If something seems to be missing in an otherwise well-decorated room, chances are an area rug will be your solution.

The least expensive choice is the dhurrie, a thick, flat-woven cotton rug made in India. It comes in a variety of color combinations, pastels being the most popular. The designs are geometric, with images of animals, flowers and people woven in a chiseled-looking fashion. Dhurries are quite charming and fit in well with most any decor. Prices vary from $150 to $1,000, depending on size and quality.

Next is the bordered rug. It can be of any size and shape, starting with a base color in the middle with strips of border added to the edges. The borders can be one strip in coordinating color, or they can be several strips in two or three colors.

The bordered rug's uses are innumerable, such as under a cocktail table or dining table, as a foyer piece or under an entire living-room set. Prices will depend on the quality of carpet, its shape and the number of borders tacked on the edges.

Then there's the inlaid rug. Anything your mind can conjure up, a good carpet designer can manifest. Just doodle on a piece of paper until you come up with at least a semblance of what you want.

Your designer can take it from there. Geometric, florals, birds, stars and stripes, fans, your name or initials are some seeds of ideas. Dream on. This rug can become a real focal point, a true design statement. Pricing here again depends on the carpet's quality and the design's complexity.

Oriental rugs have always been a symbol of wealth, and rightfully so. To those who can afford them, they are a great investment, because their value never decreases and sometimes actually increases. Most are woven by hand -- and are more valuable -- though some are machine-made.

All the decorations are meaningful, such as symbols for good health, wealth, prosperity, peace, etc. Silk Orientals are often woven with real gold threads, adding to the value. Wool Orientals are less expensive, though still a good investment.

All area rugs can be applied over any other floor covering -- over tile, marble, wood or other carpet. If you are building or remodeling, another option is to inset the rug in the tile, marble or wood, so you have a flush floor with no fear of tripping over the rug's corners and edges.

If an area rug is on your wish list, don't be afraid to spend a little extra to get exactly what you want. Rugs are a wise investment, as they will give you years of service and pleasure.

Author Rosemary Sadez Friedmann is an interior designer in Naples, Fla.

Scripps Howard News Service