Oriental Rugs 101

Don't let the prospect of purchasing an Oriental rug intimidate you. Navigate the process by learning the facts before you start shopping – from handmade vs. manmade and Oriental vs. Persian, to degrees of wear resistance, durability, quality and more

By Chuck Ross
CTW Features

Get the facts on Oriental and Perisan rugs before you buy, and you can relax and enjoy your new purchase that much more. Image courtesy iStockphoto

The beauty of Oriental rugs is undeniable. Their designs, whether elaborate or simple, based on geometric, botanic and even animal motifs, are varied enough to suit any decorating style. And, when well made, the wool construction of these handmade floor coverings is sturdy enough to withstand most family settings – after all, they got their start as ground coverings in nomads’ tents.

However, the exotic origins of Oriental carpets can be off-putting to shoppers unsure of how to judge product’s quality. And scam artists often target rug buyers with going-out-of-business sales that never seem to end and fake close-out discounts that build in enormous margins before markdowns are taken. But a little knowledge and common sense can go a long way to counter such tactics and get you a rug you love at a reasonable price.

First, it helps to understand some terms. Professionals use “Oriental” to refer to hand-knotted carpets made on a loom. Some say such products should be made somewhere in Asia to be deemed truly oriental; however, others say it’s how a rug is made, not where, that earns a rug the title. “Persian” rugs, however, should come only from Iran – modern-day Persia – the home of what some consider to be the world’s finest rugs.

In some cases, you may want to consider whether you want a true Oriental, or a machine-made rug with an Oriental design.

“It comes down to an issue of price,” says Steve Boodakian, an advisor for TV’s “This Old House” series who works at his family’s Winchester, Mass.-based store Koko Boodakian & Sons. “Say you want to buy a 9 x 12 rug and you have $1,000 – often times the machine rug will wear better than a handmade rug [at the same price]. But the highest quality rug will always be handmade.”

Similarly, he says, though wool fibers hide soiling better than other fiber types, synthetics, such as nylon, might be better in highly abrasive settings, including well-trafficked stairways. For pure aesthetics, though, nothing beats a true handmade rug in Boodakian’s mind.

“There’s a certain look, a certain texture that a handmade rug has,” he notes, that machine-made rugs can’t match.

Once you’ve set your heart on handmade craftsmanship, it’s time to start thinking about the style of Oriental best suited to your home. Regions and tribes lend their names to innumerable pattern-and-color combinations that can be difficult to remember. Instead of getting bogged down in that level of detail, consider larger categories first as you begin your search.

For example, experts often differentiate between “city” patterns and nomadic or tribal designs. City rugs include sophisticated Persian styles, with tightly woven, ornate designs. These work well in formal and traditional settings. Tribal or nomadic rugs often have flatter piles and much simpler patterns – sometimes little more than bands of color – and can look wonderful against the clean lines of both Mission-style and contemporary furniture. Though some suggest shoppers use knot count – the number of knots tied within a square inch of the carpet’s pile – as a quality indicator, Boodakian suggests this measure is too simplistic.

“There’s not a knot-count threshold,” he says. “You want to make sure the knot count is appropriate to the style of the rug.”

A higher knot count can help weavers create the highly detailed patterns of formal city rugs, but less formal designs might suffer from such a tight weaving style, Boodakian suggests. “You’d lose the artistry of the piece,” he says. “It would have a very static appearance and lose that free flow.”

Another frequent question regards the use of dyes – whether shoppers should look for plant-based vegetal materials or synthetic chromium alternatives. Again, Boodakian suggests each has its place, depending on the rug. Tribal patterns can benefit from the translucent appearance vegetal dyes can create, he says, while chromium dyes can deliver crystal-clear colors that work well with more sophisticated city-rug patterns.

Finding a trustworthy rug dealer really just requires the same effort you’d put into shopping for furniture or appliances. You want to feel comfortable asking questions and seeing different offerings, without feeling pressured by artificial deadlines, like “private” sales and other ploys. Also, most reputable dealers will allow you to take a rug home before you make a final selection – either by leaving a credit card number or offering a complete refund if the rug is returned within a set period.

Boodakian warns against buying from merchants offering cut-rate prices in hotel- or storefront-based traveling showrooms.

“You do not want to buy rugs from an itinerant seller,” he says. “If something is not satisfactory, you want to be able to go back to them.”

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