Walk into any carpeting store today and you’ll find an array of area rugs to choose from. Textured plush, saxony, berber, and even commercial grade area rugs abound. Not to mention the choices you’ll have in patterns, colors, and edging. (These are what make log home and cabin rugs fun!)
Cabin and log home decorating does not need to be dull when so many choices are available. You don’t have to live with wood on the walls, wood on your ceilings and wood on your floors (it’s fun at first, but eventually you tire of it). You can add interesting area rugs and still have the look of a mountain lodge nestled in the trees.
Your first consideration when purchasing an area rug for your home should not be color, even though color is of high importance. Your first consideration should be how much foot traffic you will have on the area rug you require. For instance, if you plan to put the rug in the bedroom, it won’t have as much traffic as carpet in hall.
Stain resistance will also be a major consideration, especially a rug or carpet that is going to be used in a dining room of a cabin home or play room area. Anywhere there is food, craft, wine or pets, in fact.
As you are working through your selection of an area rug for your log cabin, inquire as well about the rating of the materials used. Indoor carpeting is normally rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. Carpets with a 5 rating are considered the
best for high traffic areas.
Ratings of 2.5 to 4 would provide normal durability in an average home with average use. Carpets rating 2.5 or lower should only be used with light traffic areas, such
as guest bedrooms or dens.
Choosing carpet based on the type of traffic and potential spills it will receive can help save you a lot of money and time in the future.
The highest quality of carpet you can buy is carpet made of wool. Wool carpets are very expensive but well worth the cost as you’ll reap the benefits for many years as wool easily outperforms any area rug made of man made materials. Two of the best benefits of wool carpet include natural soil resistance and strength over time, i.e. won’t stretch, crush or wear down like other carpets.
The downside to wool carpet, is the fact that it is out of reach for many, financially. If you can’t afford to have wool carpet installed throughout your entire log cabin home, then you should instead have it installed in the room that receives the highest amount of traffic. Also, consider area rugs in high traffic places.
Options for man made rugs in high traffic areas are nylon (for durability and stain resistance), olefin (strong and easy to clean), polyester (easy to clean and repels stains).
Color is another important consideration for log home decorating and suitable for your lifestle. Light colored carpets create an effect of a larger space, although they do tend to show stains easily. Dark carpets absorb light, giving any room that cozy cabin or mountain lodge feeling many are after.
Stuck on a few different colors, textures or thickness when shopping for area rugs and carpet? Here’s a great way to decide which one suits your log home best. Ask the dealer or shop owner if you can take a piece of each home, then take a few days to decide. You might be surprised at how the area rugs and carpet looks within your home, lighting conditions, and other factors.
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