What Kind of Rugs are Good for High Traffic Areas?

Most well-made wool rugs are quite durable, so you have many options. But there are some types of rugs that are not well suited to high-traffic areas. Graham Head, vice chairman of ABC Carpet & Home, recommends steering clear of sisal and other natural materials like sea grass. “Those are not hard-wearing materials,” he said. “They will absorb any water spills and deteriorate.”You should also avoid silk, which is not durable, and shaggy carpets, which “will lay flat and wear out because you’re walking on the side of the pile and not the top,” Mr. Head said.

Most wool rugs will hold up well for a relatively long time, but there is a simple step you can take to extend their lifespan. “The critical thing is to put a pad underneath,” Mr. Head said. Most rugs do not wear out from the top, but from the bottom, where the knots rub against the floor. A pad “works as a shock absorber,” he said, keeping the knots away from hard surfaces and holding the rug in place.

Color and pattern are also important considerations. There is no point in buying a long-lasting rug if it is going to be stained by foot traffic. That means no whites or creams and no dark solid colors (think of how quickly a car with black paint appears to get dirty). Your best bet is to go with a hue somewhere in between. Search out either a solid that has specks of color in it or something with a pattern that will camouflage pet hair, spills and dirt.

                                                                                    Courtesy of : Tom McKEOUGH   NY Times 2014