The Many Faces Of The Shag Rug

Many of us have seen a type of floor rugs that is puffy and shaggy. Thanks to its appearance, this type of shaggy rug is known as the shag rug. Shag rugs have been around for quite some time now. Making their appearances in the pop art culture of the 60s and 70s, the rugs were popular additions especially in studios or home of artists and musicians.

What gives the rugs their unique appearance? Shag rugs are made using medium, long or a mixed pile of strand which are attached to a sturdy backing. In producing a regular rug, the material is made into loops and then the access is sheared off to get a nice dense pile. However, in a shag rug, the strands not sheared, thus leaving the rug with long strands of material. These long strands give the rug a soft, lush, puffy look and feel.

Shag rugs come in a variety of material, from natural materials such as cotton, wool, linen and leather to synthetic fibers like nylon, acrylic, and polypropylene. There are also rugs that are manufactured with a mixture of synthetic combinations.

The attraction of these shags is in their colors. They come in many hues ranging from bright colors like canary yellow, lime green, hot pink, fiery red and bright orange to more calm colors like navy blue, soft pink, lilac, and cream to your standard white, brown and black. This is one of the reasons why many people fall in love with these rugs.

There are several types of shag rugs that you can find in stores today. The most common of these is the jersey cotton shag rug. These are dense medium to long piled rugs that make great additions to your home. The cotton shag tends to be the shaggiest and the messiest of all shags. Thus, it is very comfortable to sit or play on and makes a great rug for use in children’s bedrooms or in a teenager’s room.

The other popular type of shag rug is the Flokati shag rugs. Flokati rugs are actually older than the other shag rugs. They date all the way back to the ancient Greeks who used to make these wool rugs by hand. The Flokati rug is made entirely by wool, even its backing. After being woven, these rugs are placed in the river where the cold water will help to fluff the shag. Naturally the Flokati is off-white, but they can be dyed into different colors. Genuine Flokati rugs are lush and luxurious; however they can be very expensive. Today, there are still Flokati rugs being made by hand in the mountains of Greece, but many are also made from wool that has been imported from Greece and New Zealand.

One other type of shag rug also has its origin in New Zealand. These are the Aros shag rugs. Rich, opulent New Zealand wool is made into these puffy dense piles which has a great looking appearance. These rugs are also so comfortable that you’ll feel like you are walking on cotton candy. They come in candy colored hues too which make them great for your bedrooms.

If you want something classic, then you can never go wrong with leather. The leather shag is another member of the shag rug family. Made from genuine natural leather or suede, these dense rugs exude a feeling of elegance and refinement. They look great in offices or in a formal living room. They come in dark rich browns, reds and black and also surprisingly in white.

For a more fun playful take on the shag, you have the Love Fur shag rug. These made in Japan faux fur rug is made from synthetic materials. Acrylic fibers give this rug a plump appearance and a comfy plush satin like coat. Sitting on this is really cozy. And it is not as expensive as the others too.

As you can see there are many types of shag rugs that you can find. The shags made from natural fibers will cost more than those made from synthetic materials. In this regard, the Flokati is the most expensive of the lot. So if you want to try out a shag rug you should start with a cheaper alternative. Then you can progress to cotton, and then on to the wool shag rugs. But then again, it's all up to you.