A small padded cup or pad set under the legs of heavy furniture, such as a sofa, coffee table or dining table, to cushion the weight each leg puts on the rug. It is used together with a rug pad, and alongside rotating the rug from time to time so that the load does not stay on the same spots.
Weakening of a rug's pile and foundation caused by prolonged exposure to high humidity or damp conditions. Moisture working into the natural fibers leaves them frail and can eventually make them decay, and the same dampness attracts moths and other pests. Damp, hot or poorly ventilated storage, bathrooms and humid climates are the usual settings; remedies are a dehumidifier, good airflow, a rug pad that blocks moisture rising from the floor, a lower pile that absorbs less humidity, and airing the rug outdoors in the sun for a few hours once or twice a year, without leaving its face in strong sun for long. Humidity swings also make a wool foundation stretch and shrink and distort the rug, whereas a cotton foundation holds its size better.
A size band between small and large, running from about 4 x 6 ft (122 x 183 cm) to 5 x 7 ft (152 x 213 cm). Rugs this size fit entryways and kitchens, or flank a bed, one on each side in front of the nightstands. Tribal rugs such as Baluchi and Qashqai are woven at this size or smaller, because migrating weavers cannot set up a large loom in one place. Being light, medium rugs tend to slide and are best used with a rug pad. Dealers' size labels vary, and some call 5 x 8 or 6 x 9 ft medium.
The flattening of pile fibers under sustained weight, as in a high-traffic path or beneath heavy furniture, which leaves the pile looking worn. In storage the same happens when heavy items are stacked on a rug for long periods. A rug pad and padded coasters under furniture legs spread the load, and rotating the rug about once a year shifts where the weight falls; a medium to high pile and a dense weave withstand heavy beds and dining tables best, and regular vacuuming and professional cleaning keep the pile in shape.
A cushioning layer placed under an area rug to prevent slipping, protect the floor, cushion the weight of furniture, and extend the rug's life by guarding it from underside friction and floor moisture. It matters most for small or lightweight rugs, such as those in entrances, kitchens and bathrooms or on tile, which otherwise slide and become slip hazards. Very large rugs stay put under their own weight, but a pad still helps beneath heavy tables and sofas and in humid rooms, where it insulates against ground moisture.
A size band for the smallest hand-knotted rugs, running from about 2 by 2 ft (61 x 61 cm) to 3 by 5 ft (91 x 152 cm), with 2 by 3, 2 by 4 and 3 by 4 ft in between; larger pieces fall into the medium band, which starts at roughly 4 by 6 ft (122 x 183 cm). Small rugs suit entrances, doorways, bathrooms, kitchens, hallway and staircase ends, walk-in closets, an office corner or the spot beneath a statue. Because they are light, they tend to slide and are best used with a rug pad. City, village and tribal weavings all come in this size, and tribal rugs are often woven small.