The area rug has become a multipurpose wonder in contemporary interior design. With origins dating back thousands of years to a time when carpet-making was an honorable elite art, area rugs have served centuries of populations both as wall-hung tapestries and floor-bound walking paths. Although many believe the sole purpose of the area rug is to prevent the tracking of dirt to other rooms or areas of a home, the area rug has served a few other purposes beyond containing soil. The decorative qualities of area rugs alone make them an important investment in any home’s furnishing. Whether you prefer intricate oriental rugs or simply choose purple area rugs to add a splash of extraordinary color, you can’t go wrong by decorating with area rugs.

If a rug is stretched out to hug a floor, it helps to reduce the amount of heat that a home loses through its flooring system. No matter how insulated floors are when they are installed, if they rest above a crawl space or a slab of cement, there is no way to avoid a collection of cold air beneath the floor. Cool air inevitably transfers to the living space in the house, but area rugs block the flow of that air in a home and keep the space cozy.

Area rugs also help reduce noise. Hard woods, ceramic tile and laminate woods can foster an abundance of heel clacking from walking. To prevent disturbing others who are in other rooms of the house, area rugs are often used to muffle the echoes from shoes, voices, pet noises, furniture shifting or the handling of pots and pans. Simply by using living room floor rugs, you can significantly cut down on the noise that is transferred though the floor to the rooms or apartments below and you can also cut down on the noise your kids generate as they move about the living room.

As a means of keeping up decor in a house, rugs are very functional for minimizing scratches and other surface damage to floors. Shoes not only make noise when there is walking on a floor, but the soles also can scuff the finish of a floor and transfer grime until there is a buildup. In times of inclement weather, rugs are also a great buffer for preventing moisture and promoting falls.

Whether area rugs are used as decor, for noise reduction or heat preservation, they have served many uses worldwide. For many, they have become the elegant way to make a floor both functional and beautiful.