The Once-Popular Household Material That You Should Reconsider Using In Your Space

After decades of what seemed like a total disappearance from the trends list of modern home design, is shag carpeting coming back in style? With its long, fluffy fibers, this material naturally appeals to people who crave floor coverings that are soft and indulgent to the touch. Aside from making any room in the house cozier, shag rugs and carpets bring personality and visual warmth to any space. Hence, it's completely understandable if you are considering this material for your next home upgrade. However, there are reasons why this once-popular household item seemingly faded into obscurity before its resurgence, and keeping them in mind may help you decide whether shag rugs or carpeting is going to be such a great addition to your home.

What made shag materials so beloved in the past for their luxurious feel might also be what caused homeowners to turn away from them in the first place. Apparently, aside from giving the material its signature fluffy and sink-in texture, the deep pile hides and traps dust, debris, crumbs, food particles, pet hair, and dander — all of which can accumulate quickly and create an unhealthy buildup of dirt. This can become a breeding ground for microbial growth, eventually causing unpleasant odors that are hard to eliminate with just regular vacuuming. In short, shag rugs and carpets aren't ideal for allergy sufferers and those who want to maintain a clean household, since they require frequent cleaning and maintenance that most people don't have the equipment, time, and patience for.

Shag rugs and carpets were a household staple during the '60s and '70s, when bold and experimental home décor was the norm. From wall-to-wall carpeting to bathmats and even toilet seat covers, the material became a paragon of the era's eclectic aesthetic — what we now regard as vintage style. But as charmingly retro as they were, shag rugs and carpets eventually began to feel outdated. According to Sarah Lichtman (via Apartment Therapy), associate professor of design history at Parsons School of Design in NYC, more than the health and hygiene concerns, another reason that caused the hype to die down was the switch to pared-down styling after the overwhelming and over-the-top home design trends of the previous decades. When the 1980s arrived, minimalist-driven styling forced homeowners to rip out their shags for sleeker, more polished, and low-maintenance flooring. In particular, vinyl flooring became the defining '80s aesthetic.

More recently, shag rugs returned in more subdued colors and less funky designs, but their major cons remain. They are still as impractical and more difficult to maintain than other options. Their lush fibers are prone to matting, tangling, uneven tearing, or shedding. Even with vacuum cleaners that can clean shag carpets, the material is quite hard to maintain without professional help. So, unless you are fine with it being a high-maintenance floor covering, there's really no reason for you to invest in a shag carpet or rug.