Talk about a keepsake!

Area rugs are believed to be the oldest form of human-crafted floor covering, and while you may remember or still own a family heirloom, think of this relic:

The oldest surviving rug specimen, known as the Pazyryk and dating to the 5th Century BC, was found frozen in the ice more than 50 years ago by a Russian archaeologist exploring a Siberian burial site. It featured hand-knotting still popular today with patterns, rich colors and detail reportedly still intact.

And if you think area rugs have to be small, consider the famous “Spring of Khosrows” owned by the King of Persia. It measured some 100 feet wide and 400 feet long and weighed tons! This behemoth featured gold, silver, solid emeralds and scenes of birds and flowers.

These rugs were intended from the start to be cherished and to last a long time. As unusual as they were then and now, they served a purpose other than covering the floor.

Even after thousands of years, the area rug remains a popular and practical design element as a focal point and protecting high-traffic areas.

So, why not think of your own area rugs not as last-minute afterthoughts but as integral parts of your interior décor and keepsakes and art to be handed down from generation to generation.

The shrinking of the world stage has offered us not only rugs from around the world but motifs, color combinations and materials from other cultures. Think of how your home changes with a Renaissance-inspired tapestry or South American sisal in a wilderness theme and how different materials and textures from woven silk to multilevel, multitextured wool instantly change the look and feel of your space.

There’s been a growing interest in collectible or keepsake rugs which can be brought out seasonally or for special occasions. These conversation pieces can liven up a room or create a family tradition everyone looks forward to revisiting.