What does a rug’s weave have to do with its daily use? Flat, knobby, shaggy, plush, silky, smooth—the world of rugs is full of glorious textures that often tie in to their weave. Here at Rugs USA, we celebrate them all. And, with the thousands of rug styles we have to offer, we’re here for you to help make rug weave types (and other terminology) more approachable. If you’ve ever wondered what hand tufted is, for example, and how it may work in your space, this article is the crash course that we wove together just for you!
Flatweave Rugs Provide Textural Beauty for Any Room
Flatweave rugs live up to their name: They are woven to be flat, with no pile. These thinly-woven rugs boast a beautiful array of patterning, making them a great choice in any room. They have a special knack for being placed under doors, with plenty of clearance to spare. Also, they’re often reversible.
Flat-woven rugs can range in look from traditional Persian to cheerfully offbeat. There’s no limit to the looks you can create with a flat-woven rug! Want to dive in deeper? We prepared this mini-course on flatweave rugs for extra information about this lovely, durable rug type.
Note: Due to how thin flatwoven rugs can be in comparison to other weave types, it is important to place a rug pad underneath them to prevent slippage.
Hand Tufted Rugs Are Soft, Handmade Floor Coverings
When a rug is hand tufted, individual threads are loaded into a “tufting gun” and pushed through a canvas to create a cut and/or looped pile. A fabric backing is then glued to the completed design to keep the threads in place.
Hand tufting results in a tight, yet soft feel underfoot. At Rugs USA, our hand-tufted rugs are usually made of wool, a resilient and naturally water resistant fiber; but some, such as our Striped Shaggy Rug, are made of synthetic fibers.
Note: When you choose a wool hand tufted rug, keep an eye open for shedding—but regular vacuuming will help to lessen the shedding over time. Other factors such as pile height, where you put the rug, and how much traffic it receives may affect how much shedding you’ll see.
Hand-Woven and Hand-Knotted Rugs Are One-of-a-Kind Creations
Hand woven and hand knotted rugs are created on a large loom using a “warp thread” (threading stretched from the top to bottom of the loom) and “weft thread” (stretched from the left to right sides of the loom). Rows of knots are then tied along the warp and weft.
At Rugs USA, natural fibers such as cotton, jute, and sisal are hand woven. This makes each rug a one-of-a-kind addition to your home.
Hand woven and hand knotted rugs are a great choice if you’re interested in organic texture. Many of our best sellers—Braided Rug, Chunky Loop Rug, Flokati Rug—have an irresistible feel, and a rustic-boho look that’s always on trend.
Note: “Sprouting” (fibers popping out from the rug surface) of handwoven rugs is common. Don’t pull these—it could damage your rug! Instead, trim the thread down to the face of the rug.
Hand-Hooked and Hand-Looped Rugs Are Long-Lasting & Lovely
Hand hooked and hand looped rugs are made when small loops of fiber are pulled through a canvas and secured with a protective backing, resulting in a soft, knobbed texture.
Hand-hooking and hand-looping makes these rugs durable and long-lasting. And a vintage-inspired pattern such as our Rose Bouquet rug never goes out of style!
Note: Some of our most beloved outdoor rugs at Rugs USA are hand hooked of water-resistant synthetics, making them not only soft, but durably weather resistant. Many of these rugs look terrific indoors, too!
Machine-Made Rugs Expand Design Possibilities
Machine made rugs are powerloomed, or made on an electronically controlled loom. Most are made from synthetics and have serged (bound) edges.
Machine made rugs have a unique superpower: the possibilities for their design are truly endless. At Rugs USA, we carry powerloomed rugs in every color and style, in durable synthetics that stand the test of time.
Note: Our famous Moroccan Trellis rug—named “The Rug” by The New York Times—lives up to its promise as a powerloomed rug that goes with everything!
Shag Rugs Give Comfort and Warmth to Modern Homes
If ever there were an iconic rug texture, it would be a shag. Sometimes seen as a hallmark of the bygone Brady Bunch era, today shag rugs could not be more of-the-moment. Ever-trendy Moroccan styles range from tranquil ivory and diamonds, to riotous texture and color. Even more compelling than the look of a shag rug is its feel, adding a warm, welcoming touch to any room.
Note: Weaving methods vary for shag rugs, but they are known to have a much thicker, “shaggy” or “fluffy” demeanor. Shag rugs come in a variety of textures and lengths, all with their signature soft pile.
We hope you love dreaming about texture as much as we do, and have summoned the confidence to order the rugs that appeal to ALL of your senses. When in doubt, don’t forget to read reviews . . . not to toot our own horn, but our rugs have inspired 79,500 reviews and counting!
Happy rug hunting!
