No matter your décor or design preference, handmade rugs are never going out of style. They have always been and will always be sought out as a statement piece, and in many cases a work of art. They add a touch of design interest to your home or office, elevating the quality of your interior design, as well as adding protection to your hardwood floors.
Like any appraised piece of art, the details speak volume. To truly appreciate the variety of handmade (hand-knotted) rugs, let’s take a closer look. Learning the basics will help you understand and appreciate a true handmade area rug.
Identifying a handmade rug versus a synthetically produced area rug requires you to look under the hood or the rug in this case.
Quality handmade (hand-knotted) rugs are the same on top as they are on the bottom. Really? Yes, when purchasing a Persian, Oriental or Turkish rug you should look at it from both sides. They have the same soft material, exact same mirror image -usually an intricate design- and the fringe is part of the construction, not sewn or glued as on hand-tufted rugs (hybrid of machine created and hand-knotting).
The easy indicator of a machine made or synthetic rug is the hard-plastic backing. If you see one, run.
Any true handmade rug, Persian, Oriental or Turkish, is only made from natural wool or silk or a combination of the two and is always hand-knotted. They will never be made of synthetic material such as nylon, acrylic, jute or polypropylene. Never.
Like bed sheets, rug knot-count is a key indicator of quality and therefore dictates the value of the rug. The higher the knot-count, the higher the rug price but also higher the quality and durability. This goes for Persian, Oriental and Turkish rugs.
Typically, a Persian rug has very intricate and detailed designs. This is due to the asymmetrical knot, which doesn’t leave gaps and is less bulky.
Unlike the asymmetrical knot of the Persian rug, the Turkish or Oriental knot is symmetrical. They are famous for this knot which can be identified by two small bumps within a single knot on the back of the rug.
Now that you know the basics you should be ready talk rug shop. When you’re ready to purchase your Persian, Oriental or Turkish area rug, make sure you ask the right questions. Have the shop owner review these details with you.
Ready to choose the perfect rug for your living room? Shop for your perfect area rug by color, style, pattern, or design online. When you’re ready to pick one, you can buy it online or visit our showroom to see it in person.
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Handmade rugs are extremely durable and maintain their value, especially if taken care of with professional cleaning and basic maintenance tips and tricks. A professional area rug cleaning service can keep your Persian, Turkish or Oriental rug will look beautiful for years to come.
