If you’ve ever seen a retro sixties or seventies pop art style room you’re likely to have come across a typical shaggy rug from that era. But these days shaggy rugs are making a comeback and can be seen in the best contemporary interiors although in a slightly different form from their hippy style counterparts from years gone by.
Shaggy rugs have a particular appeal chiefly because of their texture. They have a deep pile made of single strands knotted onto the backing material. Although less dense pile than regular carpeting they have a luxurious look because of the length of the pile but prices are similar to normal carpet for similar fibers.
The thing with contemporary shaggy rugs however is the use of new materials and slightly shorter pile dragging them into the 21st century. I have seen a beautiful soft pink shaggy raggy rug made of soft jersey t-shirt like fabric strips used in bedroom interior. You can buy these in all colors especially pastel shades and they are generally washable making them wonderful for a bathroom rug or a bedroom. I have also seen a large shaggy rug made of a multitude of black suede strips which gave a unique and luxurious finishing touch to the main living area of a loft apartment.
Lime Green Shaggy Raggy Rug (click image for details)
What these shaggy area rugs do have in common, of course, is their textured look. Although you can now get shaggy carpet tiles and wall to wall shag pile I recommend that you buy a shaggy rug rather than opt for full shag carpeting. Shag pile can attract dirt and grit and whereas you can pick up a shaggy rug and shake it to dislodge any particles you have got yourself a full and regular vacuuming and raking job on a wall to wall carpet or shaggy carpet tiles to keep them clean and hygienic.
In fact, the places where I would not advise that you use shaggy rugs are in areas such as the hall which get a lot of wear and tear from dirty feet. They are best used in areas where you look but don’t walk too much in dirty shoes and ones such as in front of the fireside where you might like to curl up with a good book.
Buying a shaggy rug rather than full shag pile carpeting is sensible for budgetary reasons too (apart from the obvious extra expense at the time of purchase). If the winds of fashion turn again it is a lot easier to replace your shaggy rug with the latest in interior design without having to replace a whole carpet.
To see a selection of shaggy raggy rugs at Amazon CLICK HERE
