Rug FAQ's
Check out the answers below to some of my most frequently asked questions. Just let me know if there is anything else I can help you out with, though!
1. Why should I buy a vintage rug instead of a brand new less expensive rug?
I have to admit, I do have some non-vintage, machine made, mass produced rugs in my own home, too. It's okay. However, I do know that these rugs will not even have half the lifespan of my beautiful vintage rugs. Vintage rugs are handmade of all natural materials and just designed to last. They have already had past lives and will most likely continue to have even more after they leave your home. In my own experience, I have cats who have used my vintage rugs as scratch pads over the years and you cannot even tell in the slightest. They accept wear and tear like champs! And if they do show signs of wear, it just adds to their beauty and patina. They aren't going to end up in the landfill after a couple of years because they got too soiled or are falling apart, which makes them a very good source of sustainable decor and very environmentally friendly. Not to mention, they are all also completely one of a kind. Nobody you know will have the same rug as you, but they will all want to once they see your gorgeous vintage one!
2. Why should I buy my rug from Velvet & Shag?
It's true, there are lots of vintage rug vendors out there on the internet. The great thing about that, though, is that they all have different, unique rugs and a different perspective! I offer a selection of rugs that I carefully curate based on my own particular style (see my Instagram profile @velvetandshaghome for my personal home decor). Every rug I sell is one that I would like to keep! It takes a lot of time to sort through all of the vintage rugs that are out there and to find one that speaks to you. If you can relate to my style, then you will probably find a rug you like in my shop and reduce the need for hunting all over the internet for a great vintage piece. If you can't find a rug in my shop, but you generally like the rugs I offer, you might consider purchasing my rug sourcing concierge service. Click this link for more details.
3. How do I take care of my vintage rug?
Just like any other rug, you will want to vacuum your rug on a regular basis to keep it clean. These rugs are extremely durable and will take a lot of wear and tear, but just to be safe, I do recommend that you not use the brush setting on your vacuum. If you need to spot clean when an accident occurs, I recommend trying to first just use water and a rag. If that doesn't work, you may need to try using a gentle cleanser like a little liquid castile soap mixed with water. A gentle dishwashing detergent might also help. For more thorough cleansing, I would recommend that you seek the assistance of a professional cleaner who is experienced with vintage rugs.
The only warning I have about vintage rugs is that they are susceptible to fading if placed in direct sunlight. Fading is not necessarily a bad thing, though, and a lot of people will buy a rug just because it is perfectly faded. However, if you want to maintain the color of your rug as it is when you first get it, you should be cautious about where you place it and if it will receive direct sunlight.
4. Should I use a rug pad under my vintage rug?
Yes, it's always a good idea to use a pad if you want to prevent slipping of your rug. Also, you can get rug pads in varying degrees of thickness so you can make it is thick or as thin of a base as you want. Adding a thicker pad will of course provide a cushier feeling. If you are looking for a recommendation for a rug pad, I have one made by the company at the link below and it has been great. You can also order a custom sized one, which is very helpful when it comes to vintage rugs because they often come in random sizes instead of the more standard traditional sizes that you will find in mass produced machine made rugs.
Click this link for rug pads: https://www.rugpadusa.com/collections/all
5. Do you ever carry any larger size rugs like 8'x10' or 9'x12'?
Due to the price of larger oversized rugs, I'm currently not able to maintain an inventory of them in my shop. No worries, though, I can still help you find a large dreamy rug that meets your particular specifications!
There are two solutions to your big rug needs. First of all, have you thought about layering a vintage rug on a larger base rug? In fact, I use rug layering in my own home and it's really easy for you to do, too. I recommend the rug below or something similar as a good natural flatweave starting point.
You can also layer on a shag rug as shown below in a great article on marthastewart.com.
Click here for the Martha Stewart article about How to Layer Your Rugs.
If you do, however, want to find an oversized vintage rug to meet your specifications, that is definitely something I can assist with. Please check out my listing for "Rug Sourcing Concierge Service" to see how I can help.
6. A vintage rug is not in my budget. Why are they so expensive?
As mentioned above, the vintage rugs I sell are handmade with all natural materials and built to last multiple lifetimes. They are therefore more of an investment piece than a rug that you would buy from a big box store and can obviously be more expensive. There's no need to worry, though, Velvet & Shag does offer payment installment plans so that you can pay over time. Each rug listing shows what your installment will be before you add it to your cart.