Shag Rug Buying Guide

Material, color, size, and cleaning considerations for the prudent shag rug shopper

You don't have to be into swanky vintage styles or retro chic to appreciate contemporary shag rugs. Yeah, you can do the swinging '60s or '70s thing, or find a zebra or leopard print that makes your floor look wild and woolly. But at ShagRugShop.com, you're equally likely to find a soft, lustrous, and luxurious flokati rug or a tasteful, elegant, and environmentally friendly shag rug made from bamboo fiber. Style has evolved since the '70s, and the shag has, too.

As you browse the huge variety of shag rugs on our site, there are several things you should consider before making your purchase. The following tips will help you to find the rug that's best for your style and maintenance needs.

Material Material determines everything from the color and style of your shag area rug to its durability and the type and frequency of cleaning it requires. Wool shag rugs offer warmth, softness, strength, and resilience. Wool is the most traditional shaggy rug material. Flokati rugs are the oldest form of wool shag rug, originating in 5th century Macedonia, and are justly famous for their luxurious thickness and quality. A handmade flokati rug is top-of-the-line shag. Bamboo shag rugs are eco-friendly, durable, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial. Typically made from a blend of bamboo fiber and cotton, bamboo shag is chic and contemporary, with natural colors that look right at home in modern interiors. Leather shag rugs bring contemporary style down to earth with the inimitable smell and sensuous texture of leather. A leather shag rug is dry clean only, and best suited to more atmospheric, low-traffic rooms. Shag area rugs made from synthetics such as polypropylene, nylon, and acrylic generally offer a wider range of colors and patterns. They're also inexpensive, easier to wash, and more resistant to stains.

Color

From geometrical patterns to earth tones to bright seasonal hues, there's no limit to the range of rug colors and styles at ShagRugShop.com. When selecting a color for your shag area rug, keep its size and location in mind. For example, darker colors are best for entryways and heavy-use areas where feet are likely to leave their mark. In living rooms, it's probably better to select a base color that blends in well, rather than a shag rug that matches your sofa set. Furniture gets replaced over time, but a beautiful white or dyed flokati rug could adapt to many different decors.

Size/shape

Our shag rug sizes range from smaller than 3 x 5 to larger than 9 x 12, and include ovals, rectangles, circles, squares, and other shapes. If you want to get creative with your flooring choices, shag rug carpet tiles are a popular and highly flexible alternative to area rugs.

Cleaning/maintenance

The lowest-maintenance shaggy rugs are made from washable synthetic fibers. Wool and leather require regular and careful vacuuming and immediate stain treatment. If you have pets and young children, and are worried about staining, black shag rugs may be a better choice than undyed wool.