I love area rugs.  They can do so many things for a room.  Add color, pattern, warmth (tangible and visual), and  help define a space in a large room. I believe that area rugs can be considered artwork for your floors.

Wool is most often the best material to use for longevity, feel underfoot,  and rich color of the fibers.  Wool is easy to care for as long as you own a vacuum (and actually use it !) and are willing to professionally clean your rugs about once a year.

Take a look at some rugs shown below and think about how you can use an area rug to change the look and feel of your rooms.