As “The Dude” knows, a rug can really tie a room together. The rug, like the walls, should really be of thought of as the foundation of your room—instead of as just an afterthought.  A good graphic rug can pull your design aesthetic together to create the kind of space you want. A bad rug…well, it can stick out like a sore thumb or throw a whole room off.

But, what’s your rug style and what kind of rug goes with your room? After all, unless you’re starting from scratch, you likely have existing pieces to work with. Here are 8 rug styles to fit both the most common and trending decorating styles right now, because we know you want your room to be tied together. 

1. Boho

Image: Anthropologie

If your style is Boho Chic, then you need a statement rug for sure. The brighter, the better. The more patterned, the better. This Flutter rug, inspired by brightly-colored butterflies, is right on trend.

2. Classic

Image: Restoration Hardware

This Modern Floral rug in sand would be a great fit for classically styled homes. It’s neutral colorway will work well in all rooms, both neutral or bold tones.  It has a low and even sheared pile that is inspired by vintage-classic carpets.

3. Contemporary

Image: West Elm

Strong visual, graphic rugs surrounded by neutral furniture and accents is a tool utilized by contemporary decorators. This patchwork-patterned example illustrates that effect perfectly!

4. Farmhouse Chic

Enjoy a much more rustic look? Try this Log Cabin rug in shades of blue, burgundy, gold and rust to complete your farmhouse chic room. It’s all cotton too (for extra barefoot comfort).

5. Modern

Image: CB2

Geometric-patterned rugs fit a modern space for sure. This example will pop next to your modern styled furnishings and accessories.

6. Scandinavian

Image: Scandinavian Design Center

If Scandinavian style is your thing, two-color simple patterned rugs are the way to go. This lovely specimen from Brita Sweden is designed to be both gorgeous and functional, since it’s made from durable polyester.

7. Exotic/World

Image: Urban Outfitters

For those who have more of a exotic world view, this Batik Bird rug will fit wonderfully in your exotically styled room. The more color and pattern the better, right?

8. French Country

Image: Distant Home

Finally, if you appreciate the French Country style, consider this checkerboard rug made with organic wool and all vegetable dyes. It’s stunning and sustainable!

Top Image: West Elm

Related on Ecosalon:

What’s Your Home Decorating Style?

Modern Country Decor: Why This New Style Isn’t an Oxymoron

The post The Dude Would Approve: 8 Graphic Rugs to Tie Your Room Together appeared first on EcoSalon.

Each fall, the color experts at PANTONE publish a report highlighting the “it” hues for the following spring, setting the standard for fashion and home décor. This spring’s report contains a blend of bold, statement-making colors and more subdued shades.

Since re-designing every few months to match the latest color trends doesn’t jibe with our eco aesthetic, we’re all about choosing colors that lend themselves to mixing and matching season after season. And PANTONE’s Eucalyptus – an olive-tinged earthy-beige inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe – fits that criteria to a T.

If you’re in the market for an eco-friendly rug, we’ve rounded up several options that incorporate this versatile shade. 

Faux Bois by Martha Stewart with FLOR (pictured above)

FLOR products are not only recyclable, but they are made with recyclable or renewable materials. This Faux Bois design (on the right) draws inspiration from a classic wood grain to create an elegant and eye-catching design.

Feizy Kayla Ivory Rug

This hand-tufted wool uses colored sheep in place of chemical dyes to create a simple, yet contemporary pattern. Its scattered wheat design would add a warm, welcoming accent in a bedroom or living room.

Surya Eco 2005 Rug

Cream, eucalyptus, and chocolate brown get a mod makeover as part of Surya’s eco rug collection. It’s hand-tufted with 100 percent New Zealand wool.

Modern Circle Design Shag Rug

Another mod option, this geometic shag rug is part of Target’s eco-friendly collection. It’s also stain-resistant, fade-resistant, and soil-resistant.

Fern Paprika Scheme Rug from Pure Inspired Design

Pure Inspired Design specializes in eco-friendly furniture and home accessories, so this hand-tufted rug was a shoe-in. It’s part of their Paprika scheme, so you can also buy buy pillows, curtains, and furniture in the same color family.

The post 5 Rugs That Prove Beige Isn’t Boring appeared first on EcoSalon.

Okay, take the green glove test in your house. Are you still using a laundry list of surface cleaners with harsh chemicals? Are you lifting carpet stains with products that give off ugly fumes? We told you about the good stuff that’s out there, but maybe you forgot when you scrubbed those dishes with conventional soap from the factory. But it is time to say no to convention and get your green on, even if you hate housework as much as we do.

As long as you are stuck with the dreaded chore, here is a refresher on green cleaning products that will make you feel so darn good about responsible mopping and dusting, you will whistle while you work!

Spot-On Eco Carpet

Did you blunder with your color choice and select a neutral beige instead of graphite grey or chocolate? We can dig it. It’s just a drag to be a slave to that carpet, insisting visitors remove their shoes, yelling at loved ones for trekking muddy boots along the stairs up to their rooms. If you are able to go the DIY carpet cleaning route and avoid professionals who charge a lot and use chemicals to lift the stains, review our post on the natural way to rinse a rug.

9 Great Eco Cleaners

You’re walking down the aisle, perusing the products, taking in the odors, confused about what to buy. Why not make a list with these great cleaning solutions, from Planet Ultra Dishwashing Liquid for squeaky green plates to Sun & Earth Concentrated Laundry Detergent for non-irritating socks? Brighten your abode with ingredients like coconut and vegetable oils.

Adding Greener Laundry Products to the Fold

The wash and fold has always been fairly routine, but staging a laundry space that is up to green standards will make this job healthier for you and the planet. Among the best apparatus in this room – natural drying racks that allow you to cut down on the electric appliances by hang drying your garments when possible. Reusable bags also help the schlepping of clothes from hamper to machine and back to the drawers. Other scoops for the natural laundry maven can be found by perusing this post on eco laundry supplies and tips.

