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 A good number of homeowners have expressed concern over the constant sparks and embers flying off the fireplace while they sit to enjoy the warmth in the area. This ultimately gave rise to the idea of fireplace rugs.

"Are there rugs specifically made for a fireplace?" You may ask.  In this guide, we would discuss all you need to know about these types of rugs which are often labeled Hearth rugs, as well as how to identify and buy the best one for your home.

Has polypropylene popped up everywhere you check for area rugs in recent times? Or you’ve learned that many homeowners now prefer it to other rug materials? Perhaps, you must have wondered why it is said to provide the best value for money in your search for quality area rugs.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to understand about this rug material and how to keep them looking as good as new always. Let’s take a quick glance at the different types of rug materials.

Irrespective of your budget size, you can make your home look as stunning as possible if you can harmonize the furniture, walls, floor, area rugs, and artworks.

So whether you've seen it somewhere or have had thoughts like "how do I match the rugs and art in my home to enhance the décor?" Here's a guide on all you need to know about matching your area rugs and wall arts to achieve a complementary and stylish look for your space.

In the depths of winter, it’s hard to imagine 80 degree days with 100 percent humidity. But have faith, they're coming. And if daydreaming about your summer-ready living room sounds a lot more fun than shoveling another round of snow, be our guests. We’re right there with you.

The great news is, even in this chilly time of year, there are plenty of things you can do or buy to prepare for your future dream summer living room. And this guide will give you some tips on just exactly what you can do to get your living room summer-ready.

Brighten Things Up

Summer is a season of sunshine, and if you want your interior to echo the exterior, it’s time to pick some colors to brighten things up. Swap out brown and red throw pillows of winter for cheerful yellows and blues. Give your windows a facelift and invite in even more warm rays, but having them cleaned and redressed in uplifting patterns and colors. 

Think of colors that remind you of summer: aqua, marigold, vermillion, periwinkle, navy, and sunset red. Create a mood board to see how you feel about each before you commit to painting your space or swapping out accessories for your new hues. 

Add a Plant

Fact: Indoor plants lift one’s mood. So says a 2016 study published in the Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture Research. And is it any wonder? They brighten a room, freshen the air, and add a quality of life to a space that you can only otherwise get by heading outside.

So when thinking about a living room reno, adding a few living plants should be top of mind, especially during the summer, when they're widely available and more likely to thrive. 

Declutter

If you’re beginning to feel like you live in a storage unit, the time has come to declutter. To give your space an airy, summer feel, space is necessary, and that can’t happen if your living room has become consumed by objects.

Think of decluttering as editing. You’re leaving the best parts and deleting the things that may not make sense anymore or don’t add to the overall theme. This could be anything from a piece of art you’re no longer in love with to a wonky rocky chair that’s missing a spindle.

Play with Patterns

Summer with its promise of vacation and barbecues and parties allows a certain amount of whimsy. That sense of playfulness can easily extend to interior design. So go ahead and have fun with patterns. Throw some chevron in your space, for instance, this Luxe Weavers Chevron Collection 3400 Turquoise Geometric Area Rug in bright blue. 

Or simply add a little polish by getting sophisticated with something like this Luxe Weavers Manhattan Patterned Shag Gray Modern Area Rug.

Bring the vacation to you.

Can’t travel? Or just want the R&R vibes to extend long after you return home? Then make your home the travel destination of your dreams. This can be easily done by picking a favorite location and using it as your guiding décor concept.

Miss the beach? Add some palm trees to your porch and add a palm leaf print to your pillows. 

Craving the cool mountain air? Give your space a summer cabin vibe with soft wood tones that reflect that alpine mountain feel. 

Can’t stop thinking about Paris’ summer park strolls? Use hints of green in your living room to make you think back on those dreamy days.

Swap out Rugs

Often overlooked, area rugs take up major space in a room and might be impacting your mood without you even realizing it. So swap out the old for some new come summer. 

Use the guiding principles about picking the right area rug that screams summer. Perhaps it’s a sunny Abstract Modern Floral Area Rug or a pop of pattern Gray & Blue Trellis Modern Area Rug. Whatever the case, it will give your space the lift it needs.

