Thursday, March 19, 2009

Transitional Rugs Save The Day

By Judy Arthon

When it comes to decorating a room, something all of us have a problem with is the combination of different styles. Think in terms of different time periods - how will you combine elements from the Georgian period with those from the Victorian period? Is it even possible?

There is a kind of rug called transitional rug wherein every aspect of the material is a chameleon. Why so? It's because transitional rugs have the elements of various styles found in a room. You might be a skeptic and have now started to raise your eyebrows on the viability of this idea. Allow me to tell you more

Traditionally these transitional area rugs fall in a category that is somewhere between the European and Oriental styles. That is to say, they contain elements from both and are, as such, quite often uniquely stylish and artful with a dash of contemporary design. It is often this fusion of elements that makes this type of rug so highly desirable among collectors.

The influences applied to transitional rugs make them a unique choice compared to the other kinds. The colors most especially are not limited to traditional hues with safe patterns and designs. Transitional rugs are actually more daring, with a combination of colors and more room to accommodate various designs.

The design is one important factor that sets transitional rugs apart. If a conventional rug carries only one or a specific design for its theme, say of nature, showing a mountain scene, transitional rugs on the other hand, feature the "unusual". It can be an unexpected depiction of a theme. In this example of nature, you might see a farm scene or an erupting volcano with splashes of bright colors.

Most people opt for the conventional type of rug because there is a distinct color like dark and light, and a striking accent like a medallion. The downside to this however, is that there is nothing in between. The color might be too dark or too light, but there is no shade in between - not very dark or light. The choice then becomes quite restricted.

With transitional rugs, versatility is an attractive feature. You can see the integration of various designs and level of color. An illustration is a rug inspired by Oriental designs but not totally Oriental. The colors are all there but the shade is lighter and elements of other designs are also mixed into the rug's makeup. So it can turn out to be a rug with Oriental influences and a touch of earth tones with a style borrowed from a modern, geometric design. The result is a little bit of everything to produce a unique, one of a kind rug.

Finally, it just remains to be said that, if you are unsure about what kind of rug to choose, then the transitional rug will definitely be a good starting point. Other than that, remember to pay attention to the specific size of the rug and its purpose in the specific room it will be placed in - will it be a focal point or just serve to brighten up the room? All these things have to be considered before your area rug is chosen and bought. - 15252

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