. There is
always a possibility that a pattern that is most appealing in the beginning
will become tiresome after a few years. Plain carpets and rugs are, therefore,
considered better but occasionally patterned rugs are usable and even
desirable.
v Mothproofing: As a carpet is a lifetime investment, mothproofing is very
essential in carpets.
v Fire resistance: Carpets should also be fire resistant. Wool is
fire resistant and thus ensures the safety of the home.
v Resilience: It is the degree of springiness with which a carpet returns to its
original condition after the weight is being removed. It is necessary that a
carpet recovers quickly to its original form after being subjected to pressure
loads. Wool due to its high resilience quality, maintains the appearance of the
carpet.
v Texture: The combination of cut and uncut loops or the combination of
straight and twisted yarns or several heights of pile can be turned into very
interesting texture patterns in one-tone carpets.
v Character: It is also a very important factor and should go in expressiveness
with the room and its furnishings where it is to be used and should not be in
conflict with it e.g. jute rugs have a cottage flavour; deep pile suggests
luxury; Mexican rugs look primitive.
v Cost: The consumer today is faced with a wide range of possible floor
coverings. Most floor coverings are relatively expensive and represent an
investment of a fairly large proportion of the furnishing budget.
When buying soft floor
coverings; it is best to choose better-quality carpeting for high traffic
areas. Sturdy carpets should be used in playrooms, children’s rooms etc. Before
buying a carpet, it is better to take a piece of carpet sample home and examine
it under natural and artificial light in the room in which it is to be used. It
should blend with the furnishings of the room. It is better to buy the best
quality of floor covering in whatever class the budget allows. For producing an
effective room, ample size of rug is more important than quality. For a very
low budget home, felt, string, jute, rugs and carpets are good.
Care of Carpets and Rugs
Good care extends the life of carpets and rugs. Where and
how one lives determines the amount of cleaning needed. Amount of soiling depends
upon number of family members, condition of grounds around the home as well as
the family activities. Soil can be minimized by using mats near doorways and in
heavy traffic areas. Carpets and rugs should be weekly or fortnightly cleaned
with a vacuum cleaner and these should be lightly broomed daily with a soft
brush or broom. Cotton carpets can be even washed at home but the instructions
given with the carpets and rugs must always be kept in mind.
Resilient Floor Coverings
Sometimes, it is
desirable to cover the flooring with something other than a rug or carpet. The
resilient surfaced floor coverings offer several advantages in that they are
durable, easily cleaned and cool.
Linoleum: A mixture of flour, cork
and oil is applied to some sort of a backing such as jute or fibre, to form
linoleum. In inlaid linoleum, the pattern is impregnated through the thickness
of the substance and stands up under many years of hard wear. Thin linoleum
with the pattern applied to the surface is much less expensive but cannot stand
heavy use.
Vinyl: It is available in either rolls or tiles.
Luxurious vinyl’s in magnificent designs and colors are used in the most
elegant rooms. Vinyl is a synthetic that resists abrasion, scratch, denting and
spotting from acids and grease. Different types of vinyl flooring vary in
durability as well as in cost.
Asphalt Tile: Asphalt tile is a
serviceable and relatively inexpensive floor covering that is damage resistant
and easy to maintain. It has been widely used in kitchens and other floor areas
exposed to grease and oil. It is available in a wide range of colors and
patterns and is generally less expensive than linoleum or rubber tile. It
cracks or shows scratches easily.
Rubber Tile: In general
characteristics, rubber tile is somewhat similar to linoleum but it is more
resilient. It may be used on almost any type of floor and the range of color
and design is practically unlimited. Often the colors are brighter than those
in linoleum. It is extremely durable and attractive.
Cork: Sievings and granules of
cork are compressed into sheets and treated with sealers to form a cork
flooring. It may be colored but it is usually used in various natural tones of
light and dark brown. The chief advantages of cork are lovely texture, high
resilience and good sound absorption. Some types are difficult to maintain and
need frequent waxing to preserve color and texture.
Hard Floor Coverings
Stone: Marble, slate and
flagstone provide desirable flooring for some areas. These materials are
usually expensive if they are at all attractive or unusual in appearance. They
are very durable but also cold and uncomfortable to stand on for any length of
time.
Terrazzo: It is a floor made of
concrete with chips of stone or marble introduced. The surface is polished to a
smooth finish for very elegant effects. It is durable and easy to maintain but
non-resilient and quite expensive.
Ceramic Tiles and Clay
Bricks: Ceramic
tiles and clay bricks are used for floors in certain areas. Various colors and
effects are possible. They are highly durable, easy to maintain when glazed.
They are, however, non-resilient, cold and often expensive.
Hard Wood (Parquet): Floors require extra
care when it comes to cleaning because of the technique of fusing different
types of wood pieces together. Clean daily with a soft broom and pick up loose
dirt with a soft mop. Do not clean with water. Most common trees harvested for
wood floors are red and white oak, eucalyptus, bamboo, maple.