A throw rug, also known as an area rug (when referring to a smaller size) or an accent rug, is a textile floor covering that is smaller than a full-sized rug and not intended to cover an entire room. Throw rugs are designed to add decorative flair, define specific areas within a larger room, or provide comfort and warmth underfoot in specific locations.

Key Characteristics:

• Smaller Size: Throw rugs are significantly smaller than full-size rugs, typically ranging from 1.5 feet by 2.5 feet (0.5 meters by 0.75 meters) to 5 feet by 8 feet (1.5 meters by 2.4 meters).
• Versatility: Throw rugs offer a decorative element and can be used in various ways throughout a home. They can add a pop of color or pattern, define a specific space like a reading nook, or provide comfort underfoot in areas with hard flooring.
• Material Variety: Throw rugs come in a wide range of materials, including wool, cotton, nylon, synthetic fibers, and natural fibers like jute or sisal. The material choice influences factors like texture, durability, stain resistance, and cleaning requirements.
• Design Options: Throw rugs boast a vast selection of colors, patterns, textures, and pile heights (thickness) to suit various décor styles and preferences.

Applications of Throw Rugs:

• Living Rooms: Throw rugs can be placed in front of sofas, armchairs, or coffee tables to add color, define a seating area, or offer warmth underfoot.
• Bedrooms: Smaller throw rugs are often used beside the bed for a soft landing spot in the morning or to add a touch of color or pattern.
• Entryways: A throw rug at the entryway can add visual interest, trap dirt and moisture, and protect the flooring from heavy foot traffic.
• Kitchens: Small throw rugs can be placed in areas where people stand for long periods, like in front of the sink or stove, to provide comfort and prevent fatigue.
• Bathrooms: Plush throw rugs can add a touch of luxury and warmth, especially near the bathtub or shower.

Choosing a Throw Rug:

• Size: Consider the intended purpose and available space. A throw rug should be large enough to define the space without overwhelming the room.
• Material: Select a material that suits your needs and preferences. Consider factors like durability, stain resistance, comfort underfoot, and ease of cleaning.
• Style: Choose a throw rug that complements your existing décor and desired aesthetic. Consider the overall color scheme, patterns, and textures in the room.
• Pile Height: Low pile throws are easier to clean and vacuum, while high pile throws offer more comfort and a luxurious feel.

Throw rugs are a versatile and decorative element that can enhance the style and functionality of any room. By considering size, material, style, and pile height, you can choose a throw rug that perfectly complements your space.

Carpet (Wikipedia)

For other uses, see Carpet (disambiguation).

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Carpet" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

A carpet is a textile floor covering typically consisting of an upper layer of pile attached to a backing. The pile was traditionally made from wool, but since the 20th century synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, nylon, or polyester have often been used, as these fibers are less expensive than wool. The pile usually consists of twisted tufts that are typically heat-treated to maintain their structure. The term carpet is often used in a similar context to the term rug, but rugs are typically considered to be smaller than a room and not attached to the floor.

Carpets are used for a variety of purposes, which includes insulating a person's feet from a cold tile or concrete floor, making a room more comfortable as a place to sit on the floor (e.g., when playing with children or as a prayer rug), reducing sound from walking (particularly in apartment buildings), and adding decoration or color to a room. Carpets can be made in any color by using differently dyed fibers. Carpets can have many different types of patterns and motifs used to decorate the surface. Carpets are used in industrial and commercial establishments such as retail stores and hotels and in private homes. Today, a huge range of carpets and rugs are available at many price and quality levels, ranging from inexpensive, synthetic carpets that are mass-produced in factories and used in commercial buildings to costly hand-knotted wool rugs that are used in private residences.

Carpets can be produced on a loom quite similarly to woven fabric, made using needle felts, knotted by hand (in oriental rugs), made with their pile injected into a backing material (called tufting), flatwoven, made by hooking wool or cotton through the meshes of a sturdy fabric, or embroidered. Carpet is commonly made in widths of 12 and 15 feet (3.7 and 4.6 m) in the US and 4 and 5 m (13 and 16 ft) in Europe. Since the 19th and 20th century, where necessary for wall-to-wall carpet, different widths of carpet can be seamed together with a seaming iron and seam tape (formerly it was sewn together) and fixed to a floor over a cushioned underlay (pad) using nails, tack strips (known in the UK as gripper rods), adhesives, or occasionally decorative metal stair rods. Wall-to-wall carpet is distinguished from rugs or mats, which are loose-laid floor coverings, as wall-to-wall carpet is fixed to the floor and covers a much larger area.