Many customers are curious about proper Navajo rug display. So does displaying Navajo rugs on the floor work? You bet it does, if you have the right rug. For example, I have had a contemporary Navajo rug by Irving Phillips (about 45″ x 90″) on the floor of my accounting office for the last 10 years. Structurally, it is as sound as the day I put it on the floor, though since it is has been exposed to dust and dirt for a decade, it is currently at a professional rug cleaner.
At the same time, not all rugs can be used in such a functional way. For instance, I also have a 42″ x 62″ Two Grey Hills weaving attributable to Bessie Manygoats on the wall of my office–I would never put this rug on the floor due to its age, rarity, and value.
So here are some guidelines for proper Navajo rug display on the floor. Stay tuned next week for guidelines for displaying rugs on the wall.
Two Grey Hills Rug
Navajo Rug Display on Floor
Any Navajo rug put on the floor should have a good rug pad underneath it, even if it is going on carpet. Rug pads cut down on the wear of the rug, and on hard surface floors such as hardwood or tile, the pad keeps the rug from slipping while you’re walking on. The rug pad should be made of an inert, non-acidic, dye-resistant material and should be at least 1/8 of an inch thick.
Do not display the rug in direct sunlight. If exposed to direct sunlight, the colors of the dye will fade.
Try to avoid putting furniture on the rug, but if you must, put some sort of coasters (preferably plastic or glass) under the furniture where it touches the rug.
Periodic cleaning is also important to extending the life of your rug and keeping it looking beautiful.
Let us know if you have any questions about Navajo rug display–we always love hearing about how people are sharing these works of art!
