Area rugs are great decorating pieces. With so many varieties, it is helpful to know some information on what kind of area rug suits you best.

Rugs are classified from the materials used. If you are not sure which to use for your home, you can get overwhelmed by all the tempting choices you'll see in the market. Let's find out more about area rugs, so you can better make up your mind.

Would you rather have a handmade Oriental rug or an ordinary one made with the help of a machine? Oriental rugs, which generally come from Iran, India, China, Afghanistan, turkey and Pakistan can be stunningly beautiful. An Oriental rug is usually hand knotted and the loving labor that goes into it ensures that the rug is extremely durable. In fact, a handmade rug is likely to last half a century longer than its machine made counterparts. In machine made rugs, there is no knotting involved in the manufacturing process. Instead, the fibers of the rug are laid by a machine and latex support is used to hold them together. So the underside of the rug is rough.

If you compare the prices, handmade rugs do cost a great deal more than machine-made ones. The work alone has higher value for rugs produced by manual labor. The good news is that even if handmade ones are more expensive, they last longer so you get your money's worth for the long run. Your rug will not suffer from high-traffic areas and the fierceness of time when wear and tear can be inevitable. Furthermore, a handmade rug, say an Oriental design, has a higher resale value compared to machine-made. You can liken this to the philosophy of wine. The older it gets the more tasteful and expensive it becomes. Same is true for handmade area rugs.

Second, wool or synthetic materials - where rugs were made of these two major materials. Wool is the most familiar and reigns supreme over synthetic or artificial fabrics. What makes wool better is its heavy-duty quality that results to hardwearing, sturdy area rugs.

Third, pattern and style - there are printed, modern, tribal and traditional rugs with differing looks but all shine on their own. Each of these styles and patterns has a flavor of its own that can meet the diverse preference of consumers, especially the collectors and rug fanatics. Let's tackle each of these styles:

Traditional rugs are the mother of all rugs. This design is the most basic in terms of color and style. A rug of this kind is more formal and old school in design yet very elegant. Next are modern rugs. Contrary to the conventional type, these rugs are trendy and hip. The colors are new and the designs attractive. They make great decors for office use. Cotton printed rugs are appealing as well with different colors and more intricate designs. Lastly, tribal rugs are real eye-catchers. These rugs come in bright, attractive colors and are usually made from natural dyes. They are a remembrance of the flower power image of the 70's. Cool, hip and fun!

These are just a few of the kinds of rugs available - there are dozens more in all kinds of designs and styles. So if you are thinking of getting a rug, be prepared to look at loads of rugs before you can make a decision!

Don't let the current economic condition bring you down bright your home the economical way and use area rugs wool.