Rugs can be purchased in varying sizes and shapes and in varying materials and costs can range from inexpensive to very costly. A quick and easy way to add color, texture, warmth and character to a room is to place an area rug within a room. Rugs create intimacy, feeling of coziness and create a focal point to establish a color direction in a room.

There are antique rugs, and there are new ones that are made using traditional patterns and motifs. An antique rug is technically at least 100 years old, althou an 90-year-old rug may be considered an antique. A semi-antique rug is 40 to 70 years old and generally is not as valuable. An antique rug is an investment and the condition should be carefully examined before buying-one in good condition will increase in value over time. Older rugs are made by hand and show irregularities that add character and originality. New rugs can also be made by hand or else by machine. Reproduction rugs are available in many different styles. Area rugs are traditionally made from wool, silk, or cotton.

Animal-hide rugs

Animal-hide rugs can be very chic. They have an interesting shape and texture, either short and brisly or shaggy depending on the animal. A cowhide rug has a Western look that is often used in contemporary design and can be great in any room. There are also cowhide rugs stenciled with zebra stripes. Bearskin rugs, with a head still intact and mouth open showing big, sharp teeth, were often seen in nineteenth-century Victorian houses. Finding such a rug today requires combing flea markets and auctions, but can make quite a statement, on the floor or on the wall. A bearskin can also impart a Hemingwayesque hunting lodge look. Finally, sheepskins make wonderful throw rugs in front of the fire or by a bed.

Aubusson rugs

Aubusson rugs are made with flat weave technique and are generally quite ornate. the name comes from the town of Aubusson in central France where tapestry works were established in approximately the seventeenth century or earlier (Aubusson was also well-known for producing tapestries.) These rugs often have floral designs with architectural elements and beautiful soft colors. An Aubusson rug is delicate and best used in a room that is not heavily trafficked. It has a very French and formal look to it.

Bessarabian rugs

Bessarabian rugs are from the region of Bessarabia on the Western shore of the Black Sea that has been a part of both Romania and the Ukraine-depending on the political situation. The designs are often floral with elegantly drawn motifs and colors in earth tones. The style shows both French and Oriental influences. Bessarabian rugs rugs are almost always woven, meaning they have no pile. The rare Bessarabian rug with pile is very valuable. Bessarabian rugs are not as formal as, for example, Savonnerie or Aubusson rugs.

Braided rugs

Braided rugs are made with braided strips of cotton or wool. The strips are sewn together making a rug that is often oval but can also be square or rectangular. Braided rugs have an informal, rustic appearance and, these days, can be either machine made or handmade. Use braided rugs, either cotton or wool, in a country house in any room. They are versatile and attractive and can also be used in an informal city setting.

Flokati rugs

Flokati rugs are Greek hand-woven area rugs made from 100-percent wool that are almost always a natural, off-white color. They have been produced for centuries and were a staple of early Greek shepherds. In the 1970s these sheep's wool rugs were very popular, and in recent years they have reemerged in contemporary design. Flokatis are very shaggy, with a pile 3 or 4 inches long. They are cozy and have a great texture. They are relatively inexpensive and not too big, which make them easy to take with you to your next home. They are great in a bedroom or a living room or really any room that is not formal in the traditional sense. They are best used as throw rugs over a wood floor or over a flat floor covering such as sisal. Flokatis suit any look from comtemporary to Mediterranean.

Kilim rugs

Kilim are hand-knotted rugs that are thin, lightweight and durable. Kilim is a turkish word that implies the flat weave technique. kilims typically have a geometric design that can be bold and colorful. They are used in a wide variety of looks-from country to contemporary-and create a great splash of color on floors of wood, terracotta tile, or sisal. Kilims are often used in Southwestern style. They can also be used as wall hangings. Over time the colors of a kilim fade to beautiful soft hues.

Needlepoint rugs

Needlepoint rugs are made with wool yarn that is cross stitched onto a heavy canvas backing. Any variation of color and pattern is possible. Needlepoint rugs primarily come from France. England, and, to a lesser extent, Portugal. They can have fine or large stitching. The large stitching is called gros-pointe: the smaller stitch is petit-pointe. Needlepoint rugs are still made today, but if you find an antique one in good condition, it will be a jewel. They are versatile and can be used from living room to bedroom. The design of the needlepoint will have much to do with the look of the rug. Besides rugs, needlepoint can also be used for upholstery and for throw pillows.

