The question of “are hand tufted rugs soft” is top of mind for homeowners looking to add warmth and coziness to their floors. As more people opt for handcrafted floor coverings over mass-produced options, hand tufting has gained immense popularity for its accessibility and lush texture. But how soft are these rugs actually?
Hand tufted rugs might seem appealing thanks to their production process which yields a fluffy surface. However, not all hand tufted rugs are created equal when it comes to softness and long-lasting comfort. The quality of materials used and manufacturing techniques employed plays a key role here.
In this guide, as a professional custom tufted rugs manufacturer, we’ll analyze different factors that determine “are hand tufted rugs soft” or not, along with care and maintenance tips to retain plushness. Let’s get started!
What Makes A Hand Tufted Rug Soft? Key Considerations
The tactile experience of stepping onto a soft rug greatly enhances any space. When searching for the perfect area rug, hand tufted rugs naturally capture attention with their cozy appearance. But what really makes them soft? Here are the key elements:
Materials Used
The materials that go into crafting hand tufted rugs have a big influence on softness. Natural fibers like high-quality wool and sumptuous silk generally yield supreme softness compared to synthetic fibers.
Wool is inherently soft and insulating. Get hand tufted rugs woven from pure New Zealand or merino wool for unbeatable warmth and squishy texture underfoot. Wool also remains fluffy despite consistent use.
Silk takes opulence to the next level while feeling like a dream! Hand tufted rugs containing silk pile or highlights infuse spaces with a luxurious sheen and irresistible softness. They instantly glamorize interiors.
On the other hand, nylon and polyester used in budget friendly hand tufted rugs compromise softness substantially. They simply cannot match the extravagant softness of natural fibers.
Weaving Tightness
The density and tightness of woven tufts also determine hand tufted rug softness. A higher knot count indicates dense, compact weaving with tightly packed tufts or pile for a plusher rug.
Loosely woven rugs with low pile height and fewer tufts per square inch lack that pillowy texture under your feet. Closely spaced, deep tufts fetched in a tight weave make hand tufted rugs indulgently soft and springy.
Yarn Thickness
Thicker yarn strands lend sumptuous softness in hand tufted rugs rather than thin, almost thread-like ones. Hand tufted carpets made from deliciously thick chenille or wool yarn feel heavenly against bare soles. Their substantial construct prevents flattening even in high traffic zones of homes for persistent cloud-like softness.
Shearing and Trimming
Proper finishing of freshly hand tufted rugs also augments softness. Once glue drying and backing attachment concludes, shearing the rug pile evenly down to an optimal length unveils a neat, uniform surface. This process gets rid of uneven tufts for balanced softness across.
Why Choose A Soft Rug? Key Benefits
Now that you know how hand tufted rugs gain their signature softness, let’s examine why you should choose one over other rug styles. Here are some meaningful benefits:
Unbeatable Comfort
This benefit tops the list for using soft hand tufted rugs in living spaces. The indulgent, pliable texture stretching out under your feet delivers indescribable comfort. Hand tufted rugs conform to feet beautifully unlike hard flooring materials. You’ll enjoy lounging on these rugs too!
Soothing Cushioning
Superbly soft rugs provide luxurious cushioning against hard floor surfaces like concrete, tiles or even older carpet beneath. They diffuse impact to reduce stress and joint pain issues related to extensive periods of standing or walking on unyielding ground.
Natural Insulation
Wool and silk boast unparalleled heat retention properties to keep indoor areas cozy. Using sumptuous materials like these, hand tufted rugs insulate feet far better compared to synthetic rug counterparts and bare floors. Their unmatched warmth also helps conserve energy spent on heating systems.
Aesthetic Appeal
Hand tufted rugs crafted from lavish wool and silk fibers look exceptionally upscale too. That coveted sheen coupled with the urge to touch enhances appeal tremendously. Even budget-friendly hand tufted rugs with synthetic materials and smart designs blend into households seamlessly.
Overall, who wouldn’t want a super snuggly rug welcoming them home?
How To Choose The Softest Hand Tufted Rugs?
Now that you know why supremely soft hand tufted rugs are irresistible, how do you select the perfect one for your space? Follow these tested strategies:
Opt For Natural Materials
Splurging on the highest quality wool or wool-silk blend guarantees remarkable softness and longevity. Seek out reputable hand tufting artisans proficient in handling delicate wool and silk yarns for outstanding results.
Evaluate Density
Examine knot count per square inch and tuft compactness. Ample, tightly packed tufts spanning smaller surface areas feel plusher. Also check out thickness to approximate density. Hand tufted rugs over half an inch or more promise indulgent softness.
Assess In Person
Don’t finalize rug purchases without experiencing softness firsthand. Bend a corner and touch tufts to get a clear idea regarding springiness, puffiness and surface smoothness. Press down with palms to gauge cushioning capacity too. This helps avoid unpleasant surprises later.
Read Product Specs
Rug labels and product descriptions furnish useful softness indicators like material composition, yarn type, construction specs, pile height, thickness, knot counts etc. These metrics offer some idea on prospective performance to simplify selection.
Armed with this intel, you can now handpick the perfect hand tufted rug promising persistent deluxe softness for your space. Time to start shopping!
How To Keep Hand Tufted Rugs Soft? Pro Care Tips
Investing in a decadently soft hand tufted wool or silk rug calls for proper ongoing care. Here’s how to safeguard indulgent softness after bringing one home:
Frequent Vacuuming
Make vacuuming hand tufted rugs a weekly habit. This clears away household dust and grit trapped within fibers that can abrade and flatten piles over time. Use only vacuum cleaners with adjustable height and suction power. Turn off beater bars to prevent fringing damage.
Annual Professional Cleaning
While hand tufted rugs with natural fibers can handle gentle home steam cleaning, professional deep cleaning once a year refreshes them thoroughly. Professional rug cleaning equipment tackles embedded residues from spills, urine etc better to restore original texture and flexibility of wool or silk tufts.
Rotate Periodically
To promote even wear, rotate area rugs seasonally in high traffic zones. This redistributes concentrated foot impact for evenly preserved pile across instead of matted down zones forming. Rotate front and back too for preventing color changes from light exposure also.
Block Direct Sunlight
Fading complaints remain common with hand tufted rugs. Shield even colorfast wool and silk fiber rugs from prolonged harsh daylight falling through unobstructed windows. Intense ultraviolet radiation degrades fibers over time, diminishing softness and sheen substantially.
With these easy measures, your hand tufted rug will stay irresistibly plush for years! Go ahead, give your feet a welcoming treat.
Are Hand Tufted Rugs Soft: The Bottom Line
At this point, you should have a clear perspective on “are hand tufted rugs soft” or not. To recap, hand tufted rugs made using fine wool and silk coupled with dense constructions indeed promise extraordinary softness.
However, quality inconsistencies do exist. So be very meticulous with component analysis and in-person assessments before purchasing hand tufted rugs labeled ‘soft’. Following professional care protocols later ensures retained plushness for delighting bare soles for extended durations!