Oriental rugs are unmatched for elegant floor coverings. The intricate patterns are created by hand weaving and knotting thousands of individual strands of wool or silk. This labor-intensive process makes the price of oriental rugs high and you will want to choose carefully when buying one of these treasures for your home.
The first step in choosing the perfect Oriental rug for your room is to measure your room. This will give you an idea of the sizes of rugs that will work for you. Oriental rugs can also be purchased for stair runners. These require you to measure the stairs and to count the number of risers.
When you go shopping for area rugs, it is important to carry a photo of the room with you. This will help as you choose colors and rug patterns. You will find Oriental area rugs in a variety of beautiful colors. Patterns include floral, geometrics, pictorials and decorative.
Make sure to consider the type of material the area rug is made of. Area rugs made of wool are soft and resilient and exude warmth. Silk Orientals are not as rugged as wool rugs but they are luxurious. However, they are best suited for low traffic areas and warmer climes. Oriental rugs may sometimes be made of "art silk" which means they are rayon.
Ask about the rugs history. What country was the rug made in? Persia is the capital of Oriental rug production. True Orientals can come from Afghanistan, China, Turkey, Nepal, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Romania, Morocco and Egypt. You not find authentic Oriental area rugs from any Western country. Also, within each country certain areas will specialize in certain types of rugs. While Oriental rugs are made all over Turkey, the most elegant are made in the city of Hereke.
When you are considering an Oriental it is important to examine the rug closely. Feel free to turn the rug over to see the weave. Some rugs have been aged using artificial methods. These rugs have been washed and painted and will be lighter on the back. With normally aging fading would not occur on the back, as it is not exposed to light.
The knot count of an Oriental area rug is also important. A higher knot count will usually point to a more intricate design. Higher know counts also mean a higher durability. Unfortunately, a higher durability and more intricate design also equal a higher price tag.
Another tip for buying an Oriental area rug includes testing the rug to determine if it is colorfast. If you rub a damp rag across the rug and color comes off you do not want to purchase the rug.
Part of the fun for many people in buying an Oriental is bargaining. Always ask the sales person if they can do better on the price. You can count on most Orientals being priced between $20 and $80 dollars a square foot. Prices will vary depending on where the rug was made.
By:Sarah Crosset
