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Here are some important guidelines First consideration is size. For that living room, family room and den with wooden floors, set your furniture where you think is best for the room. Measure the open space up to the sofa and chairs making sure that the individual seated will have both feet on the rug. In the dining, while table is normally centered, with or without the leaves, pull chairs away from the table from both ends and sides as you would to sit down. With chairs in this position, measure from the rear legs of the chairs in length and width. Add 8" to this measurement, which will give you the minimum size of the rug you need. It’s best to avoid having the rug extend under the buffet, breakfront or china closet. In all rooms try to avoid having the corner of the rug end up in the middle of the doors or archway openings. Now that we’ve determined rug sizes, let’s talk about design. In the living room, family room and den, visualize the proper size rug. If the rug has a center medallion and it comes off center with a sofa, it tends to throw the room off balance. Avoid the medallion. Look for a rug with an all over design. For smaller rooms, a small pattern is more appropriate. It gives the appearance of a larger room. For dining rooms either a medallion or all over pattern works fine. We’ve discussed size and patterns, let’s go for color. If you’re fortunate to start decorating from the floor up, look at, but don’t purchase at this point, furniture for size and style. Measure each piece you have selected and lay out a pattern either on paper or in the actual room to determine the size of the rug that will accommodate the furniture you have selected. Remember that a rug is the largest splash of color in any room. Select your rug first, and then select upholstery to blend with the rug. Next comes window treatment and walls; neutral shades are recommended. We’ve covered the basics. Now, most important of all, is to buy the right rug to accommodate the room. There are hundreds of qualities, designs, patterns and weaves to select from. New hand made rugs are imported from India, Pakistan, China, Tibet, Egypt, and Iran. The quality of wool used is the most important part of any hand made rug. Rugs from these countries use wool for the face or pile of rugs. In some cases silk may be used to highlight detailed designs. Next is the fineness of weave or the number of knots per square inch followed by the quality of dyes used to dye the wool. A rug with good wool and coarse weave will out perform the rug of fine weave but poor quality wool. Tibetan rugs are a good example. Wool from Nepal and Tibet is the most expensive wool in the world used for hand made rugs but the weave is course as compared to most rugs from other parts of the world. Anyone with the ability to count can determine the number of knots per square inch. To determine the quality of wool requires an expert. A trip to the library or the purchase of books on oriental rugs will certainly increase your knowledge and understanding of the enormously interesting and background of these magnificent floor coverings, their origin, how and where they are made, intensities of colors and dyes, weaves, patterns, wools, silks, etc… My father used to say, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." One doesn’t become an expert on oriental rugs simply because one has read extensively on the subject. Check companies for track records: how long they’ve been in business; reputation; consistency of good service; (quality as well as courtesy); ratings with the Chamber of Commerce; Better Business Bureau; extent of service (cleaning, repairs, installation, pick-up, delivery). Shop around and get some ideas on comparative prices. Many dealers will allow you to take home a rug or two for evaluation, a very generous and important offer, one should take advantage of. Some reputable dealers will, at your request, go to your home directly to confirm measurements and even offer suggestions as to design, color, and quality. Another important factor is to be cognizant of the dealer’s policy on trade-ins. The rug you purchase for one home may not fit into your next home. Established dealers have a trade-in policy to adapt to this situation. Conventional room size rugs are 8X10, 9X12, 10X14, 12X15 plus/minus 2-6 inches. Odd sizes and square rugs are available in limited supply. When purchasing stair rugs it is important that the dealer allows for shifting the rug to extend its life, i.e., what was on the riser will later end up on the step after cleaning. It is recommended to rotate rugs end for end on a yearly basis to equalize wear. Oriental rugs fade, as does upholstery. Avoid direct sunlight. Another recommendation is to have rugs cleaned professionally periodically by a reputable cleaner. Never have oriental rugs steam-cleaned in your home. Some dealers offer 10 years of free cleaning when you purchase oriental rugs, a policy worth considering. Follow these guidelines to help you make the right selection. If your purchase of oriental rugs is substantial, you may want to discuss with your insurance agent to have them included on a "Fine Arts Policy." Article Courtesy Of
Koko Boodakian & Sons, Inc., based in Winchester, MA
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