Hardwood floors are a gorgeous addition to a number of home decor styles. While these floors look sleek and clean, one thing they are not is comfortable. For this reason, many homeowners with hardwood floors like to add a few area rugs throughout the house. 

Before you find a couple of rugs, throw them on the ground, and call it a day, you should know that oriental rug pads for hardwood floors are an absolute necessity. If you don’t have a rug pad under your new Oriental rug, you are likely to damage your hardwood floors. This can be done by scratches, discoloration, and/or wearing the finish down. In order to avoid this catastrophe, let’s discuss why it happens as well as which pad is right for you.

Protect Your Hardwood Floors with a Rug Pad

Hardwood floors are a beautiful and classic look, and they are generally an expensive investment as well. Your hardwood floors are certainly not something you want to ruin! That is why oriental rug pads for hardwood floors are so important. A small purchase now will save you thousands in the future. That being said, they’re not all the same.

With so many options on the market, many people mistakenly think that all rug pads are basically the same. The truth is that oriental rug pads for hardwood floors can vary in terms of density and even material. It’s important to choose a pad that doesn’t use wood-damaging glues and that is dense and protective enough to handle the added pressure of furniture- without putting dents in your floor!

The average rug pad’s density is between a quarter inch and half an inch in thickness, so this is the range you’ll want to look for when shopping. The best rug pad for your hardwood floors is one that is constructed with felt and foam, as these materials provide a safe barrier between your rug and your floor. 

Rug pads are available in a wide range of sizes. You can find a perfect fit by ensuring the rug is slightly larger than the pad. This is necessary in order to completely hide your rug pad. You will want to give it an extra inch at the corners.

Buy Oriental Rug Pads for Hardwood Floors at Serafian’s

Far too many people spend weeks or months trying to find the perfect area rug, looking carefully at the color, texture, pattern and size, but then the area rug pad becomes just an afterthought. Don’t make this mistake! Make a smart choice when it comes to the padding underneath your Oriental rug and don’t skimp on the thickness. If you have any further questions, the friendly experts at Serafian’s are always here for you! We’ve been helping the Albuquerque community with their area rug needs for many years, and we’d be happy to make you our next educated customer.

You know you want a new area rug for your home’s living or working space. If that’s all you know, that’s okay! Picking out the best material for your area rug doesn’t have to feel like an overwhelming task. In fact, we want you to enjoy shopping for your new rug. Our dedication to this is part of what has made us one of the top area rug dealers in Albuquerque. In order to help you become a savvy shopper, we’ve laid out the most popular types of rug materials as well as how to choose the best one for your space.

As you begin shopping at local area rug dealers, you will find a few main options. These are:

Wool Area Rugs

When shopping at area rug dealers, you’re going to want to begin your search looking at wool rugs. Wool is prized for its durability and softness. Wool area rugs are best for spaces in your home designed for comfort and lounging, as rugs made from this soft material will cozy up any space. Wool also provides insulating properties, making these rugs especially helpful for the colder months.

They’re more than just cozy, though. Wool rugs are also strong, making them good with stain and water repellency. This is why they are considered to be best for living rooms, dining rooms, and other high-traffic areas.

Silk Area Rugs

You may want to consider a silk rug for your bedroom or other low-traffic area of your home. Silk has been loved for thousands of years because it is luxurious and lustrous, meaning these silk rugs are adored for their softness and subtle sheen. 

Cotton Area Rugs

Generally more affordable than wool or silk, cotton is also easy to clean. If you’re worried about little kids or pets ruining your rug, this may be the right option for you. They are one of the most affordable rug material options on the market, so if you don’t think your rug will make it more than a few years this option is worth considering.

Natural Fibers Area Rugs

If you’re looking for rugs made from durable, organic materials that will stand up against high foot traffic, consider jute, seagrass, bamboo, or sisal. Jute is a rough plant fiber that feels both soft and durable to the touch. These natural grasses and other fibers combine neutral, earthy palettes and rich textures to make your rug an instant conversation topic.

