The floor in high-traffic areas of your home is subject to more daily wear and tear than anywhere else in your home. This can mean needing to replace the flooring sooner than expected. However, with the right rug, you can protect your floor and decorate the space all at once.
It’s all about choosing the right rug for the job though. Some designer and modern rugs may look great but can’t handle the high traffic of areas like living rooms and entryways. Therefore, we’ve put together this list for you to understand the factors you need to consider when purchasing a rug for a high traffic area.
- Material durability
You can get rugs made from a whole host of materials. Some are more durable than others and some can be extremely delicate. Obviously, for a high-traffic area, you want to choose a durable rug to ensure you get your money’s worth as well as protect your flooring.
Highly durable rug materials include wool, bamboo, polypropylene, sisal, nylon and cotton. You want to avoid materials like silk, viscose, seagrass. These materials do not wear well and may become damaged quickly in a high-traffic area.
When considering which durable material you’d like your rug to be made from, there are some additional factors to consider. For instance, wool is a highly durable material, is hypoallergenic, low maintenance, sustainable and easy to spot clean. But it is also quite expensive. You may need to compromise on some factors to find a rug that suits your budget. Just don’t compromise on durability or your rug won’t last for long.
- Colours and patterns
You might not realise that the colour and pattern of your rug can also make it more or less suitable for use in a high-traffic area. For example, dark-coloured rugs are better at hiding dirt and stains. Similarly, rugs with intricate patterns make it harder to see stains and signs of wear and tear.
Therefore, aim to choose a dark-coloured rug with an intricate design and you won’t have to worry about daily dirt and stains showing. Of course, you should still clean your rug regularly to keep in good condition and to stop the build-up of dirt and bacteria.
Additionally, make sure that the rug you choose will not fade in sunlight or because of excessive traffic. Otherwise, it may not hide stains and marks as well.
- Maintenance and cleaning
A high-traffic area means lots of dust and dirt. However, it’s unlikely you’ll have the time or inclination to spend a good chunk of your day cleaning the rug every day. Therefore, you want a rug that can cope with minimal maintenance and cleaning.
Low-maintenance rug materials include wool, polyester and cotton. These materials are easy to clean and can be naturally stain resistant.
It’s also a good idea to consider a rug that is machine washable. This can make cleaning super easy — all you have to do is throw it in the machine. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Pile
When choosing a rug for a high-traffic area, you want a rug with a low pile. A low-pile rug has fibres that are pulled low and tight. This helps reduce signs of visible wear and tear, meaning your rug will last for longer. This is because there is less chance of the rug fibres getting caught on anything and torn, like pet claws or shoe buckles.
Additionally, low-pile rugs are easier to clean. As the dust settles at the bottom of the fibres, it’s easier for your vacuum to more effectively clean a low-pile rug than a mid- or high-pile rug as it can reach the root of the fibres. This will save you time cleaning your rug.
The only drawback of low-pile rugs is that they aren’t as soft as other options. However, you can fix this by adding a pad underneath the rug. The rug will then be soft underfoot. This will also help to prevent your rug from slipping when someone walks on it.
Final thoughts
After reading this you will definitely get the idea about how to choose a rug for high traffic areas. Use the knowledge you’ve gained from reading this blog to find the best rugs for the high-traffic areas in your home. Remember to choose a durable, low-maintenance material in a colour and design dirt and stains between cleans.
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