And don’t forget to consider textures. Winter might call for a hefty shag that feels like a hug, but come summer; a shorter pile might feel better under the oppressive afternoon sun. Also, consider the size. If you want your living room to feel more connected, go large so that every piece of the furniture touches your summer area rug. Or, if you break up your big living room into multiple living spaces, consider other smaller area rugs.

Ready to start rug shopping? Head to the most affordable and fashionable rug vendor online: Luxe Weavers. With Oriental, Patterned, and Modern options, Luxe Weavers can find the right summer living room style for you and at a price that won’t affect the rest of your living room punch list. 

You might just want to get a few area rugs — one for winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Who here is reading this piece on their laptop from home during work hours? No judgment. This is just a simple illustration that points out the fact that the #workfromhomelife is likely going nowhere fast. 

Even as COVID-19 vaccines continue to expand across the nation, the likelihood of a return to normal might not be for months, possibly years. So while we all get more comfortable operating in a virtual environment, you might want to consider upping your “Zoom background game” in 2021.

As we all quickly realized last March, Zoom (and its ilk) is an amazing video conferencing tool that allows users to virtually meet no matter where they’re located. But what accompanies it is a window into your home that you might not want your co-workers to see. Some have bought better lighting to appear less like a sickly ghost on Zoom, while others have opted for taller desks to avoid the dreaded nostril shot. But even with those changes, the fact remains that merely changing your own appearance won’t dress up the look of your house.

So what are you to do? We’re glad you asked. In this guide, we’ll look at home office background ideas to always be “Zoom ready.” 

Opt for a Virtual Background

Zoom seems to understand the predicament many, many people are in. That’s why the company offers virtual backgrounds. Fake scenarios from exotic locals to sports teams, you can find seemingly any scene in their huge collection. On one hand, adding a Zoom background shows your colleagues your playful personality, but consider that in some instances, it might not set the right tone. Oh sure, it will hide the dirty laundry you have sitting behind you, but does it really scream “I’m a professional?”

If not, try...

Perk It Up With Paint

You would be amazed by how much a coat of paint can change a room. If your office looks washed out or gloomy, try a coat of blue. Want to really perk things up? Consider a shade of yellow. Positive colors can change your whole perspective and in turn how your office mates think of you. Plus, the cost of a gallon of paint isn’t cost-prohibitive so if you end up not liking your first option, you won’t break the bank choosing another hue.

Find a Bookshelf

A bare wall does not an exciting background make. So instead, pick up your computer and move to a space in your house that has some books or built-in shelves with pictures and art. This shift will add intrigue to any meeting and could be a helpful ice breaker for discussions with new clients or coworkers. 

Hang Some Paintings

Dress up your space. There’s a reason why people bemoan cubicles, it’s because their utilitarian look feels so sad. That’s why so many people decorate their cubes and you can apply this same mindset to your home office. 

Maybe it’s time to move some pieces of art you have hanging in other rooms or you can invest in some new pieces. Local galleries are always happy to meet new potential customers or, if that is out of your price range, shop online. Museums have tons of great prints by some of the best artists in the world that you can afford. Add a sharp-looking frame and you have a great new work of art to add to your space. 

Decrease the Clutter

Sometimes adding decorative items isn't the issue. It’s more about editing. Take a hard look around your workspace then ask yourself, does this look nice or just messy. If your answer leans at all to the latter, it’s time to tidy up. That could be as simple as removing stacks of papers from a corner or putting a printer on an actual table. Or it could be more about reorganizing your furnishings. 

Avoid Backlight

Don’t want to look like a ghost on Zoom anymore? Time to fix your lighting. Backlighting — that is light that shines behind you — can cast shadows on the screen and make you look pale and washed out. Not a good look. 

Invest in some quality lighting like a great central light fixture or new lamp that makes you glow not grimace. 

Add a New Rug

Don’t think for a second that your coworkers aren’t checking out every detail of your space (you’re doing the same, right?). That includes your rug, and if you’re sitting on a dingy old area rug, it has got to go. Invest in a fresh look by checking out Luxe Weavers. With hundreds of designs in every conceivable color, this is where to find a great new textile.

The ultimate destination for affordable modern, Oriental, and patterned rugs, you can find something perfect for your work from home space that will look great on Zoom. To see all the options, visit luxeweavers.com. 

Commercial hospitality rugs can help to showcase the personality and style of your hotel, restaurant, club, or bar by livening and lighting it up with their intricate patterns, beautiful color combination, and soft cushioning.

