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A house or office may be sparely furnished, but accessories properly used and coordinated with the décor can make it an attractive eye pleaser. One such accessory that can be used to achieve an impressive effect with advantage is the area rug.

The art of using rugs to enhance the décor is ancient. It has existed for thousands of years. Long ago weavers incorporated religious or tribal symbolism into rug designs. Rug styles and designs have been named after cities like Kashan and tribes like the Bakhtiari because of the strong influence of these places and people in the manufacture of quality rugs.

Persian rugs became famous among royal courts thanks to European traders who bartered to acquire the rugs for Europe's rich and powerful families. From that time, the Europeans learned rug-making techniques from the Persians and created their own designs and motifs. The evolution of rugs is a tale of cross-cultural influences.

Modern day rug makers have high-technology equipment to make rugs, but ancient rug weaves used their hands and simple tools to create hand-woven rugs with great artistry. The invention of chemical dyes enhanced the rug-making industry and allowed rug makers to experiment with many different colors.

When buying an area rug, always first consider its purpose and where you will be placing it. Also think about whether you want an antique rug with traditional designs or a modern-style rug. Modern rugs come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and designs. Aside from consideration of the design, choosing a rug should also be based on where you intend to put the rug. If you need a rug for the bedroom, an antique rug would be fine. However, an antique rug may be frail and easily damaged in an area with maximum exposure. Antique rugs definitely cost more than modern rugs. If you buy an antique rug, you should be sure to research its authenticity as well as its proper price.

Rugs that you want to place in areas with high people traffic should be in colors that are dirt resistant. You should also consider the material, since a soft and fragile rug may not be able to withstand heavy foot traffic.

Although modern rugs are machine made, they may also be hand knotted or hooked, or they may be the product of needlepoint. Machine-made rugs are available in every type of design and every level of quality.

While the type, design, and color of the rug are major considerations, the price of the rug is also a primary concern. A more expensive rug made of quality, durable materials would be more cost effective than a cheap rug that can be damaged easily and won’t last as long.