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What wool carpet adds to room
If you are thinking about new carpeting for your home,
there are many factors to keep in mind. For instance,
durability is very important. How long will that carpeting
last and still look good? Will it crush under my footsteps?
Is it easy to keep clean? From an aesthetic point of
view, appearance also matters a great deal. Does the
carpeting look interesting? Is it available in the
color I want? Other factors, such as air quality and
allergens may also be important to you. For durability,
good looks and enhanced indoor air quality, wool carpeting
may be just what you've been looking for.
Wool carpeting has become more and more popular in
recent years as an alternative to synthetic carpeting
such as nylon and polyester. To augment my knowledge
of wool carpets and rugs, I recently attended a seminar
devoted to the characteristics of this natural material.
Not only is wool beautiful and versatile, it also can
provide several key benefits to homeowners.
For example, did you know that wool carpets and area
rugs are actually good for your indoor environment?
In every home and office, certain pollutants exist
due to emissions from paint, wall coverings, adhesives,
and certain building materials. Wool reacts chemically
with the gases emitted, neutralizing and absorbing
them, thereby helping to purify the indoor air. Allergy
and asthma sufferers will also be pleased to learn
that wool is non-allergenic and naturally resistant
to dust mites.
In terms of durability, research has shown that high
quality wool outperforms synthetic fibers such as polyester,
nylon, acrylic and polypropylene. Many synthetic fibers
are less resilient than wool and tend to crush over
time, and are also less soil-resistant. Wool is naturally
flame-retardant, while some synthetics are susceptible
to burning or melting from cigarettes. I learned that
casinos use wool carpeting because of the high foot
traffic and the cigarettes. If wool is durable enough
for a casino, it most certainly can handle everyday
busy lives with active kids and pets.
From a design point of view, the choices available
in wool are outstanding. A wide variety of colors are
available, and, if you don't see the exact color you
are looking for, custom colors can be mixed. Wool carpets
and rugs come in all textures, patterns and styles
to fit with any decor from formal to casual. Floral
patterns will look lovely in English country rooms;
geometric designs will enhance contemporary rooms.
There is even a wonderful wool mixed with silk that
is unbelievably soft to the touch.
Wool is a top-of-the-line product that does cost more
than traditional carpeting. However, with the recent
increases in the price of oil, synthetic carpeting
has also risen in price, making wool more competitive.
For good quality wool carpeting, be prepared to spend
about $50 per square yard or more. For additional information
about wool, please look at the Wools of New Zealand
website at www.woolsnz.com. For a beautiful, long-lasting
carpet, wool might be a great option for you.
This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper
Group papers on Dec. 24, 2005.
Go
back to the list of decorating columns.
All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna
Jacoby.
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