Shag Area Rugs

Styles and Prices of Shag Rugs

Some good choices for shag rugs and wool area rugs are available online and are quite reasonably priced. For example, the Mohawk Home Shag Rug Collection (60x90") is only $80, and for the young pink lady in you, how about the Pink Shaggy Shag Rug (39 x 58) for under $60, or the LA Rug in Lavender Shag (39"x58”) for less than $50.

Although you may want to stick with a wool area rug for durability, there are some shag options in other natural fibers that are good value and soft to the touch. There is the St. Croix Trading Company and their shag rug called the "Marsh", which is a leather shag area rug in brown, and is huge at 4' x 6', for only about $80. And there is also the cotton shag Premium Ultimate Cotton Shag Rug 5' x 8' in neutral beige, also large at 5’ x 8' for under $130. Also the Jersey Cotton Shag, which is thick and plush, although small at 30" X 50", but it’s only about $55 and comes in pink if you like. Or a similar one only in green for about $40.

A shag area rug on a hard wood floor is perhaps the most popular use of all and they are not only for those seeking a retro theme or for people with extremely eclectic tastes. They can be used to compliment gray, black and white themes or even traditional wood rooms or classic white styles with Scandinavian furniture.

The reason they have made a comeback is not so much because all things that go around come around and not only because of the retro revival, but because they are a comfy carpet or rug solution, and they are an inexpensive young decorator’s tool, especially when deciding on rugs for a small studio, on a small budget but with loads of individual creativity.

Cleaning a Shag Rug

This is a little tricky. You can vacuum if the shag rug isn’t tooooo long and shaggy, but try not to run the upright over your shag as you would other low pile wool area rugs because the rotary brush in most vacuums will pull out the hair or yarn quite quickly and not only destroy your rug but clog up the small access to the vacuum and leave long hairs all twisted around the brushes. Use an attachment or the hose or the regular vacuum wand. If it’s not very large you can take it outside and shake it like crazy.

Spot cleaning is a toughie – it’s best to take it to a drycleaner or carpet cleaning expert. But the good thing about shag area rugs is that they are usually placed in areas of relatively low traffic, like in a living room or bedroom and not in a kitchen or dinning area where food and spills will be more likely. For long hallway shag rugs or runners, they are usually treated with a stain resistant product, but they will eventually get a little soiled and matted. Wool area rugs that are of the new shag rug style are best in low traffic areas and households without children or pets. That said, depending on the child and the pet, a shag rug, if not abused, can be the favorite place for a toddler to play or for your feline pet to curl up in front of a fire.