Shag Rugs Make A Comeback
Shag area rugs have been going in and out of fashion for decades, and these days they’re back in the trend. From small, rustic country homes to spacious modern pads, homeowners are rediscovering the classic appeal of these thick, luscious floor pieces. Soft and comfortable but with a contemporary edge, shag rugs are a great way to give your home that much-needed visual upgrade.
What makes shag rugs different?
Traditionally, rugs are made by making loops from your fabric and then shearing off the tops. Shag rugs leave the loops unsheared, so the resulting material is thicker and fluffier. The style is believed to originate from ancient Greece, making it at least as old as the more popular Persian rug. Shag rugs found their way to America in the late 1960s and have been one of the most popular styles of rugs ever since.
Modern shag rugs
Today’s shag rugs are made of just about any material, from soft and natural to cheap and synthetic. Just like most area rugs, the right type of shag rug depends on your budget, your needs, and your personal style. Here are some of the most common materials.
Wool the material of choice for most modern shag rugs, wool dyes easily and perfectly brings out colors and patterns. It’s also very comfortable and surprisingly sturdy, making it ideal for heavily used rooms.
Cotton if you or your kids are prone to allergies, organic cotton may be the safest choice. Cotton is just as comfortable as wool, although not as tough against everyday wear. Use it for bedrooms and children’s playrooms.
Silk silk has a very vintage look and a rich, elegant feel. Silk rugs are among the most comfortable options out there, but also one of the least durable.
Synthetic manmade fibers such as nylon, rayon, and polypropylene can also be used to make shag rugs. Although much cheaper, they are far lower in quality compared to natural rug materials. These are best used for outdoor areas and utilitarian spaces, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Flokati Rugs
Flokati area rugs are widely considered the “original” shag rugs. They date back to 5th-century Greece, where they were woven from goat’s fur to keep people warm in the long, harsh winters. Today, real flokati rugs are made from wool, a softer and more comfortable material. But the painstaking process of weaving them by hand remains the same: they are sewn with pure wool, “combed” in running water for up to 40 hours, and hung up to dry in the sun. But don’t let this modest work fool you — authentic shag rugs are one of the most valuable rug styles in the market, right up there with Persian and oriental rugs.
Decorating with shag rugs
Shag rugs have a personality all their own, so they’re pretty easy to decorate with. Just throw one on your living room floor and it’ll add instant life and texture to your room. Having said that, they do work better with some styles than with others. Here are some things to consider when choosing shag rugs for your home.
Color modern design favors bold colors, so don’t be afraid to get that bright orange shag rug for your living room floor. Bright colors add to the quirky, casual look of shag rugs.
Material your choice of material should depend on the amount of traffic in the room, as well as the level of maintenance you can handle. Synthetic rugs require the least work on your part, but they’re not very comfortable either.
Size match the size of your rug to that of your room. Small rugs will look lost in a large space, while large ones can easily overpower a small room. Make sure there’s enough floor space to highlight the color of the rug.
Shape square and rectangle are the basic shapes for most shag rugs. However, less common shapes add to their whimsical look and make your room more interesting. Look into round, octagonal, or even irregularly shaped shag rugs.
Pattern most shag rugs you’ll see are solid-colored, as the long pile makes it hard to print different colors. Most patterned shags, such as the Dynamic Funky Shag Rug, have shorter pile and an interesting pattern to set off the hues.
Maintenance
Because of their longer pile, shag rugs require more maintenance than regular area rugs. Most of them can be vacuumed, but upright models should be avoided. These cleaners tend to pull on the pile and may pull them out if you set it too high. If you don’t have time to vacuum regularly, get a wool shag rug — it’s more expensive, but it’s naturally dust-repellent and won’t require as much work.
Shag rugs can usually be washed in warm water; do this as regularly as possible to maintain the softness of the pile. The more foot traffic it gets, the more frequent your washings should be. One exception to this is leather shag rugs, which tend to shrink when they’re washed and dried. In this case, your only option is to have them dry-cleaned once in a while.
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