| Prior to World War II many American | | | | fabrics that emit fewer volatile organic |
| homes featured wood and other types of | | | | compounds or VOCs and have a higher |
| hard surface flooring and area rugs | | | | content of recycled fabric materials. |
| where used as room accents. During the | | | | Carpeting needs to be replaced |
| home building boom that followed the end | | | | periodically and old carpeting often |
| of the war, the use of wall to wall | | | | ends up in the landfill, not to mention |
| carpeting became very wide spread. Until | | | | the cost of replacement. |
| recently, over seventy percent of | | | | With the movement toward hard surface |
| American homes had wall to wall | | | | flooring has come a greater demand for |
| carpeting. Area rugs are seeing a | | | | various styles of area rugs. A |
| renewed popularity and this includes | | | | traditional favorite in area rug styles |
| braided area rugs. | | | | is the classic braided rug. Braided rugs |
| Given the cost of replacement, the need | | | | have had a place in a variety of home |
| to clean it routinely and possible | | | | decorating plans, from shabby chic, to |
| adverse effects on indoor air quality, | | | | Early American and country cottage |
| many homeowners have made a switch back | | | | looks. |
| to hard surface flooring. Hard surface | | | | One of the more unique and beautiful |
| flooring like wood and composite | | | | characteristics of braided rugs is |
| materials are much easier to keep clean | | | | color. Makers of early braided rugs |
| and sanitary. This is especially | | | | might have used whatever fabric or yarn |
| important for homeowners who have | | | | was at hand. The result was a blend or |
| problems with allergies and other | | | | variegation of many colors, often |
| respiratory conditions. | | | | resulting in random patterns. The |
| While carpeting can add warmth and | | | | variegation in color made every rug |
| comfort to a living space, maintaining | | | | unique much like patchwork quilts which |
| the appearance and cleanliness of wall | | | | did not rely on any particular pattern. |
| to wall carpet can be difficult over | | | | Variegated rug patterns are perennial |
| time. Uneven wear patterns, the | | | | favorites among those folks prefer a |
| accumulation of dirt and breakdown of | | | | very traditional look. |
| padding materials can make your | | | | Quality braided rugs are easy to care |
| carpeting look very old well before its | | | | for and just last a very long time with |
| time. Ground in dirt and critters like | | | | proper cleaning. Unlike woven area rugs, |
| dust mites can be nearly impossible to | | | | braided rugs can be turned over. Since |
| remove from deep in the carpet. | | | | you are able to reverse the rug, the |
| Some studies suggest that carpet has a | | | | wear will be more even and this will |
| wear life of anywhere from three to five | | | | further extend the life of the rug. |
| years. So given the amount of carpet in | | | | Depending on the type of weave and |
| service and the need to clean it, | | | | materials used to make your braided rug, |
| perhaps twice a year that translates | | | | the rug can help to reduce the wear and |
| into a substantial amount of labor and, | | | | tear on wood and other types of hard |
| perhaps more importantly millions of | | | | surface flooring. Braided area rugs can |
| gallons of chemicals and water. This can | | | | be made from renewable fiber materials |
| have a enormous impact on the | | | | like bamboo, jute and hemp. These fast |
| environment. | | | | growing renewable fiber sources are |
| Concerned about the potential for | | | | environmentally friendly and can be |
| increased indoor air pollution, many | | | | grown without the use of chemical |
| folks are taking a green approach to | | | | fertilizers, herbicides and |
| their living spaces, choosing carpet | | | | insecticides. |