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