Serafian’s is the Top Area Rug Dealers in Albuquerque

We offer New Mexico’s largest inventory of fine hand-knotted rugs from the Middle and Far East. For any additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask! You can also visit our store and see our amazing area rugs options for yourself. By seeing them and feeling them in person, you’ll more easily be able to tell which is the perfect new rug for your living space.

Many people want a new rug in order to make sitting on the floor more comfortable and hygienic. That is what makes it particularly upsetting when you are shopping for the best rugs online, order one, have it delivered, sit on it, and then realize it is shedding. 

If you notice the balls of fiber on your clothing after you sit on the rug, have a full vacuum when you clean, or find yourself sweeping around your rug more often than ever, this means you have a shedding problem. Rugs tend to shed if you aren’t specifically looking for one that doesn’t. If you want to avoid this, you should make an effort to not only find the best rugs online, but also one specifically known for not shedding. Serafian’s is here to help you find it.

Rugs Known to Shed

If you want a rug that doesn’t shed, you’re going to want to stay away from natural fiber rugs, like jute, seagrass, sisal, and hemp. The natural fibers can break underfoot and will leave their particles and fibers around your home. You certainly want to stay away from viscose. This is known to be the worst offender, due to the fact that their fiber is made from pressed pulp. Their synthetic fibers are very easy to break under everyday wear and tear.

The Difference Between Sprouting and Shedding

You may have heard the wool rugs shed, but this actually isn’t true. Instead, wool rugs “sprout.” New rugs may shed, but as long as your wool rug was well made, the shedding should stop after a couple of weeks. The best rugs online, those that are hand-knotted, may show signs of untwisting due to the fact that they are straighter and these fibers are higher than the rest of the rug’s pile. Don’t worry! It is natural for this to happen, especially after the rug is cleaned. 

Keep the Shedding to a Minimum

Once you have looked at the best rugs online and chosen your favorite, you want to make sure it sheds as little as possible. Be sure to lightly vacuum your rug on a regular basis. Always follow the care instructions located on the label under the rug or that were given to you when purchasing it from a dealer. It’s also a great idea to use a rug pad. Not only does this protect your floors, a pad will also help trap and hold broken natural fibers between your scheduled cleanings.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at Serafian’s. If you need your rug professionally cleaned in order to help it shed less, we handle that too!

As the premier destination for high-quality Oriental rugs in the Albuquerque area, we take pride in not only selling these rugs but also educating our customers. We want you to understand everything there is to know about Oriental rugs, including how to keep them looking great and feeling comfortable in the long-run. The answer is a rug pad!

Why Do You Need a Pad?

We’ve spoken before about the need for a rug pad underneath your rug. Rug pads for oriental rugs increase the life of your rug by protecting it from wear and tear. It does so by acting as a buffer. The pad cushions the impact between the sole of your foot above it and the hard floor underneath it. Due to the fact that this pad is absorbing most of the impact of your steps, the rug does not get worn out as easily. 

While this is very useful for all types of rugs, it is especially important for Oriental rugs because of the way that these rugs are constructed. A rug pad placed under the rug also adds comfort to you and your family by providing a softer surface to walk on. You want your rug to maintain its value, and this is a fantastic way to do so.

Your Options for Rug Pads for Oriental Rugs

When shopping for an Oriental rug pad, you have three main options: 

• A foam pad
• A thick underpad
• A pad made specifically for wooden floors

These three options are far from the other thing you need to consider though. How large should the pad be? Should it be the same size as the rug itself? This is a common question, and one we are happy to answer.

Finding the Right Size for Your Rug Pad

In fact, you don’t want the pad and the rug to be the exact same size. The Oriental rug needs to be slightly larger, in order to completely hide your rug pad. You will want to give it an extra inch at the corners.

According to Lowe’s, if the size of your rug size is 8’x10′, then the rug pad size should be 7’10”x 9’10”, which is a total of two inches less in each dimension. This is the same as one inch less on all four sides.

