How do rugs help to keep your home warm in winter?

• 26 June 2021
• 5 Min Read
• By Jaipur Rugs

Rugs are mostly appreciated and bought for their aesthetic value, something that undeniably is the raison d'être of rugs. They create a center of attention for the room and anchor the many decor elements, provide texture, color, and pattern to an otherwise dull space, and are no less than pieces of art.

However, what we often tend to miss about wool rugs is that they are also excellent insulators. In regions where winters are extreme and/or last for a long time, rugs are one of the most trusted ways to keep the room warm, besides beautifying the space. In fact, you can place an area rug for home if your floor always feels cold or even if you simply want to feel extra warmth under your feet all the time. Not only is it expensive to add insulation under the floor, with wool rugs as an option, it is also impractical. You can simply insulate the top of the floor by choosing the right area rug. You will, however, have to also prevent heat loss in the room with additional weatherization practices as a rug alone will not help bring up the temperature of the room dramatically.

Choose the Right Rug

If you are looking for an area rug for your home to keep it warm and snug, the material and thickness of it should be your top two considerations. Naturally, thick rugs provide better insulation than thin rugs as there’s more space between your feet and the floor. But what you might not be aware of is that the material also matters; it should have enough tiny air pockets between the fibers so as to provide the best insulating effect. Not all rugs provide maximum insulation and can protect your feet from the winter chill. It is natural fiber rugs, made with a plush foam underneath, that are not only more durable but also a delight to walk on. A wool rug is the best option for you if you are looking for the best insulation a rug can offer. Their beauty is uncontested and the soft and luscious feeling they offer underfoot is one of the biggest reasons why wool is one of the most favored materials when it comes to rugs. So turn down your thermostat, draw your thick curtains, and place a wool rug, and you will notice the difference it makes to the temperature in the room.

Surface area covered matters

The Carpet Institute reports that uncovered floors can account for 10 to 20% of heat loss and is proportional to the area carpeted. This means that the larger the carpeted area, the less heat you lose, ergo, the warmer your room will be. Since the overall size of the area rug also influences the temperature of the room, use the largest area rug possible. You can also experiment with the look of the room and place several smaller rugs throughout the main footpaths in your home so that whenever you’re walking around, your feet are always warm. If you have difficulty choosing the right area rug as per your size and design requirements, you can also opt to commission a custom rug for your living room with us at Jaipur Rugs. This way, not only do you get to customize the size down to the T, but also get to have a say in the design and color of your rug. 

Use an insulated rug pad

If you don’t have a wool rug and you don’t want to invest in a new one just yet, there is a way to make your present area rug work for you as well. Placing an insulated rug pad under it provides extra warmth and cushion. You can also opt for a non-skid backing to add the dual advantage of the rug staying in place without sliding, wrinkling, or buckling, along with warming the room up. 

When shopping for insulated rug pads, you will find that they come in different materials and varying thicknesses. While the thin ones are made to ensure that there is no increase in the rug height, the thick ones are specifically to solve problems of insulation given that they are made of a thick layer of wool or memory foam. However, always make sure that the pad is smaller than the area rug so that it remains out of sight. 

Or, opt for a heated or thermal rug mat

Did you know that you can in fact turn your rug into an even more active source of secondary heat? That’s right. Placing a heated or thermal rug mat beneath your rug will give similar effects to that of an electrical blanket. You only have to lay them in between your rug and your rug pad and plug it in. Some even have timers so that it switches off by itself after a certain period so as to avoid overheating. Turn your passive rug into an active source of secondary heat by placing a heated or thermal rug mat underneath it. These thin mats work like an electric blanket or heating pad: they lay flat between the pad and the rug and then plug into the wall. But remember that you will need a good-quality rug pad so as to not cause damage to your hardwood or vinyl floor. 

Don’t let your cold floors make your home less hospitable and welcoming during the winters. You can bring your beautiful Indian handmade rug to use by making it a secondary source of heat and insulating your room for warmth. 

FAQ's

Do rugs help in winter?

Rugs help in winter because they keep your feet warm and dry, preventing uncomfortable cold or wet feet. These types of carpets also protect fragile surfaces from excessively cold temperatures. Rugs are important for wintertime because they can make the outdoors feel more cozy and warmer, keeping your surrounds well during the colder months.

What is the warmest type of rug?

The warmest type of rug is the shaggy rug. This type of rug has a lot of texture, meaning that it's not as smooth as other rugs, which can be a good thing for people who live in colder climates. But it doesn't have to just be used in cooler climates; if you set up your living room with some beautiful shaggy rugs, you'll find that they're just as warm and inviting in the summer time.

Which carpet is good for winter season?

Wool carpets are our go-to carpet choice in the colder months because they're durable, natural and resilient. The best thing about wool is that it's naturally fire-retardant and resistant to mold, mildew and mites. It can also resist some of the harmful chemicals that other types as well as keep out allergens such as dust mites, snow, pollen and other particles. Best part? Wool carpets are softening to the touch while you vacuum! So, if you're looking for a way to stay cozy indoors then a wool carpet is your best option!

Do rugs make house warmer?

Since they insulate the floor and stop heat loss, rugs increase the temperature of a space. Rugs and carpets are also significantly cosier than hardwood and tile flooring. Compared to smaller rugs, large area rugs offer higher insulation and better heat loss reduction.