Braided Rugs

Floor Coverings That Last A Lifetime

Back in the time of the Colonial settlers, floor coverings were more necessity than luxury. They primary purpose was to cover the rough-hewn floorboards and block the harsh winter conditions.
The rugs from that period were typically made of old or discarded clothing which was then cut into strips, folded and fashioned into long strands. The strands were then braided together and coiled to form a rug of the desired shape and size.
It wasn't until the early 20th century that a way was found to automate the otherwise labor intensive and time consuming process of making a braided rug. This innovation opened up a whole new market for the humble braided rug as they could now be produced at low cost and sold to the rapidly growing American middle class.

These days braided rugs come in a dizzying array of styles, shapes, materials, colors and construction methods. So where do you start?

Hand or Machine Made
The first thing you need to decide on is if you want a true hand made braided rug, or the more common machine made version. Your options for a hand made rug will be limited as they are produced in much smaller quantities. A good place to start is to check the ebay braided rug auctions. This will give you an idea of what is available and the prices these authentic rugs fetch.

The machine made braided rugs are more widely available and can easily be purchased online as well as in specialty home furnishing stores.

Materials
The next thing to consider is the material used to make the rug. Material choices have expanded over the years to include synthetic as well as the more traditional natural fibers.

Wool
Braided Rugs - Everything You Need To Know About Braided Rugs
Wool was the original material used to make braided rugs and is still widely used today. Wool fibers have a natural built-in elasticity that can stretch up to 40% yet bounce back again to their original shape. This makes wool an excellent choice for heavy traffic areas.

Wool also has a waxy outer layer that covers the fiber's core, keeping water from penetrating easily. Since 80% of all household stains are water-based they will not soak into wool. This allows for easy clean up and maintenance. This characteristic also keeps soil particles on the surface, allowing for much better results when vacuuming and cleaning.

If you live in a dry climate, wool will be much better at reducing static build up due to its natural tendency to retain up to 30% of it's weight in moisture. Wool is also good at resisting mildew, mold, and fungal attack in almost every environment because of its low PH level.

One last thing to consider. Wool fibers can withstand high temperatures, and therefore do not readily catch fire. Wool tends to smolder slowly instead of bursting into flames.

Cotton
Cotton is probably the second most popular material for braided rug construction. Once processed and spun, cotton fibers are soft and lightweight. They also suck up moisture and dry quickly. Cotton is soft to the touch and can be woven tightly due to its lack of elasticity compared to wool. Unlike synthetic fibers cotton does not melt and has little crimp.

Chenille
Chenille is not a fiber but rather the unique process in which it is made. Chenille yarn is manufactured by placing short lengths of yarn, called the "pile", between two "core yarns" and then twisting the yarn together. The edges of these piles then stand at right angles from the yarn's central core, giving chenille both its softness and its characteristic look.

Chenille will look different in one direction compared to another, as the fibres catch the light differently. The yarn is commonly manufactured from cotton, but can also be made using acrylic, rayon and olefin.

Chenille braided rugs are typically made from a cotton and synthetic blend.


Conclusion
Recent home decorating trends have sparked a renewed interest in area rugs in general and braided rugs in particular. Braided rugs add warmth and character to a room and are well suited to traditional and even contemporary decors.

The most popular shape is oval, but you can also find rectangular, square, round and even heart shaped braided rugs. Size ranges are also extensive. Anything from a door mat to the focal point of a large living room. The possibilities are endless.