Here is a list of different types of rugs used in hotels and a comprehensive guide that will not only help you select the best hospitality rugs, but also teach you how to install and maintain them.

It’s easy to think rugs are rugs. They’re just knotted and woven thread, right? Wrong. The long-standing artform of rug weaving has a storied past that includes many evolutions across multiple countries, dynasties, and peoples. And it’s this grand tradition that makes the difference between traditional and modern Oriental rugs today.

While both can be just as beautiful as the other, how they’re built and how they stand the test of time is different. 

So let's look at those differences and answer the age-old question: Which is best? A traditional or modern Oriental area rug.

Construction

First, one must understand that constructing an oriental rug has evolved considerably since they were first made in the 5th Century BC. According to Rug Knots, the earliest rugs were the work of creating a design, then weaving it on a 1:1 scale—this labor-intensive process considering all of the hand knotting. The intricate details, not to mention the additional labor spent making the yarn, dying it, drying it, and preparing it to craft the rugs, made these priceless items. 

Today, Oriental rugs can be made by machine, a process that has sliced the production time way down. Power looms do the heavy lifting, which minimizes the time it takes to complete an area rug (as little as a few hours) and has made Oriental rugs much more affordable. 

Some machines are so well designed that they can produce Oriental rugs indistinguishable from old-world antique area rugs. 

Materials

Not only has how modern Oriental rugs are made changed, so have the materials. Today synthetic fibers have been found to not only make Oriental rugs more durable but more likely to survive years of foot traffic. 

That’s not always the case for traditional oriental rugs. Sure, many stores sell antique versions, but these older pieces must be handled with care and aren’t always the best option for busy households, especially those home to pets and children. 

Where wool and silk were the fibers most often found in ancient rugs, today’s modern Oriental rugs use synthetic blends such as Polypropylene, nylon, and acrylic. 

Pattern

While handmade rugs are known for their unique patterns, modern rugs are more uniform, with each having its specific differences. Because a power loom produces multiple designs a day, each looks the same and has to meet a standard of quality to make it to the showroom. Modern Oriental rug patterns are often based on traditional designs, meaning you get the same effect as an antiquarian area rug without the working hours and price tag. 

A traditional Oriental rug, on the other hand, may have some quirks, a design error or difference here or there. For some shoppers, that’s the appeal — it’s an original piece of art. But for others, who expect precision from their decor items, a modern rug may be preferred. 

But just because a modern rug is mass produced doesn’t mean it can’t be made to look old. At Luxe Weavers, they have many distressed rugs that give the same used charm that so many buyers are looking for, say, for example, like this Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Blue Oriental Area Rug.

Care

This brings us to the topic of care. Modern Oriental rugs typically can be kept clean with frequent vacuuming, an annual deep clean, or the occasional professional cleaning. It’s going to take more work to keep a traditional Oriental rug looking its best.

Like a rare wood, an antique requires oiling and dusting with particular products; an antique Oriental rug needs to be handled with kid gloves. That means calling on the professionals to ensure it’s properly cleaned should a stain occur. 

Price

If you’re on a budget, the traditional Oriental option may be cost-prohibitive. The rug itself is an investment, and then there’s the cleaning to consider and its additional costs. 

However, a modern Oriental rug, especially from a vendor like Luxe Weavers, which specializes in selling sophisticated yet affordable area rug solutions, offers all the quality of traditional Oriental rugs without the cost. 

Their inventory features dozens of gorgeous exotic Oriental patterns with Old World appeal, all priced fairly so that everyone can afford their luxurious look. 

For instance, Luxe Weavers Taba Collection 7085 Grey Oriental Area Rug in 5x7 is just $120. Or it’s Howell Collection Red Abstract Area Rug is a mere $150. 

This just shows that buying an affordable area rug does not have to mean sacrificing sophisticated style.

Not when you have so many options at Luxe Weavers. The website is full of every possible color, pattern, and size of modern Oriental area rug, not to mention a host of other design options should you care to mix and match. There are abstract, modern, distressed, and patterned options as well, so you can find just the right motif for your home. 

Forget spring cleaning. Winter is the real time when the decor itch hits. Sitting inside on cold and blustery days can lead a person to suddenly reexamine their interior design and think, “Hmm, needs a facelift.” 

