What Rug Is Right for You? How to Choose a Rug? | Our Ultimate Guide to Rug Types and Materials

 At Lavender Fields, we offer so many different types of rugs in a range of materials and styles: wool, cotton, indoor/outdoor, sisal/jute, and more. The biggest question we get from our customers is what type of rug is right for their unique space - what's cleanable, comfy, durable, and attractive for their home? 

We've put together this ultimate rug guide to answer all your questions. You can shop our rug collection online here, and if you'd like our help with interior design services, you can get in touch with us here. 

Wool Rugs - Durability, Comfort, and Beauty

Wool rugs are the ne plus ultra when it comes to quality, durability, and luxury in your home. They're made of natural materials, highly durable, have superior insulating properties and will last you for years and years. Their softness and beauty add that luxurious, high-end touch to your home. Wool rugs also hold dye well, allowing for rich colors. 

• If you have kids and pets and are concerned about keeping your rug clean, go with a lower-pile wool rug. 
• Wool rugs have good stain and water repellency. 
• Wool rugs may shed when they first arrive - you will need to vacuum them when they're first installed.

Where to use wool rugs: 

Wool rugs are a good option for anywhere you want a luxurious, cozy, and warm look. We like to use them in dining rooms, living rooms, and master bedrooms.

Shop the Dash and Albert Kota Indigo Rug online here

Shop the Dash and Albert Odyssey Blue Rug online here

Cotton Rugs: Casual, Lightweight, and Colorful

Cotton rugs are lightweight, easy to clean, and come in a range of fun colors and weaves. There's something for every style, from modern farmhouse stripes to bright and beachy colors to eclectic hooked styles. 

• Cotton rugs offer a lot of look at a reasonable price
• They're lightweight and casual, giving the warmth of a rug with a more lived-in feel

Where to use cotton rugs:

We love using cotton rugs in kitchens, whether under your kitchen table or a 2x3' in front of your sink. Many of our customers buy inexpensive 2x3' rugs to switch out in front of their sinks, laundry rooms, and bathrooms throughout the year! 

Cotton rugs are also a great look in a more casual beachy or farmhouse living room or bedroom, and make a fantastic runner up the stairs or down the hallway. 

Shop Dash and Albert Herringbone Dove Gray Woven Cotton Rug online

Shop Dash and Albert Olive Branch Cotton Rug online

Jute and Sisal Rugs: Natural, Durable, and Stylish

Jute and sisal rugs are wildly popular: they're stylish, durable, and work well across a range of styles. You can use them in a more traditional home to add a touch of modernity, place them in a farmhouse living room to add warmth without adding too much color, or choose a cool patterned one for an interesting statement piece. 

Jute and sisal rugs are also made of natural materials, making them an eco-friendly option. Sisal rugs are made from the agave plant, and jute rugs are made from the leaves of the Corchorus plant. Sisal rugs generally tend to be a bit coarser, whereas jute rugs are a bit softer. 

• Jute and sisal rugs are highly durable and are great in high-traffic areas
• They work well in every style of home.

Where to use jute and sisal rugs:

These rugs can be used anywhere: the answer really depends on your own personal style. Some people prefer an elegant wool rug in their formal dining room, but others might like a cool jute rug in an interesting color or pattern instead. Jute and sisal rugs tend to be a little more informal than a wool rug, but also come in many weaves, patterns, and colors - so have fun with it! 

 Buy Dash and Albert Hexile Hand Knotted Jute Rug online

Buy the Dash and Albert Jute Woven Seaglass Rug online

Indoor/Outdoor Rugs: Washable, Lightfast, and Pet-Friendly

Indoor/outdoor rugs have come a long way in the past few years. They used to be stiff and unattractive - something you'd be okay with having on the patio but never bring into your home. Today's indoor/outdoor rugs come in endless colors, textures, and styles, and you'd never know that many of them are even bleach-cleanable and virtually indestructible!

Many of our indoor/outdoor rugs are made of a material called polypropelene, which is bleach-cleanable. Indoor/outdoor rugs are also lightfast, which means you can place them in a sunny spot and the bright colors won't fade. 

P.E.T. indoor/outdoor rugs are similar to wool - they're very soft and durable underfoot. 

Where to use indoor/outdoor rugs:

These rugs can be used in many spaces besides your outdoor living areas. They're great for homes with kids or pets, where you want high style and high durability/cleanability. 

We love them in kids rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens. 

Buy Dash and Albert Bowline Fuchsia Indoor/Outdoor Rug Online

Buy Dash and Albert Zhara Stripe Ivory Indoor/Outdoor online

Buy Dash and Albert Herringbone Linen/White Indoor/Outdoor Rug online

Do You Need a Rug Pad?

Yes, you really should get a rug pad (especially if you're investing in a more expensive rug). 

• Rug pads help with slippage - this is especially essential for cotton and jute rugs
• Rug pads can help prevent the underside of the rug from scratching your floor - this is especially essential for scratchier sisal rugs
• Rug pads help your rug feel cozier underfoot
• Rug pads also protect your floor from dirt and moisture, especially in high-traffic areas. If your kiddos or pets are running through the house a lot, they'll be pounding the carpet pretty hard - and that dirt (and sometimes moisture, in the case of wet shoes or paws) can pass through the rug to the floor. The rug pad helps absorb this dirt and moisture. 

Get in touch for interior design help and rug questions

Get in touch for help selecting your rug for your home here! 

