Few decorative accessories are as effective in making a room look new as an area rug. For starters, an area rug commands a lot of space—there’s no missing a product that measures 8 feet wide by 10 feet long. But what area rugs really do—and do so well—is add a burst of color, introduce texture, invigorate an outdoor entertaining area, make a bedroom more cozy, and/or tie together a family room’s upholstery, accent furniture and occasional tables into one seamless statement.

 

If you’ve shopped for area rugs, you know there are plenty of style options—and the prices run the gamut. Why the wide range? Materials and construction are the two primary factors that impact the price of an area rug. A handmade, hand-woven or hand-knotted area rug, for instance, is likely to cost more than a machine-made area rug. A rug woven from 100 percent New Zealand wool commands a higher price than an area rug constructed from synthetic materials.

 

What are some of the newest ideas in the ancient craft of area rug design? Here are some of the top materials, patterns and color trends for 2011:

 

Shaw Living and design superstar Angela Adams have introduced a series of nature-inspired area rugs that are stunning examples of organic modern design, whereby an earthy palette pairs with soothing geometric forms. The Morgan pattern, for example, offers forms softened by tonal shifts and rounded edges. Available in dark multi, dark green and dark brown, all rugs in the Modern Comfort Collection by Angela Adams are made in the United States from Shaw’s soft, durable and recyclable Evertouch® nylon.

Silk threads added to wool result in rugs with a luxurious hand (the way a rug feels to the touch) and lustrous appearance. For a fraction of the price, several manufacturers are using a synthetic fiber called “art silk” to create a similar effect. Momeni’s Sensations, a transitional line of area rugs, is machine tufted in China from wool and supple art silk, which makes the rugs really shine.

 

Feizy Rugs taps into the year’s love affair with pink with its new Saphir Goa Collection. Named for one of India’s most lush, vibrant and diverse states, rugs in this line enliven any setting with a vivid color palette of hot pink, tangerine, cream, plum and celery. The transitional floral and contemporary patterns are power loomed in art silk to create a soft hand. A high/low pile (meaning multiple yarn heights) adds to the collection’s value.

 

Homeowners are dedicating a significant amount of dollars to decorating their outdoor living spaces. These all-weather decorating demands have led to a number of textile, cushion and area rug solutions that can withstand the elements. Company C is new to the scene with a line of indoor/outdoor area rugs called Colorful Outdoors, which is inspired by the sea, beach umbrellas, tiled pools, tropical flowers and garden trellises. The tasty color options: luscious colors of popsicles, lemonade and frozen daiquiris.
 

Woven hemp fiber creates casual area rugs with green benefits, as the renewable plant from which hemp comes requires few pesticides and no herbicides to grow. Jaipur Rugs is one of the first on the scene with its Caribbean Collection of hand-knotted, 100 percent hemp area rugs. The texture is subtle, yet delivers an unexpected level of comfort underfoot. Jaipur’s range of mottled solids is offered in colors that conjure visions of sandy stretches of beach, azure seas and island sunsets.