Now, there are many ways one could go about perking up an interior space over the winter — new curtains, a handful of throw pillows, a fresh slipcover, or perhaps a new dining room or coffee table. Those are great, but you might not realize how simple it is to give a room a fresh glow with the addition of a discount area rug. 

That’s right, an affordable area rug can spare your pocketbook a big pinch while giving your home a whole new look. But what to pick and how to be sure you’re not compromising quality?

That’s where Luxe Weavers comes in. The leader in sophisticated, well-crafted area rugs, Luxe Weavers doesn’t skimp on style while delivering incredibly affordable rugs. From abstract to Oriental, patterned to distressed, their timeless options were designed to endure busy households full of heavy foot traffic and still maintain their classic appeal.

Want a look at a few of the options? Here’s a taste.

Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Blue Oriental Area Rug

If you want the classic worn in Oriental rug look but can’t fathom the pricetag, pro tip: look to Luxe Weavers. You can get the same aesthetic for a fraction of the cost—the Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Blue Oriental Area Rug. Misty blues and creams make up the foundation of this stunning rug that brings a relaxed look to any space.

Luxe Weavers Lagos Collection 5579 Multi 5x7 Abstract Area Rug

If your rug is a hand-me-down from Great Aunt mod or the same textile you’ve been lugging from apartment to apartment since college, it’s safe to say it might be time to trade up. Sure, you could have it cleaned, but if the rug doesn’t, you know, spark joy, why keep staring at it when you can get something dramatically different for a steal? Something, say, like this Luxe Weavers Lagos Collection 5579 Multi 5x7 Abstract Area Rug. With a bold new approach, this rug is guaranteed to shake up your space. 

Manhattan Patterned Shag Gray Modern Area Rug

Don’t let the idea of ‘70s shag fool you; the look has never gone out of style. It was just deployed incorrectly for too long. Those pea-green looks of old gave shag a bad rap, but when used in a sophisticated pattern, such as this grey modern shag rug, suddenly you can take a room from tired to turned up!

Luxe Weavers Trellis Collection 6215 Tribeige-Cream Geometric Area Rug

There is nothing wrong with appreciating conservative style. With its ageless beauty, embracing more conservative design choices makes sense. If you want to continue that concept in your home by replacing an older rug, look to Luxe Weavers. Their affordable options include many classic styles like this Trellis option. 

Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Grey Abstract Area Rug

Winter and its accompanying climate can cause seasonal depression. If you’re feeling down, adding color to your life might help perk you up. So have some fun with different hues. Go wild. You can afford to when rugs cost as little as Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Grey Abstract Area Rug. 

Luxe Weavers Magnolia Collection 7613 Silver Geometric Area Rug

Give patterns a chance. Patterns can make a room feel larger, more cohesive, and even more relaxing when selected right. So embrace patterns like Luxe Weavers Magnolia Collection 7613 Silver Geometric Area Rug. A great way to baby step into patterned looks, this rug uses muted tones and zig-zags to dress up a room. 

Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Ivory Oriental Area Rug

If your dining room feels a little too casual, or your open concept makes it feel like it’s bleeding into the kitchen and living room, formalize your space with a beautiful Oriental rug. By using it as a demarcation line, you can carve out an area that used to feel overlooked, and the Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Ivory Oriental Area Rug is a great way to do it. 

Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Grey Oriental Area Rug

Craving some comfort in a wintery world? Carve out a space like a reading nook by adding a carpet. Any design will work (so long as it doesn’t clash with the rest of your room) but choose something that makes you feel cozy and at home, something like Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Grey Oriental Area Rug.

Luxe Weavers Diana Collection 7979 Silver Geometric Area Rug

Modern homes need rug refreshers too. But when Oriental or traditional don’t feel right, lean into contemporary style with a rug that Luxe Weavers Diana Collection 7979 Silver Geometric Area Rug designed as progressively as your home. 

Luxe Weavers Chevron Collection 3400 Mango Geometric Area Rug

Let the sunshine in. If the winter has you down and you want a quick fix of sun, embrace a sunny rug that makes it feel warmer in your space. Luxe Weavers Chevron Collection 3400 Mango Geometric Area Rug is like a bowl of lemons in your living room. It’ll freshen everything up so you can power on until spring.