shag rug

The Shag Rug Phenomenon

People’s nostalgia for the style and aesthetic of the 1960s and 1970s has exploded and, with it, a demand for the shag rug. The shag rug has an interesting history, and a fun look and feel, but there are some considerations to keep in mind if you are planning to add one to your home decor.

The History of Shag

The Ancient Greeks were the first to experiment with shag rugs as early as 331 B.C. They were known as flokati rugs then, and the Greeks wove them by hand from goat hair. They were popular because they were comfortable to sit on and warm, and their use spread throughout the Greek Empire to Turkey and Central Asia. As you might imagine with any kind of hand woven rug, flokati rugs were “high end,” acquired by kings and rich men for their luxurious homes and palaces.

In the 1960s, as Americans moved out to new homes in the suburbs, they wanted something completely different from the types of carpeting and rugs their parents had been using for their new spaces. The shag rug with its unique and odd look was perfect. The wall-to-wall shag rug was so popular that it’s become associated with this period of time in the same way the colors rust and avocado green are. It’s such an iconic look – which is why it’s making a comeback now.

What Is Shag?

A shag rug is a rug that has a high pile made of strands of yarn or upright loops – tall tufts that lay down instead of standing straight up. These long strands make the carpet look “shaggy.” Shag rugs are a fun and relaxed decor choice, but they can also be challenging to keep clean. If you have shag rugs or carpeting, you need to have a vacuum that is strong enough to clean under the blanket of fibers but gentle enough not to pull them out of the carpet’s backing or otherwise damage them.

A frieze rug is a cousin to the shag rug. Its tightly twisted fibers give it a similar look, but they are shorter and curlier. Frieze rugs are very durable. Both frieze and shag rugs’ “messy” look can hide small stains that a flat carpet or rug cannot.

Adding a frieze or shag rug to a hardwood floor makes for an interesting visual contrast. Every hard floor needs a nice area rug, so if you’re looking to make a change in your space, consider shag. Or, for a little more money and greater luxuriousness, invest in a flokati rug. They’re still being made by hand and enjoyed by homeowners today.

 

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