Choosing a floor covering option is a vital part of any homeowner’s decorating plan. Although hardwood and laminate types of floor are popular among homeowners, plenty of people still prefer a soft, plush home carpet–particularly if they have kids or pets. And even the most beautiful hardwood floor would look sterile and bare without a few well-chosen area rugs to dress it up.

Types of Floor Coverings: Home Carpet

Wall-to-wall home carpet is a popular type of floor for many reasons:

• Carpet is a durable and relatively inexpensive type of floor.
• Carpets are soft and absorb footsteps and other sounds.
• Home carpet is available in a wide variety of patterns, textures and colors, making it simple to coordinate with any decorating scheme.
• In cold climates, home carpet provides warmth that can’t be matched by other types of floor.

However, carpet also has its drawbacks:

• Although carpet is durable, it can’t compare to wood floors, which can last a lifetime with proper care.
• Carpet can cause problems for allergy sufferers. (Dust mites and mold tend to settle into the carpet fibers and can be difficult to get out.)
• Carpet is made of synthetic fibers and chemicals, and is one of the least environmentally friendly types of floor.
• Even with stain-resistant home carpet, a spilled glass of red wine is still quite damaging to a carpet.

Types of Floor Coverings: Area Rug

You may want the versatility of home carpet without all of the problems. If so, consider installing wood or laminate floors and decorating with an area rug instead of installing wall-to-wall carpeting. Like carpets, you can get an area rug in a variety of colors, patterns and shapes. Area rugs also cover a wide range of prices to suit any budget. Although fancy Persian rugs are a popular choice, you don’t have to break the bank to decorate with an area rug. You can find attractive contemporary area rugs at discount stores, outlets and on the Internet.

An area rug is an incredibly versatile home decorating tool. Use an area rug to tie together a cluster of furniture–for example, a common decorating tip for living rooms is to place an area rug underneath a coffee table and arrange a sofa and loveseat around it. Contemporary area rugs can also help separate different areas of the same room. For example, in a small apartment that has a combined living room and dining room, contrasting area rugs place in each area can help clearly define each space. An area rug also has the added benefit of being much easier to clean than wall-to-wall home carpet.