Choose the Perfect Rug for Your Design Clients: Part 2

You know your client’s home needs new rugs. Your client knows their home needs new rugs. The question becomes: Which factors are the most important for helping you and your clients choose the perfect rug for every space in their home?Below we offer some basics for buying rugs – not because we think designers don’t know them but, as a reminder that most of your design clients will NOT know them – and it’s in your interest to keep these things in mind when trying to close the deal with them.Area Rug Basics – Carpet PileCarpet Pile is the thickness of the carpet that erects from the foundation to the infinite number of free ends of threads. In case of loop pile carpet, the loops are uncut. Whereas cut pile exhibits the similar loops but cut. Cutting is done either on the loom or mechanically after the carpet is woven.The density from the ground structure of the cloth until the free ends of warp forms the carpet pile. The factors behind constituting the pile of a carpet are the length of the carpet threads and the kind of fiber used in weaving a carpet. In addition, it also depends on particular carpet designs. For instance, from a flat weave to a long shag pile, the lush feel of the thread is a marked difference.The production cost of a carpet depends mostly on the amount of the carpet fiber used. Various forms of organic and synthetic fibers are practiced in the carpet industry. Natural fibers comprise of wool, silk, jute, etc. On the other hand, synthetic ones favor olefin, nylon, and polyester serving as common options for durable carpets. Due to demand, natural fiber woven carpets are more expensive than carpets made from artificial ones. However, substances such as nylon and olefin are defiant to wear and tear, help in maintaining a carpet pile which is crush-resistant.Area Rug Basics – Carpet BackingJust as the name suggests, Carpet Backing is the flipside of a carpet. Though often overlooked, this is an extremely important part of an area rug. This side of the carpet is responsible for its structural stability, as well as providing shape and protection to the carpet it supports.The underside material used can be either one of cotton, carpet rayon, Kraft cord, or jute. For area rugs, the primary backing gives a structural element to the carpet; literally holding the yarns in place and enabling them to maintain structural integrity.Padding, on the other hand, is quite different, whether a carpet pad or a pad used beneath an area rug for additional comfort. (Thanks to our friends at JaipurLiving.com)REMINDER: We mentioned this above but it cannot be overemphasized… It’s human nature that we take certain things for granted. The more knowledge and expertise we gather about a particular subject, we tend to forget that others may not even have a grasp of basic facts that we acquired long ago. Never forget that your clients are most likely novices in the area of interior design and they may need your guidance in the most basic facts.That is why we offer posts like this and will continue to do so. Stay tuned for more rug basics in future posts.Looking for more new design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.