We use cocktail and dining tables for full accessorization and have little specialty areas, wall systems and curio cabinets, where we display collections of pieces. We accessorize both areas completely, keeping price points in mind, and it's working well. They are renovating and redecorating rather than moving, and they have learned they can change the mood and color of their rooms with area rugs and accessories. Our sales have gone up considerably. People are stripping tired broadloom, refinishing wood floors and using area rugs instead.
Hooked rugs are still strong.
The pile is not as high, which helps to make machine made rugs more practical. Country braids are in, they're cozy, kind of back to pioneer days, and they are being used in more contemporary settings. Lodge is fading for homes, but still strong for cottages, resorts and retreats. For instance, when we sell a bed we also sell the mattress cover, sheet set, dust ruffles, pillow shams, and quilts. A bachelor bought a single bed the other day.