The ThePieCraft journal

Rug guides & ideas

Practical advice on choosing, sizing, styling and caring for handmade rugs, from the people who make them.

Blush Sand Rug, a beige rug with flowing pink squiggle lines, in a living room with a cream sofa
9 min read

Wool vs Wool-Blend Rugs: What's the Difference and Which Should You Buy?

100% wool or a wool blend? What a blend really is, the common blends (wool and viscose, wool and nylon, wool and cotton, wool and silk), how each one looks, feels, wears...
Regal Arch Rug, a cream damask rug with maroon and blue-gray scrolls and a scalloped edge, in a room with a leather chesterfield sofa
10 min read

10 Dining Room Rug Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

The most common dining room rug mistakes, from rugs that are too small and the wrong shape to pale colors, thick piles and missing pads, with simple fixes for each and a...
Folk Arches Rug, a rug of folk motifs with birds, fruit and arches in navy, sage, peach, orange and cream, in a living room
9 min read

Bhadohi, India's Carpet City: The History, the Craft and the GI Tag Behind Its Rugs

The story of Bhadohi, the Carpet City of India: how its weaving tradition began, what the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Bhadohi carpets means, how hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs are made there...
Crimson Pebble Rug, a rug of cream pebble shapes outlined in deep red, in a mid-century living room with a tan leather sofa
9 min read

Area Rug Cleaning: What to Do at Home, When to Call a Professional, and How to Choose One

Everything you need to know about cleaning an area rug: a weekly and monthly routine you can do at home, deep-clean methods that are safe for wool, when a professional is worth...
Sculpted Arches Rug, a gray tonal rug with curved arcs and a white line, in a living room with a cream sofa and rust armchair
9 min read

Cut Pile, Loop Pile and Carved Rugs Explained: How Rug Texture Changes Look, Feel and Care

What cut pile, loop pile, cut-and-loop, high-low and carved rugs are, how each one looks, feels and wears, which rooms and households each suits, and how to care for every kind of...
Moderno Arches Rug, a tan rug with bold black arches, on a wood floor in front of a brown leather sofa
9 min read

Rug Pads and Rug Backing Explained: What's Under Your Rug and Why It Matters

What a hand-tufted rug's backing is and how to care for it, why you need a rug pad, the different types of pad, how to choose the right pad for wood, tile,...
Sunbeam Orbit Rug, a round rug with rings of cream, gold, mustard and orange, in front of a brown leather sofa
10 min read

How to Layer Rugs Like a Designer: Sizes, Shapes, Colors and Common Mistakes

A practical guide to layering rugs: why designers do it, the right size ratio between the two rugs, which shapes, colors and textures pair well, how to keep layered rugs flat and...
Amber Dune Rug, an irregular-shaped ombre rug in cream, gold, orange and red waves, in front of a cream sofa
9 min read

Irregular and Organic-Shaped Rugs: Why the Trend Works and How to Style One

What irregular and organic-shaped rugs are, why they've become one of the defining rug trends, which rooms they suit, how to size and place one, how to pair it with furniture and...
Moderno Arches Rug, a tan rug with bold black arches, on a wood floor in front of a brown leather sofa
9 min read

Rug vs Carpet vs Area Rug: What's the Difference, and Which Is Right for You?

Rug, carpet, area rug, runner: what each word really means, how they compare on cost, cleaning, comfort and flexibility, when to choose each, and how to put a rug on top of...
Arboris Rug, a round hand-tufted rug in black and ivory
10 min read

How to Protect Wool Rugs from Moths and Carpet Beetles

Why moths and carpet beetles target wool, the early warning signs, the simple habits that prevent damage, what really works (and what doesn't), and what to do if you find an infestation...
Dune Rug, an oval rug in soft beige, cream and ivory tones, in a modern living room with neutral furnishings
10 min read

How to Remove Rug Stains: Wine, Coffee, Pet, Ink, Wax and More (Wool-Safe Guide)

A calm, wool-safe guide to removing the most common rug stains: the golden rules, a home stain kit, step-by-step methods for wine, coffee, pet accidents, ink, wax, grease, mud and more, and...
Spectrum Rug, a rug with flowing bands of forest green, mustard, rust, olive and cream, in a living room with a green armchair
9 min read

Why New Zealand Wool? What Makes It the Rug-Maker's Favorite Fiber

Why so many rug makers choose New Zealand wool: strong wool explained, why fiber thickness matters underfoot, how it takes color, how it compares with other wools, and what to ask when...