You spent a tidy sum on that beautiful rug, and now you ban shoes in the house and wince every time someone treads on your woven masterpiece. But "that's the opposite of what you should do," says Graham Head, president of ABC Carpet & Home, in New York City. "Rugs actually need to be walked on." Stiff wool softens underfoot, and a design takes on a more natural, less decal-like appearance. Head also advises buying a good underpad with rubber on the bottom to prevent sliding, and cushioning on the top for shock absorption.