Americans’ appetites for hard surface flooring
feeds newest demand for rugs

By Jeanie Harrison
Merchandise Buyer

It would probably come as no surprise if I told you there’s been a conscious decision over the last five years by American homeowners to opt for hard surface flooring over carpet. According to industry specialist FCNews, more than $21 billion was spent on hard surface floors last year.

In the November 2017 report by Floor Daily, the growth trends in hard surface flooring were even more impressive with hardwood seeing a 6.6% increase; ceramic flooring grew 7.3%; laminate flooring grew 4.9%; not to mention the double-digit growth of luxury vinyl tile. These staggering increases in market share underscore another demand I see increasing every day—area rugs.

What’s The Best Rug For Me?

Capable of complimenting any home d?cor, the evolution of the modern area rug has benefitted from technological advances in manufacturing as well as the development of new processes for creating one-of-a-kind designs. Whatever style or size might be desired by a homeowner, the options are virtually limitless.

I have been buying rugs for the Darvin Furniture Rug Gallery for more than six years and when it comes to rug styles and sizes, there is something out there for every taste, every budget, and every room in the home. The important thing to keep in mind when you are looking for a new rug is that you are not limited by the size of a room, the color palate, or the furnishings. Those items are merely guides to take into consideration when searching for the perfect rug, or rugs, for your home.

‘Great Rooms’Need Great Rugs

Probably the single-biggest driver of the rug sizes that are most popular in our Rug Gallery today come from how homes are being constructed. The ‘Great Room’ or modern family room, where open layouts feature vaulted ceilings and extensive square footage for entertaining and gathering, require larger area rug sizes

Our top-selling size (8’ x 11’) is typical of the scale many homeowners prefer for these larger rooms, with even larger sizes, 9’ x 12’ and 10’ x 12’, available. The 5’ x 8’ size is very common and it lends itself to smaller spaces and adjoining rooms.

The Rug Gallery Space

From traditional weaves and designs to some of the most fashion-forward offerings available, the Darvin Rug Gallery offers the convenience of shopping for area rugs in the furniture showroom setting.

Located on the first floor and offering more than 3,500 square feet of display space, the Rug Gallery has more than 1,000 rugs on display. The Gallery’s hardwood floors and vaulted ceiling captures the modern space that many homeowners feel reflects their own home. A convenient racking system with swinging display arms allows customers to flip and view the actual rugs with full access to touching and inspecting materials and construction quality.

If you are picking out an upholstery group for your furniture, having the Rug Gallery right there in the showroom can be a tremendous help for the customer trying to make the best choice. Darvin customers always have access to a rug specialist on staff who can help evaluate room sizes, furnishings and specific d?cor details to match any kind of look that they hope to achieve with the perfect area rug.

Choosing a Brand

The Rug Gallery is designed to arrange collections from many different brands into groups that can easily be viewed by customers looking to establish continuity for a single room – or across several rooms in their home. By grouping the collections together, customers can easily see how different rugs will work together in their home.

We carry the top ten collections – and the top rugs in those collections at all times. If you cannot find it here at Darvin, you probably won’t find it anywhere else.Some of the brands Darvin carries include:

• Oriental Weavers
• Dalyn
• Karastan
• Nourison
• Loloi & Magnolia Home by Loloi
• Kas
• American Rug Craftsmen
• Feizy
• Trans Ocean
• Ashley

No matter what challenge a space in the home may present, whether it’s the need for a splash of color or a texture to compliment your existing furniture, choosing an area rug is an important tool to finishing any room.

Click here for a more complete look at the Rug Gallery at Darvin Furniture.

Darvin Furniture is the recipient of the 2016 Illinois Retailer of the Year Award (See Video) from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. The award recognizes Darvin for meeting consumer desires, dedication to the community, and loyalty to its employees. Darvin now offers a 24/7/365 shopping experience at Darvin.com. Enjoy Darvin selection, quality and value at your convenience. Delivery or pickup available.

About Darvin Furniture

Family owned since 1920, Darvin Furniture is an industry leader and Chicagoland's largest furniture and mattress store. One of the top 100 furniture retailers in the country, Darvin Furniture's showroom is located on 11 acres in Orland Park, Illinois. The showroom features more than 200,000 sq.ft. of furniture on display. Additional information is available at Darvin.com. Stay up to date on the latest news as a member of the Darvin social community by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, GooglePlus, Pinterest, and YouTube