Rug Source vs Rugs

Continued from above...

Some of the best rug stores really go the extra mile to help you make your purchase. How about a tool that lets you upload a photo of the room you've got in mind and see exactly what any given rug will look like in that space? Amazing, right? Pantone color codes for comparison, rug specialists available via live chat or toll-free number, and customer reviews complete with photos of how the rugs look in real life are just a few of the ways you'll be guided towards some fantastic options.

A few online rug stores focus solely on Persian and Oriental rugs, many of which are several decades old. Can you imagine the history behind a floor covering like that? Often sourced from estates (or even palaces), these rugs have a look and feel that is completely different from synthetic, mass-produced floor coverings - and sometimes with a correspondingly-high price tag!

Believe it or not, these one-of-a-kind rugs and their machine-crafted counterparts almost always have a 30-day return policy in case you change your mind or it just doesn't look quite right when you get it in place. Just watch out for the store's policy on return postage: some will cover it for you, but others make it your responsibility (which, as you'd expect, can be quite spendy for a larger rug).

Some retailers have thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of rugs to choose from. Overwhelmed yet? Before jumping in and trying to pick a good online rug store, you should keep these criteria in mind for a smoother shopping experience:

• Selection. Make sure the store has the kind of rug you want. There's no need to spend time poring over the inventory at a Persian rug specialty retailer if you're just looking for an outdoor rug for the patio. The more rugs a store has, the more likely it is that you'll find several options that would work.
• Shopping Tools. How does the store help you find what you need? Is it intuitive to use for narrowing down the options? Can you see how the rug would look in your home? With good tools, you minimize the chances of getting something you have to send back.
• Return Policy. Speaking of sending things back, does the rug store let you make a return? What are the terms, and who's responsible for the shipping costs back to the warehouse?
• Reputation. Have other shoppers had a good experience with the retailer? Some signs to look for are a positive rating ("A" or "A+" ) from the Better Business Bureau, equally high ratings from customers (both on individual products and about the store itself), and happy reviews from clients who have bought rugs there more than once.

TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and rated the best online rug stores available today. We're sure this information will help you find the right covering for any floor space, big or small!