Protect Your Investment with Rug Pads for Oriental Rugs

When we say that an Oriental rug will keep it’s value for your lifetime, and possibly even longer, we mean it. With regular care and maintenance, an authentic Oriental rug can last more than 100 years. One of the best ways to ensure your rug is cared for is to shop for rug pads for Oriental rugs and find the perfect pad for your rug. This protects your rug from wear and tear, and ensures you’ll enjoy looking at it and walking on it for many years to come.

There are many benefits of shopping online. It’s much more convenient, plus it’s often less expensive. A few clicks of your mouse saves you countless hours of driving all around your local region, and beyond. You can buy your rug from Serafian’s, even if you’re not in the Albuquerque area!

You can buy anything from a car to shoes to yes, even a high-quality Oriental rug online. Yet, this can feel a bit nerve-wracking. After all, these rugs are costly and you expect your rug to last for many years to come.

How can you know for sure that you are not just buying a rug but buying one of the best rugs online? It is not as impossible as it may seem. We put together a handy guide for you, in order to make your online rug shopping much easier.

Buy the Best Rugs Online

You don’t need to be a rug expert in order to find a great rug over the internet. Simply follow a few expert pieces of advice:

Check the Materials

When shopping online, don’t just click on a rug in a certain color or with the cutest pattern. Investigate what the rug is made out of. Not all rugs are made from the same materials. We encourage you to find one made from wool, as this is what the best rugs online are made from. Wool is a classic and has been used to make rugs for centuries. Wool is warm, soft, and resists spills. A wool rug has a longer lifespan than a synthetic alternative, and no smell. 

Consider How Pile Affects Comfort

Pile is how deep the fibers of the rug are. Low pile means that the rug will be stiffer and less plush, while deep or high pile means the fibers are long and soft. Low pile is typically easier to keep clean and will stay in good condition in the long run. Deep pile is best to be placed somewhere your family likes to lie on the floor.

Understand Knot Count

When looking to find the best rugs online, think of knots as pixels on a screen. Knot counts in rugs can vary from as low as 40 per square inch to as high as 1,200. The finer the knot count, the higher the resolution of the picture. Therefore, higher knot counts work best for rugs with a great amount of detail.

The Best Rugs Online can be Found at Serafian’s

Shopping at Serafian’s for a new Oriental rug means you never need to wonder about the quality of your rug or whether the company you buy it from stands behind it. We proudly offer Albuquerque’s largest inventory of fine hand-knotted rugs from the Middle and Far East. Shop our online catalog to find your favorite!

If you’re looking to buy a high-quality Oriental rug in the Albuquerque area, we are proud to say that Serafian’s is the premier destination to do so. That being said, we offer far more than just new rugs. We can also repair and service your rugs, as well as offer you education about caring for your rug. One of the most common conversations we have with our customers is how to clean wool Oriental rugs.

Our Deep Immersion Cleaning

Here at Serafian’s, we utilize specially-built equipment that replicates traditional methods of cleaning, while utilizing the most modern technology available. Our total immersion process removes the maximum amount of dirt and contaminants, returning your gorgeous rug to its highest level of beauty. At the same time, we gently prevent any damage.

Our exclusive eight step “Deep Immersion Cleaning” rug wash leaves your area rug clean, fresh and sanitary like no other rug cleaning method can. Our process is the most effective method of removing contaminants from your area rugs delicate fibers, including:

• Pet odors
• Pet urine
• Dirt 
• Sand
• Dust and dust mites
• Allergens
• Most food and drink stains

Fiber ProTector

While you’re having your rug professionally cleaned, why not protect it from future damage as well? Fiber ProTector is completely harmless to humans and animals. This innovative treatment incorporates antimicrobial technology, and acts biocidically to prevent the development and spread of bacteria. At the same time, it offers protection against staining and dirt retention, meaning you won’t need to worry about how to clean wool Oriental rugs afterwards. After Fiber ProTector is applied, cleaning is performed more efficiently and the appearance of your rug is significantly enhanced.

