Interior & equipment

Choosing a new rug can be overwhelming due to the many variations and options. BeyondKnots helps you find the perfect rug for your home. Most importantly, choose a rug that suits your taste. Are you wondering whether you want a statement piece or a rug that fits seamlessly into the decor?

There are three main factors you should consider when choosing a rug:

Size, Material and application.  

1. SIZE

The size of a rug can change the dynamic of a room. However, deciding on the right size of a rug can tricky breast. Are there rules for placing a rug in a room?  Yes, and it's very easy to implement: the 4-2-0 rule. Either all four pieces of furniture stand on the carpet and ensure a balanced look in the living room or the front feet or none stand on them. 

Living room



0: In this arrangement, the rug is positioned under the coffee table in the center of the room. This type of arrangement is ideal for very compact living areas as it makes them appear a little more spacious. Ideally, you should leave at least a few inches between your rug and your sofa - this will prevent your room from looking crowded.

2: In this style, the front half of the sofa, armchair or side table rests on the carpet while the back legs rest on the floor. This option is ideal if your sofas and armchairs have their backs to a wall and offers the opportunity to create the illusion of more space in enclosed living rooms.

4: Here all furniture legs are positioned on the carpet to create a clearly defined seating area. This style is best suited to open-plan rooms or larger living spaces. This requires a large rug - it needs to be wide and long enough to fit all the furniture on it, with at least 20cm between the back of the furniture and the edge of the rug.

Bedroom

 0: In this variant, runners are positioned on both sides of your bed. Ideally, you should look for rugs that are the same length as the bed. Note that this look only works if your bed is in the middle of your room, as the floor space on both sides of the bed should be equal.

2: In this arrangement, the rug is positioned under the front legs of the bed. Be generous on all sides, but especially at the front/foot of the bed. A little more space at the foot of the bed is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also practical!

4: In this arrangement, the rug is positioned under the entire bed with the edges overhanging on either side. This means your bed becomes the center of the room and brings a feeling of balance and calm to your sleeping area.  

Tip: Decide on the right carpet size by placing newspapers or tape the size of your future carpet on the intended floor area.  

2. MATERIAL

There are many different materials you can choose from when purchasing a rug. So how do you know which material is best for you? Consider how the rug will fit your individual lifestyle (e.g. pets, children) and the environment in which it will be used (e.g. foot traffic, potential for spills and stains). Highly used rooms such as kitchens or hallways need carpets that are more dirt-repellent and durable.

VIRGIN WOOL

Wool is the most common material for rugs because it is very strong, durable, and has a soft, cozy base. Wool is obtained through gentle sheep shearing. It is a renewable, natural raw material with impressive properties: wool carpets are easy to care for and durable thanks to their natural fat content. The surface is naturally insensitive to dirt, stains and liquids and can be easily cleaned with a damp sponge or cloth. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, has a regulating effect on the living climate and dampens sound.

Best suited for: Living room, dining room, high traffic areas  

PURE SILK

Silk carpets are thin, very soft, shiny and yet relatively durable. silk is made by hand from the cocoons of the silk spinner and is therefore considered the most luxurious and shiniest material. Since the individual silk threads are extremely long, very thin yarns can be produced that are still tear-resistant despite being lightweight. The thin yarn can be used to tie smaller carpet knots, creating finer and more detailed patterns. For this reason, the most beautiful carpets in the world are hand-knotted from pure silk.

Best suited for: Bedrooms, low-traffic areas      

BAMBOO SILK

Bamboo silk, also known as viscose, is a natural product obtained from raw bamboo stalks. The cellulose is extracted from the plant and formed into a sticky paste. After extraction, the cellulose is left to dry. After drying, it is expelled and becomes a soft, silky yarn. It is a popular fiber because it is breathable like cotton and cool to the touch. Bamboo silk is similar to real silk in terms of shine and softness and can be easily combined with wool to create beautiful accents. Many of our rugs are made from a durable blend of wool and viscose.   

Best suited for: Medium-heavy living areas, bedrooms or hallways. Avoid areas with high humidity.     

COTTON

Cotton is most commonly used to make flat-woven carpets, such as: B. Kilims, used. Cotton is very popular for carpet making because of its tear-resistant, easy-to-clean and stretchy material. Lint rarely forms on cotton carpets. Plus, cotton is usually cheaper than wool or silk. Cotton is also particularly suitable as a durable underlay for carpets.

Best suited for: Kitchens, children's rooms, casual places.    

HEMP

The hemp material is derived from the tissue beneath the bark of the hemp plant. Hemp fibers feel rough and are particularly robust and resilient. Compared to cotton, the hemp plant is more environmentally friendly to grow because it does not require pesticides. Due to their natural compatibility and robust properties, hemp carpets are becoming increasingly popular for heavily used living areas.