Back to School blog

Picture Perfect, First day of School: Photo Prop

Materials Needed:

• Unfinished wooden photo frame (large enough to frame child’s face when held)
• 2-3 cans of different colored spray paint
• 1 can of Chalkboard Paint
• 1 wood star
• Unpainted wooden letters: D-A-Y, O-F, S-C-H-O-O-L
• Elmer’s Carpenters Wood Glue (or hot glue gun)

Directions:
Spray paint the unfinished wooden frame one color. Select a different color(s) and spray paint the wooden letters. Spray pain the wood star with Chalkboard Paint. Add a second layer or spray paint to frame, letters, and wood star if needed. Allow all to dry overnight.

Position wood star and wood letters on the photo frame as desired. Use Elmer’s Carpenters Wood Glue (or a hot glue gun) to attach wood star and letters to the photo frame. Allow glue to dry completely.

Source: momalwaysfindsout.com

Lunch Boxes they will Love

This reproduction of a vintage tin lunch box is all modern with it's trendy design from Clairebella. A chalkboard inside the lid lets you send a love note from home with their tasty lunch. 

*All personalization is custom ordered exactly as entered below, please use upper and lower case as you would like to see on the finished piece and note that text is case sensitive according to chosen font. Max 10 characters.

Click to Order Now

Yummy and Healthy Kids Lunch Ideas

For more fun lunch ideas

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It's hard to predict how a child will handle separation on the first day of kindergarten. Some kids will cling to their mom in terror, while others will skip happily off without even a parting glance in mom's direction. If your child leans toward the former behavior, don't be alarmed. Starting kindergarten is big step for children, and the anxiety they experience is a perfectly normal part of the developmental process. Nevertheless, there are ways you can make this transition easier for your child.

Discuss Kindergarten

In the weeks before school begins, discuss kindergarten with your child. Express enthusiasm and excitement at all she is going to learn. Try to evoke responses from your child to see how she may be feeling. Don't overdo it and don't force the topic, if your child is not interested or seems unwilling to discuss it. The main idea is to make kindergarten something exciting to look forward to, rather than something to fear.

Try Time Away from You

Before your child starts school, you can gauge how he deals with separation anxiety with a trial run. Try leaving him with a relative or close family friend, or suggest a sleepover at Grandma's house. See how your child reacts to being without you in a safe and supervised environment.

Set Up Playdates

Many schools distribute phone lists for each class of students before the school year begins. If you have such a list, try setting up playdates with your child's future classmates. That way, when your child walks into class on the first day, she'll see some familiar faces - her new friends.

Source: school.familyeducation.com

Prepare yourself

Many moms spend so much time preparing their children for school that they forget to prepare themselves for the rush of emotions surrounding this life transition. Give yourself some time to think about how you may respond when it's time to drop your child off, and come up with a game plan to make the transition easier.

Sandy Oliver from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, knew she might cry when dropping off her son for the first time, so she made plans that would distract her and lift her mood. "I applied lots of mascara before we headed to the school to remind myself not to tear up. Then, I gave myself 15 minutes to drop off my son and speak with the teacher before immediately leaving to meet my sister for coffee and pedicures. Giving myself something to look forward to was the perfect distraction to get me through that first day."

Melissa Daughtery came up with a similar plan. "I work full time, so I'm used to being away from my daughter during the day -- but it's still hard when I think of how fast she's growing up. I decided to take the first day of school off from work so I could really invest some time into both of us. I took my daughter out to breakfast, took her to school, then I went to the gym. After a great stress-relieving workout, I picked my daughter back up from school, and we spent the afternoon playing at a park. Spending that time with her helped me adjust to this new phase of life."

PREPARING FOR
A NEW SCHOOL YEAR

Late nights and family vacations make summer fun, but they can also make it hard for kids when it's time to go back to school. As summer winds down, taking the time now to begin preparing for school can make the new school year easier on your entire family. From starting on a school sleep schedule to cleaning up your computer, discover six tips for getting your household back to school ready.

TRANSITION INTO BACK TO SCHOOL SLEEP SCHEDULE

A week or two before school starts, move your kiddo's bedtime back 15 minutes each night until they are hitting the sack at the time they would during the regular school schedule.

GET YOUR FAMILY CALENDAR ORGANIZED

Bust out your calendar and start organizing your family's activities agenda when preparing for school. From sports practice to music lessons, it will be easier on everyone if you work out who needs to be where before you head back to school, especially when it comes to arranging pickups and drop-offs.

LOOK INTO CARPOOL OPTIONS

Whether it's an arrangement with your child's classmate or an schedule with your hubby, partaking in a carpool will save you time and gas money, so plan ahead to optimize your schedule with your kids' school schedule.

COMPLETE BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING

On top of a new school wardrobe, backpack and lunch box, chances are teachers are asking for school supply donations as well. So, jump on back to school sales on school supplies now for your kids' classrooms during the school year.

DUST OFF A STUDY SPACE

Giving your school-age child a clear, quiet place to do homework and study is the key for a successful school year, so clear off summer books and projects from a designated study space when preparing for school time.

CLEAN UP YOUR COMPUTER

When preparing your kids for the new school year, making sure your PC is ready for back to school time is just as important. Deleting old files will make room for your youngster's new homework and reports, and updating programs to arm your kiddos with the latest technology tools will make the new school year run smoother.

Source:www.sheknows.com

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