Easy Eco-Friendly Bathroom Cleaning

Scrubbing toilets makes us feel flushed but using chlorine-free, biodegradable cleaners is number one when performing this dreaded task. Shower surfaces, too, need a gentle touch to remove grime and even old soap residue. Where to find plant-based ingredients on the grocery shelves? Look no further.

10 Myths About Dry Cleaning

The labels say “dry clean only,” but we have found there are some garments that can be delicately handled at home. How do you know how to separate the fragile sweater and tough trousers? Learn about the myths of dry cleaning from the green soldiers who have braved hand washing and found it can clean even better than many of those pricey dry cleaning companies.

Here are some additional posts to make the most out of winter cleaning, from polishing metals for upcoming parties to keeping a ship-shape kitchen for everyday cooking and dining.

Non-toxic Tips for Cleaning Household Metal

Top 10 chemical-Free Cleaning Tips; How to Reinvent Spring Cleaning

Orange Knockout

Flying Saucers Did My Laundry

Main Image: Kimberly Robyn

The post The Green Glove Test: EcoSalon’s Round Up of Healthy House Cleaning appeared first on EcoSalon.

The sad truth is the carpets that hold up best to traffic are the ones coated with toxins. And we don’t want those in a place where humans dwell.

If you do have a healthy wool carpet in your home, you can still clean it without harsh chemicals like perchloroethylene – which the EPA has linked to kidney and liver damage. Naphthalene, made from coal tar, is also considered a carcinogen that can harm the central nervous system.

Ask cleaning services if they simply steam to lift dirt or apply shampoos to loosen those hard-to-clean coffee and wine stains. Treatments like Oxi Fresh use an oxygenated method by applying less water and natural ingredients. Some cleaners also use citrus-based products that smell much better than standard chemicals. Just check and see if their products are plant-based chemicals (Biokleen, NatureClean and Seventh Generation’s Natural Citrus Carpet Cleaner) or made with synthetics.

Here are some natural ways to go for maintaining cleaner carpet:

1. For daily maintenance, have guests and family members remove shoes when entering the house if you have carpet on the first floor. Otherwise, remove shoes before heading upstairs. Obviously there can be exceptions, such as when you are entertaining. Guests often complain about taking off shoes for a more formal event. They may have holy socks or need the height so their pants won’t droop.

2. ehow tells us to spot clean with vinegar and water by mixing equal parts into a spray bottle and applying to the stain, then blotting with a clean, dry towel. For tougher stains, you can make a paste of baking soda and water and coat the stain. Let the paste sit for about 30 minutes, then wipe away with a damp cloth. For deeper cleaning, they suggest going with biodegradable cleaners like AFM Safecoat added to a rented carpet cleaner.

3. Do It Yourself recommends regular vacuuming to prevent dirt and pet dander from settling into your carpet fibers, and to sprinkle on some baking soda before your sweep to eliminate potential orders. You can even add spice, such as cinnamon or cloves, in the baking soda before you spread it. Also, let the baking soda sit on the carpet to lift stains and dirt at least 10 minutes before you vacuum.

4. For spot removal, use a clean dry cloth or paper towel to soak up the spill and blot the stain rather than rubbing it. Once you blot it, apply club soda or soda water to dissolve and lift, then blot up the liquid. You also can use hydrogen peroxide and vinegar mixed with water or rubbing alcohol to lift the stains. You might also try making your own spot cleaner with a teaspoon of liquid dish detergent and one to two cups of water.

In terms of cleaning fiber rugs, such as sisal, it is best to just use water or soda water. These can be the hardest rugs to maintain because many products don’t work very well to get out the stains.

Let us know if you have some other tried and true green methods of carpet cleaning!

Image: adriagarcia

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We have long sung the praises of Midwestern textile designer, Amy Butler, who introduced an exotic, Indian-inspired organic bedding collection of five designs this year. She even rolled out rugs to match!

The lovely and much needed bedding (still can’t find organic in many of my favorite haunts) includes 400-thread count sheeting, elegant embroidery and paisley flourishes woven without harmful dyes.

Among my faves is the Bucharest motif (above) with patterns found in Romanian embroidery and the flourishes of formal gardens. While modern and bold, the charcoal gray and ivory palette imbues the collection with understated warmth. The duvet would be at home in many environments – perhaps even yours.

Leave a comment here and you could be sleeping in the bedding soon as part of our decor give-away.

I would even repaint my master boudoir gray to complement this lovely duvet. Hey, that rhymes! Lemon yellow would work well as a backdrop, too, don’t you think?

Image: Amy Butler Design

The post Amy Butler Bucharest Bedding Give-Away appeared first on EcoSalon.

If you’re not allergy prone and are in need of some volume to warm up your chilly hardwood floors this winter, the shaggy and smart area carpets from Larson Rugs are a great find. I have priced this breed of friendly fluff at designer carpet stores, and they can run up to $5,000 for anything bigger than a 4×6, which doesn’t cover much of the bedroom.

Not only are these hand tufted designs priced well for the quality, I also like that they are chemical free, using 100% wool. They come in multi shades like the floral palette above ($389 to $2,730 for a 7×10) or “NAKED” which is how the company refers to its undyed wool products, such as the ivory colored, ultra shaggy rug (below). The blond lady in the ad really seems to have found her bliss. Was it buried in the rug? Perhaps.

They also offer other materials for vegans who simply cannot tolerate any animal fall-out, including carpets made of silk, cotton or linen.

The post Herding Pure Wool Shag appeared first on EcoSalon.