Oriental rugs

Oriental rug is a general term for rugs that are Caucasian, Chinese, Indian, Persian and Turkish. These rugs are named after the place where they were made or the people who made them. All have unique traditional designs. Many have a center medallion. The richness of color and and the intrinsic design value make them works of art for the floor. Oriental rugs suit both contemporary and traditional design. They are timeless and highly versatile. An Oriental rug is a purchase that you will have forever. Here are the major types of Oriental rugs:

Caucasian rugs

Caucasian rugs come from the region between northwest Iran and eastern Turkey including Armenia and Azerbaijan. Of these rugs, there are three main types: Karabakh, Kazak, and include Daghestan, Kuba, Shendje, and Soumak. Although there are more refined, they generally have primary colors and a provincial look.

Chinese rugs

Chinese rugs dating from early times are sometimes called Nangxia after the region where they were made. Basically all traditional Chinese rugs have Buddhist or Taoist motifs including the endless knot and the dragon. The predominant colors in Chinese rugs are navy blue, ivory, and yellow. A Chinese rug will almost always have blue in it. They are made with silk and wool piles and often have a pale background with a more deeply colored design.

Indian rug

Indian rug often from Agra and Amritsar. Other types of Indian rugs include Kashmir, Lahore, and Srinagar. Most Indian rugs have softer colors and a less rigid design than other Oriental rugs. The designs are similar to Persian rugs but tend to be less opulent.

Persian rugs

Persian rugs come from the area that is now Iran. They include the popular Tabriz, Heriz, and Sultanabad rugs. Tabriz rugs, which come from town in northwest Iran, have a more formal look than some other Persian rugs. Heriz rugs tend to have geometric patterns and colors in jewel tones, meaning deep reds and blues. Subtanabad rugs come from the Arak region in northwest Iran and have a short pile. Other types of Persian rugs are Bakhtiary, Bijar, Feraghan, Kerman, Sarook, Senneh, and Serapi rugs.

Turkish rugs

Turkish rugs come mainly from central Turkey and include Anatolian, Hereke, and Oushak rugs. Oushak rugs are quite popular and for good reason. The designs are fairly informal and larger in scale. In general they are attractive and highly versatile.

Painted floor cloths

Painted floor cloths are literally paintings that go on the floor. Heavy canvas is stretched and painted, often using stencils, and coated with protective finish. Floor cloths were first popular in early eighteenth-century England and America. It is possible to buy pre-primed canvas for this purpose at art supply stores. If you 're preparing the canvas yourself, which you might do for a floor cloth that is not a standard size, the canvas must be stretched first and both sides of it primed before painting. It's important to talk to an expert at an art supply store about which products to use. Painted floors offer a great opportunity to have a custom-made floor treatment with the right scale, colors, and pattern for the room.

Rag rugs

Rag rugs are traditionally made using scraps of cotton and wool textiles. Rag rugs were born of necessity on the American prairie in the late nineteenth century, out of clothes worn thin from hard work. They are generally not very big and often are round or oval. During the Arts an Crafts Movement at the start of the twentieth century, the rugs were particularly popular. They are made by pulling scraps of cloth through burlap with a hook or with braided strips of fabric sewn together. They tend to have simple designs. Rag rugs can be used in a country house, a beach house, a child's room, or by a bed. They have a cozy handmade feel. They go very well with the light and airy Scandinavian or Swedish style.

Savonnerie rugs

Savonnerie rugs were first made in France and graced the grand estates of nobility in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The savonnerie rug factory was established in the early seventeenth century in an old soap factory, thus the name, which means "soap factory" in French. A Savonnerie rug, which has a thick pile, is best used in a special room without a lot of traffic. They are formal and have a very European look. The style has been widely reproduced and Savonneri-style rugs come from all over the world.

Tibetan rugs

Tibetan rugs, with a luxuriously thick pile, are mostly handmade in Nepal for export to the West. Tibetan rugs are made with wool or silk pile or a combination. The motifs are sometimes traditional Tibetan Buddhist images, but many of the rugs are made in solid colors and with contemporary designs to meet the demands of the Western market. Their rich simplicity makes them suitable for almost any style. The colors are generally very beautiful. Tibetan rugs have become widely available and more popular in recent years. They are generally high-quality rugs that are a good value.