Area rugs are one of the most versatile, handy and beautiful decorative pieces. They are extremely functional and easy to use in any part of the house. It's somewhat true to say then, that a house lacking with these decors look bare…incomplete. With the selections in colors, sizes, shapes, patterns, designs and fabrics, surely area rugs are decorations that can speak for the homeowner's taste and style. As with expressing oneself through art, thus including home design, area rugs are instruments to show one's personality.

Because they are so visually commanding, the appearance and design of an area rug can say much about the owner. Simple neutral rugs, for example, suggest a person that is clean and organized, and expects the home to be the same. Pieces with more color and fanciful designs, on the other hand, could suggest an artistic owner who gives in to whims and caprice. Whether you want to express an opinion or make a point about a personality, you can do so quite effectively with an area rug.

Another significant quality about area rugs is their ability to also appeal to the touch and not just to the sight. When we feel a lush and soft fabric cushioning our tired feet, we instantly feel relaxed. Cooking meals and washing the dishes is made more pleasurable with a comforting rug on the kitchen floor. So is getting inside the house with a bad weather made less dreadful with an area rug by the porch or entryway to deter the water, dirt or soil from staining our indoor floors.

As a decorating piece, an area rug can be a room's focal point or a stylish accent to a furniture or another decorative piece. It can also enhance a group of furnishings bringing together a cohesive look that makes for a well-coordinated interior. Because of the diversity in style, area rugs can meet any theme, motif or interior design.

I love area rugs as a hardwood floor cover. Decorative-wise, a brightly-colored area rug is an impressive contrast, an eye-catching piece when placed on a dark floor. Same is true with an area rug with an ornate pattern in the center of a hardwood floor. At the same time, it softens the noise that hardwood flooring emits from the footsteps, especially from my high-heeled shoes. Polishing the wooden floor is also made easier with little or no scratches as the floor is protected by the area rug.

Additonally, if you have a playroom or a child's bedroom, using an area rug as a floor decor does not only add to the colorful and cheery appeal of the space, but also safeguards your child from injuries, especially concerning slipping and stumbling accidents.

There is much to say about area rugs. The way they make a home more appealing, how they give a relaxing, comforting, cozy, and cheerful or whatever ambiance you want to have, and how they help make the task of cleaning a whole lot bearable are top three picks to rave about. I'm a homeowner myself and I can truly say that I can't live without area rugs.