Hearkening back to the 1970s, shag area rugs seemed to speak badly of an owner’s willingness to adapt just five years ago. But, like many trends, shag has started to come back into style, and it is now widely available in retail stores and online.
With such a vast number of fibers to choose from, such as nylon, cotton, wool, linen, leather and angora, the only distinguishing characteristic of a shag rug is as simple as its name. A shag rug will have a long pile, which means it will be thick, lush, and shaggy. The long pile gives the rugs a great feel, to walk on, recline on, or whatever you want to do with them. It also makes them a great insulator for rooms with a slight echo.
Shag carpet area rugs are not sheared like other rugs, which leaves long pieces of material sticking out like an artistic haircut. Many designs balance the carefree-looking pile with single, elegant colors. However, contemporary patterns are becoming more widely available. They come in any number of different shapes. For the same, carefree-balancing reason, most of these shapes are simple geometric shapes, such as circles or rectangles. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, and if a purchaser wants to find something completely off the wall and out there, he/she may find wavy designs or more picturesque, unique prints. And why not continue your wacky theme by adding a Karlsson clock to your updated decor? Their modern and unique masterpieces will set your shag rug off to perfection.
Interior decorators tend to agree that shag goes well with heavy furniture, as it is a strong, bold choice. The thought is that shag needs other, equally strong influences in a room in order to be properly contained. So, as a general rule, shag goes well in bedrooms and living areas, under and around heavy woods. Matching colors is also recommended for a similar reason. Blending the shag in with the room will “keep it under control,” which is a different line of thought than existed in the 70s.
Shag does not go well in dining rooms, as it clashes with the typical décor of eating areas, which are more soothing when well-organized and controlled. A shag area rug underfoot might feel good for a normal Tuesday evening, but dinner guests would probably be turned off.
But almost every other room in the house could be a suitable site: dining rooms, dens, even bedrooms accept the comforting, wild influence easily. And anything ranging from small accent rugs to larger 9×12 area rugs, and up can make a great addition. With the larger rugs, though, remember to leave at least eight inches of floor space in between the walls and the end of the rug.
Rectangular rugs are easily placed, but round shag area rugs take a little more forethought. Designers like to use shag area rugs to distinguish segments of long, rectangular rooms from each other, in case one wants to divide the living space into relax-on-the-couch and a work-and-read environment, for example. This is called ‘zoning’. In this case, the boldness of shag can make a contrast quite easily, and the round shape provides an unexpected, environmental shift. But no matter the effect, placing your shag area rug can add a bit of fun and style to any home décor.
