Rotation

Rugs placed in regular use, in front of a sofa, under a dining table, in a corridor, develop wear patterns in the most-trafficked areas. If a rug is never rotated, these areas wear significantly faster than the rest of the surface, creating uneven pile height and, over time, visible worn patches.

Rotation by 180° every 6 to 12 months distributes this wear. For rugs with directional compositions (where the pattern "reads" from one end), rotation changes the reading direction, this is worth considering aesthetically before committing to a rotation schedule.

Light exposure is a parallel reason to rotate. Natural light entering a room at a consistent angle fades the part of the rug nearest the window faster than the far end. Rotation distributes this exposure.