Why is it Important to Have Your Rug Professionally Cleaned?

As you learn more about how to clean wool Oriental rugs, it is important that you realize a true cleaning is not a DIY task. While regular vacuuming and quickly cleaning spills are important for maintaining fine area rugs, these methods are only sufficient for keeping the surface of your carpet clean. 

Chemical cleaners can damage the delicate fibers that make up a rug. Even steam cleaning often fails to remove deep particles and penetrated stains! Professional deep cleaning, like what we offer at Serafian’s, is the only guaranteed method to remove the dirt and abrasive particles that eventually wear down and destroy hand woven carpets.

Get a Free Estimate on Your Rug Cleaning Service

When you’re looking for someone who knows how to clean wool Oriental rugs, you’re looking for the experts at Serafian’s. Our highly trained staff has taken care of and improved thousands of Oriental area rugs. We encourage you to contact us today to get a free quote!

If you need to have your rug cleaned but you are worried about getting it to us, we offer pickup and delivery for our customers. It’s just one more way we show our dedication to you!

There’s a lot that goes into what makes a genuine Oriental rug so special. As your Albuquerque rug experts, we love not just selling Oriental rugs but also educating our community about these amazing products. Much of what makes them so valuable and unique is their history, as well as how they are made, and with what materials. 

In 1920, a carpet dating back to the Fifth Century B.C., dubbed the ‘Pazyryk carpet,’ was discovered in Siberia amongst other treasures of the Scythians. These were an ethnic Iranic people, like the Persians and Kurds. Archaeologists have surmised that the carpet itself may have found its way to Siberia from Persepolis in Iran, due to it having a striking resemblance to those that can still be seen around the ancient Persian capital. Even in ancient times, the Persians were known for their carpets! It was well preserved in ice, so we could see exactly how gorgeous it was as well as how long these people had been making rugs.

Historians think that Cyrus the Great probably introduced the art of carpet making in Persia after he conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. For more than 2,500 years, these rugs have been the best of the best. Known for their beauty and amazing quality, hand-woven Oriental rugs have long been revered by the rest of the world. Why, though? What makes these rugs so much more valuable than others?

For one, they are expertly-made. Carefully and lovingly woven by hand, Oriental rugs are a testament to the ability and creativity of the artisans who craft them. Because of their painstaking craftsmanship, these rugs are also highly regarded for their quality and durability. Another reason these rugs are so sought-after is because they are truly unique. Each weaver is different and so is each spool of thread, therefore each handmade carpet is special. No two are identical! You won’t get this kind of dedication to craftsmanship and uniqueness for a factory-made rug sold in a store that also sells lawn mowers, cheese, and shoes.

Oriental rugs are not simple floor coverings. These pieces are works of art! The reason they are so renowned is partly for their rich colors and interesting designs. Oriental rugs are made with all-natural wools, silk, and vegetable dyes, rather than synthetic materials. The skills used in weaving these special rugs have been passed down from generation to generation.

They also last a long time. If you give your rug the right attention and care it needs, it will be enjoyed by your family and visitors to your home for generations to come. This is one reason that these pieces are great investments, and often even increase in worth if properly maintained.

Iranian culture is known and celebrated across the globe for their rugs. They are sometimes called Persian rugs or Oriental rugs; these two terms refer to the same thing. These rugs have not only found their way into households and interiors the world over, but also into our hearts. Simply put, we love Oriental rugs and we hope you do too!

When you’re looking for the best type of rug in the world, you are shopping for an Oriental rug. This much you know. It’s no wonder that Oriental rugs are sought after by the entire globe. They are known for extremely rich color combinations and unique designs. Because each rug is handmade, they are known for their tremendous variety in design, color, size, and weave. What you don’t know, however, is exactly which rug you want. This isn’t bad news; it simply means it is time to go shopping!

