The more knowledgeable you are on Oriental rugs, the more you will appreciate the craft and skill that goes into each individual rug. You will also get a better deal for your dollar.
One of the most important points to remember is that there are no solid rules to go by when purchasing an Oriental Rug. In the end it real comes down to how pleased you are with the look and quality of the rug you purchase.
I have put together seven tips that will help you brush up your Oriental Rug knowledge.
1. Understand how Oriental rugs are created
Oriental rugs are all woven on a loom. You’ll notice that all rugs go in a certain “direction” due to being woven on a vertical loom. You can tell which is the top end because the rug will look slightly lighter then looking at it from the bottom end.
2. Shop like it’s Hot, Research Oriental Rugs
Before you hit the shops, make sure you measure your floor space, you can even bring a rough sketch of the room with you.
Once you have visited a few shops you should get a rough idea about your favourites. So now it’s time to look at as many of them as possible to so you can sort out the price range. Just remember when going to a local rug store the price will usually be 2 to 5 times higher than on the internet.
It is often said that Oriental rugs are ‘perfectly imperfect’. There should always be minor inconsistencies which will show proof that the rug was not manufactured by machine. Oriental rug makers will even make an intentional mistake, if it is coming out perfectly, because of the belief that only a supreme being can make something so perfect.
Oriental rugs are a great way to add value to your home decor, not mention the quality rugs increase in value overtime.
3 You and Your House have Gotta Love the Rug
When shopping Oriental rugs, consider how you are going to use the it? Will the centre of the rug is going to be visible? Will anything be sitting on it? The great thing about Oriental rugs is that they will natural in most rooms. Don’t be afraid of placing them in highly trafficked areas, like corridors, or family rooms. The rugs are made to be walked on and seen.
4. Make sure it Feels Good
New Zealand and Tibetan rug wools are some of the best in the world. Make sure you ask where the wool came from, and feel it. It should be soft and smooth. Do you get premium wool from China or Iran? However beware! That if a rug feels to soft it has most likely been chemically treated (as sometimes found in cheap Chinese rugs).
5. Inspect the knots
There are two rules of thumb. Knot density is used for strength and fineness is used for clean design. To test knot density, push your fingers down the rug, if they feel tightly compacted then it will most likely be good quality. To test the fineness of the rug, compare the backs of different carpets. You will find there are a lot of bumps, they are knots. The small the knot the finer the carpet is.
6. Try Oriental Rugs Before you Buy
Most good dealers will let you take the rug home for a day to try it out in your enviroment. Make sure you view it in daylight.
7. Make Oriental Rug Supplier is Respectable
Obviously choose a shop that has been in business for many years. The most reputable dealers will show you all the samples of the rugs they have in stock. They will not push you to buy a certain rug, they will give you a wide range of options depending on your price range and design interest. Watch out for stores that keep going down then popping back up, they may not be there when you find something wrong with your rug.
An authentication certificate is also a good idea to check up on. As if you get one with your rug, it will add value in the future.
Happy Hunting!
Jean Lynn
