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Ten things to think about when buying a rug
1. Different types of rug suit different areas, so before you buy consider where it will be positioned. As a general rule, entertainment areas receive heavy use and should have durable floor coverings with good resistance to abrasion, crushing and soiling; bedrooms are perfect for something more luxurious such as an Oriental carpet or deep pile.
2. For children's rooms choose a short-pile rug (less than seven millimetres high). They make for easier and more thorough vacuuming, are longer lasting than taller piles and offer a flatter surface for playing.
3. Although the density of knots usually determines a rug's strength, don't be hung up on knot count. To determine knot density, dig your fingers down to the base of the pile; the more tightly packed the knots feel the more durable the product.
4. Natural flooring (jute, seagrass, coir and sisal) is very hardwearing and excellent for areas of heavy use. Jute and seagrass can be slippery so are best avoided on staircases; coir and sisal tend to be prickly underfoot and uncomfortable for crawling toddlers.