Best suited for: Living spaces, high traffic areas  

ACRYLIC

Synthetic materials often imitate natural materials. Acrylic carpets are also soft, fluffy and pleasant to the touch. Acrylic carpets are popular because they are cheaper to produce than other materials and are also strong and stain-resistant. They are also ideal for bathrooms and outdoor use as they dry quickly and are resistant to mold.

Best suited for: high traffic areas, bathrooms, outdoor areas.    

3. MANUFACTURING

Which manufacturing process is right for me? 

hand knotted

Hand-knotted carpets are made with true craftsmanship, have unlimited design and color variations, and are the most labor-intensive. The weavers take months or even years to produce. Hand-knotted rugs are made on a vertical frame and are the highest quality rugs on the market. The higher the number of knots on the carpet, the finer it is and the clearer the pattern.  

hand tufted

Hand-tufted rugs are made by punching individual threads through a panel of fabric using a "tufting gun." If the manufacturer places a stitch incorrectly, the entire carpet is ruined - so tufting is a very demanding job. When the rug is finished, a second fabric is glued to the back to hold the yarns in place, resulting in the backing having a different pattern. Hand-tufted rugs take more time to produce, contain high-quality materials, and can be more detailed.  

handwoven

Handwoven carpets are made by weaving long threads of fabric on looms. They are usually flat woven and can be used on both sides if they are not embroidered on one side. The production of a hand-woven carpet ensures a stable source of income for the villagers in the region. The weaving machines are usually located in the weaver's house and are operated entirely by hand without electricity.    

handspun

Handspun rugs are made on a machine loom and the process requires 1-4 people, depending on the size of the rug. On the loom, the yarn or weft thread is thrown through the middle of the lower and upper warp. The weaver then compacts the carpet with the bobbin and the weft and warp are woven together.  

Machine knotted

Machine-made carpets are made by an electronically controlled machine whose pattern is controlled by a computer or punch card system to create a repeating pattern. They often feature extremely precise patterns and are usually the cheapest. The yarns are placed in a thin mesh fabric and latex is applied to secure and protect the yarns.  

4. COLORING

Should I choose a natural or synthetic dye for my carpet?  

ecru

Yarn dyeing is a true art and creates a unique rug. Dyeing with natural or vegetable dyes is more complicated, expensive and time-consuming than dyeing with chemical dyes. For a bright red, for example, you need about a kilo of ground madder root as a dye per kilo of wool. For a strong yellow you need two kilos of the dye dye per kilo of wool. Other botanicals used to dye wool include turmeric, vine leaves, henna, pomegranate and natural minerals. But the effort is worth it: by dyeing with natural dyes, the high-quality wool retains its natural fat content. The wool, dyed with natural dyes and spun by hand, creates fascinating, unique patterns.  

Synthetic dye

When synthetic dyes are used to dye the wool, this ensures a more even coloring of the yarn and therefore less color change in the pile.  

CARE & MAINTENANCE

All carpets should be cared for with care to maintain their beauty and value. Here are a few things you can do to keep your carpet clean and healthy:

document

Consider using a protective pad to keep the rug in place and prevent slipping. Think of it as a basic protection that protects your carpet from unnecessary wear and tear, which also increases the comfort factor.

vacuum cleaning

Often a carpet doesn't need much more than to be thoroughly cleaned of dust. Vacuum your carpet regularly (once or twice a week). Any dirt or grain that isn't vacuumed up is like sandpaper that gets stuck in the carpet pile and slowly makes its way down to the chain where it begins to drag and wear on the knots. But be careful with the fringes! The fringes are an extension of the warp threads and if vacuumed too often, they risk unraveling and damaging your carpet.

stain removal

Stain removal may be necessary if, for example: B. Red wine was spilled on your carpet. The stain must be rinsed immediately with plenty of warm water. The best way to do this is to place a towel under the carpet to absorb excess water. If water alone doesn't work, use liquid gall soap (and not chemical cleaners to preserve the wool's natural protective film). Rub the solution of both ingredients onto the stained area and blot the area with a damp cloth. 

Dents

If you place furniture on your carpet, use protectors on the feet and be sure to move the furniture a few inches every few months to prevent permanent dents from forming in the carpet pile. As you move the furniture you may notice some dents, but with a little patience they should disappear on their own in a few days.

supersede

Some carpets may initially peel off. Rest assured that this is not a sign of a faulty or substandard carpet. The lint you see is actually excess wool fibers that were caught and trapped in the carpet pile during production when the pile was trimmed to height. This is a natural process and with a little patience and vacuuming you will notice that it gradually stops.  

Do you have any further questions? Please contact us. We're here to help.