Keep muddy paw prints off your best carpets with a hall runner

And that doesn’t just mean dog prints either. Everyone has had the experience of opening the door to someone and realising to their horror that the visitor intends to tramp through the house will all manner of yuck adhering to their feet. It’s very rude of course, but many of us don’t feel comfortable asking guests to take their shoes off, especially if the visit is just a short one, for example reading the meter. However, no one likes to spend good money on lovely rugs through the house to have them trampled on by grubby feet, especially if they have splashed out on some expensive silk traditional rugs or some lovely shaggy wool rugs which really can trap the crap. So, what’s to be done?

Buy a natural fibre hall runner

If you have a farmhouse style interior there is nothing better in the hall than a natural coir or raffia hall runner. They look the part and they really trap the dirt. Not only that, the dirt, when dry, falls through and so you don’t pick it up on the return trip and traipse it all through the rest of the house. There is also a chance that the visitor, realising that you have taken steps to protect the floor, will at least wipe their feet – but that may be just a dream! Natural rugs are easy to keep clean as well; you should vacuum all floor coverings regularly anyway but coir really responds to daily cleaning and a damp mop (not sopping, just damp) will take away the surface dirt very well. They also like a good shake outside but be careful – a long hall runner made of coir or any natural material can be quite heavy, so it isn’t a job for one.

Dogs are the worst, though!

Although thoughtless people do tend to drag dirt in on their feet at least as a rule they have watched where the step. It goes without saying that by and large dogs don’t give a hoot where they put their feet; in fact, they can pretty much be relied upon to find anything smelly, sticky and gruesome that is around when they are out for a walk. If you have dogs or have friends with them, a hall runner that can be washed easily at regular intervals might be more the kind of thing that would help you keep the rest of the house dog-yuck free. Whether you use a smaller one which will pop in the washing machine daily or a larger one that you can hose down outside, a washable hall runner will help you keep the house cleaner and fresher and without the pervading air of not just dog but everywhere the dog has been. Hall runners don’t have to look as if they are there just to keep dirt at bay, either. Whether washable or natural fibre, they can also look very handsome while they work!

Noisy neighbours and what to do (and what not to do!)

An Englishman’s home is his castle, or so the saying goes and most people find that they are much happier when they can be in their own home and shut the door for some privacy. But lots of people find that the noise made by neighbours ruins their enjoyment of their own space and increasing numbers are contacting their councils or even the police to make peace. In some extreme cases people have actually resorted to physical violence when a neighbourly dispute gets out of hand.

Simple measures first

Unfortunately, arguments between neighbours are given coverage on the media when they result in horrendous situations involving court cases and even bodily harm. Most are dealt with much more simply and perhaps the easiest thing is just to tap on the door and mention that the noise is not acceptable. Make a joke of it if you can and certainly don't go in all guns blazing. If you live below someone in a flat and they seem to have a herd of elephant up there, why not treat them to a thick modern rug for the lounge or a hall runner if that is the problem area. Choose a neutral rug so it will go with any decor and they should be suitably grateful. Don't make trouble in the first instance should be your watchword.

Don't try tit for tat

If friendly approaches haven’t worked or if you feel it has got worse after your first attempt, don't try and drown the noise with some of your own. This can be used against you if things escalate so it is best to just behave as normal and don't start DIY projects at three in the morning just to get even. Without making an undue fuss about it, visit other neighbours to see if they are affected. If a group of you makes an approach, it might have more impact. If you did try buying your heavy footed neighbour a shaggy rug to try and minimise the noise, don't ask for it back if it doesn’t work – that will only make things worse.

There may be a reason

Find out first whether there is a reason for the noise. There may be problems on the domestic front or perhaps a child who is going through a phase. Although this won't stop the noise, a little understanding makes it all a little easier to bear.

Rug Zone featured on ITV’s This Morning Program

One of the strange thing about having an online rug business is the unexplainable peaks and troughs of the sales patterns. At around lunchtime today the server suddenly went into overdrive with an unexpected intake of orders. After quick peek at Google Analytics the Real Time statistics confirmed there was an unusually high volume of visitors to the website.

Further investigation revealed that some of our visitors had seen us on TV. Then it dawned on us, “It must be the rugs we sent to This Morning Program, two days previous”. Yes, Linda Barker was doing a feature “Bring the countryside castle look to your home” and requested one our Antique Effect Medallion Natural Look Rugs in Grey for the feature. Linda has also used the same rug on 60 minute makeover and even uses it as a backdrop for many the home decor items on her own ecommerce site www.reallylindabarker.co.uk. Which tells me that she must have a genuine affiliation to the rug.    

As an online rug retailer we always look for something different or out of the ordinary and the Antique style flat woven rug with its funky flatweave texture really fits that bill. Unfortunately it never appealed to the majority UK consumers, so once the current stock is sold it won’t be repeated. But don’t despair, if like Linda Barker you dare to be different, we always have stocks of some weird and wonderful.rugs... just because we too get sick of the same old designs and textures you can see on every website.

Many thanks to the team at This Morning for a great feature, you can view the article at itv.com

Nursery furnishings for your new rug rat

When you have your first baby, it is easy to get a bit carried away with buying stuff for the nursery because there are just so many gadgets out there in the marketplace and they all manage to persuade you that you won't be able to live without them. Some things are important of course and anything that enhances baby’s safety is essential buying, but some of the items costing quite substantial amounts of money are only appropriate for the first few weeks and so you have to wonder whether you really do need them or not.

Cot or crib?

A great big cot is perhaps a bit overwhelming for a small baby but you can buy a carry cot that will fit inside it for the early months. Some of the high end price cots can be adjusted for different bed heights so you can make the same piece of furniture do for years and if you have the cost of one of these in your budget it will certainly save money in the long run. But most people need a carry cot, so the other option is perfectly okay. As long as the nursery is clean and quiet, with some attractive decor such as a bright modern rug on the floor and some pictures on the wall, there is no need to pay a fortune.

Pink or blue?

With scans being pretty accurate these days you can decorate with confidence if you choose to go down the traditional road. However, many baby items come in very bright colours these days so you could take the ‘neutral’ idea and use just a few spots of colour such as lime green or cranberry. This will give you more scope later when baby becomes a toddler becomes a teenager (and that doesn't take as long as you think!) and all you will have to do is change the natural rugs for something more grown up for example a shaggy rug in a bright colour to change the whole look of the room.

When it’s time to share

Not everyone has room to have nursery separate from another child’s bedroom and in these cases it is important to keep territories separate. Using furniture to divide a room is a handy way to stop baby invading an older sibling’s space and that way you won't have tears before bedtime.