When you are shopping for a new Oriental rug, you’ll want to have a few questions in mind to ensure you are happy with your final purchase. A few ideas to get you started thinking include:

Was this rug made by hand or machine?

You want to avoid knock-offs. Genuine Oriental rugs, like those sold here at Serafian’s, are always woven by hand. That means the back of these rugs will always feature a series of knots that are hand tied by the expert artisan weaver. 

What makes this Oriental rug so valuable?

Rugs made of special wool and handcrafted in certain areas of the world cost more than the others. There are five important elements that influence the true value of an authentic Oriental rug. These are weave consistency, age, knot density, technique, and the fiber used. Be sure to get a detailed explanation of each element before buying the rug you have your eye on.

Can you explain the knot density?

Speaking of knot density, it is crucial for you as a rug buyer to understand knot density. This factor would reveal the durability and strength of a rug. Each type of rug has its own density rating. Pakistani rugs are evaluated with a ratio by knot count per square inch. The numerator indicates knots in a horizontal inch while the denominator represents the knots lying on a vertical inch. As a quick example, 16/18 is known as the best quality while 12/12 is of average quality. 

Do I need a rug pad?

While an Oriental rug pad may seem like an after-thought, it is absolutely essential for protecting both your floors and the rug you love. When it comes to valuable Oriental rugs, a high-quality rug pad is an absolute must! The most important reason is that it helps to increase the life of your rug by protecting it from wear and tear. 
Those in Albuquerque, New Mexico have the experts at Serafian’s for all of their Oriental rug needs and questions. We want to make your shopping experience a successful one. This is why we aim to educate our shoppers, not simply sell to them. Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask us anything else you’re wondering about. We’re happy to answer them all!

You probably don’t shop for a new Oriental rug every day. This means you don’t know much about the industry or the history of these amazing pieces. We want you to feel confident as your shop for a new area, not fall prey to believing myths and misconceptions. Here at Serafian’s, we don’t just sell Oriental rugs. We take pride in also educating our shoppers. We are here to tell you what you need to know so you can feel a peace of mind that you’re buying a high quality Oriental rug in Albuquerque. This is why we are the go-to Oriental rug experts in the area!

Myths about Oriental Rug Values

There’s a lot about hand-made, Oriental rugs that is confusing and can be misunderstood. This, understandably, makes the average rug shopper less than confident about making a rug purchase. Let’s bust these myths about Oriental rug value right now!

Myth #1 All Oriental rugs appreciate in value.

It isn’t fair to say “all” Oriental rugs do anything at all. We encourage you to buy a new Oriental rug because you appreciate the craftsmanship and love the way it looks, not because you’re planning on selling it for a profit in a few year’s time. 

Myth #2 Oriental rugs aren’t worth the price.

Nothing could be further from the truth! Oriental rugs can last more than 100 years. The secret to their durability is in the materials that are used and the way that they are handmade. The highest-quality Oriental rugs can last for generations, even if they are placed in high-traffic areas of your home. This means that while they may be costly up front, you could end up saving money in the long run because you aren’t replacing it every few years.

Myth #3 Old Oriental rugs are worth more than new ones.

This myth is somewhat the same as myth number one, and so a myth just the same. The condition is most important when determining value, not when it was made. An old Oriental rug in poor condition is just an old rug. An old Oriental rug in good condition may be quite valuable if it is one of high-quality that has been well cared for over the years. The key here is to care for your Oriental rug, meaning regular spot cleaning and vacuuming, plus professional cleaning every two years.

Myth #4 A rug pad does nothing for your value.

A rug pad is not a waste of money, because it provides a protective layer between the rug and the floor. This means a rug pad helps minimize slippage, increases the life of your Oriental rug, makes the rug feel thicker and more luxurious, smoothes out bumps in the floor, as well as absorbs noise. 

Buy in Oriental Rug in Albuquerque

You want the best rug for your home, which means buying an Oriental rug. Hopefully, armed with this new information you are ready to buy a new Oriental rug with confidence. If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to reach out and ask us!