Types of Area Rugs

You should always follow your sense of style when choosing something as critical as custom area rugs. Any floor covering in your home impacts interior beauty, design, décor, comfort, livability and upkeep. It’s a fact, floor coverings can make, or break, a home.

Because the number of area rug choices, patterns, colors, textures and price points can intimidate even the most experienced shopper, knowing the basic types of area rugs can provide you with a firm foundation upon which to begin your shopping journey.

Persian Rugs:

Most diverse styles worldwide
Over fifty different Persian styles woven in Iran and other countries such as India, Pakistan, China, and some European countries
A true Persian Rug is one that is hand knotted in Iran, formerly called Persia, and features a border to emphasize the main pattern
Several other narrower borders may also be part of the design
Don’t be fooled by borderless imitations
Date back to the fifth century BC
Considered an investment and keepsake
Sometimes passed down through generations

Oriental:

Recognized for warmth and intricate designs
Handmade rather than mass produced
Known to be extremely durable and long lasting
They are often made from natural fibers such as wool, silk or cotton and become works of art you will cherish for years to come.
Will not find antique oriental rugs made of synthetic blends
The pattern changes direction without warning
Comes from India, western China, Central Asia, Iran, the Caucasus or Turkey

Chinese:

Designs are very literal rather than decorative
Most motifs have very exact meanings
Motifs on Chinese rugs are stand alone
Traditional Chinese rugs are recognizable by their simple, classic motifs and unusual colors
Often feature a center, circular medallion; natural objects such as animals, flowers, and clouds; stylized Chinese ideographs; or entire scenes
Usually framed with a simple, wide border and many display contrasting colors
High quality and extremely durable

Turkoman:

Produced by nomadic weavers of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and the province of Khorassan in northeast Iran
Easily distinguished by: a dominant red to red-brown background color, geometric pattern, and a unique octagonal motif known as gul (Persian name for flower)
Layout is generally all-over and guls are repeated in rows with smaller guls of similar, geometric designs (minor guls)in between the rows of major guls
White, beige, black and blue are used to create color contrast in the motifs and the border of the rug

Caucasian:

Woven by tribal weavers of the region south of Russia, near the Caucasus Mountains, between the Black and Caspian Seas
Patterns are geometric
Designs tend to be stripes, crosses, squares, diamonds, hexagons, triangles, botehs, ‘S’ shapes (derived from old dragon designs), geometric animal figures and human figures
Common characteristic-positioning of similar shapes in different sizes next to one another
Colorful bright pallete
Colors of blue, red, purple, yellow, green, navy, black and beige can be combined in one rug

Tibetan:

Distinguishing characteristics are vivid colors, huge and few motifs, and plain, dominant backgrounds
Motifs are woven in red, orange, pink, yellow, beige, blue, green and white
Background colors are usually blue, black, red, orange, and less frequently, yellow or ivory
Designs are influenced by Chinese and East Turkestan styles
Designs can be geometric or curvilinear
Different types: medallions, the flower and rosettes, the mythological animal and birds, the geometrical designs, and the rugs used in monasteries for ceremonial purposes
Known for depth and richness achieved through subtle variation of color and texture
Woven exclusively with Nepalese wool-characteristically flexible, strong, lustrous and springy
Bold eclectic patterns and coloration and rich texture
Unique primitive sophistication

Indian:

Strongly influenced by those of Iran, mainly by the curvilinear styles
Popular designs of the 18th and 19th century, which Indo-mir is an example of, were mainly in the all-over layout with very small floral motifs such as plants, palmettos, rosettes and leaves
Often same motif repeated through the rug
Borders similar to the motifs in the field
Not much color contrast
Colors were mostly well coordinated to suit Western taste
Brownish red was the dominant color
Light and dark green and burnt orange also popular

Native American:

Weaving mainly associated with Navajo wool blankets
Blankets are flat weaves
Blankets date back to the late 18th century
Navajo fabrics woven on reservations in northern Arizona
Original styles consisted of stripes and simple geometric shapes
Four types of Navajo weaving: the Chief blankets, Serape blankets, Eye Dazzler weavings, and fabrics after 1890
Horizontal stripes with wide stripes and minor stripes at each end of the blanket and a wide strip in the center
Wide end and center stripes were colored in red and brown; sometimes blue was added
White and brown stripes woven between the wide center and end major stripes

East Turkestan:

Rare
Environmentally friendly
Prior to the Chinese occupation in 1878, the area in western China above Tibet was called East Turkestan
Area no longer called that, but are still labeled as East Turkestan
Also marketed under “Samarkand” because they used to be traded there
Main East Turkestan sub-styles include Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan
Still being woven on a small scale
Layout can be either medallion or all-over
Pattern is mainly geometric and long and narrow
Common design is the pomegranate and vase, which is a symbol of fertility
Vase symbolizes Mother Earth and the pomegranate is the fruit growing from Mother Earth

Kilim:

No two are alike
Flat woven textiles
Made by nomadic peoples in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Russia, China, Pakistan, India and Morocco
Turkish- Mediterranean colors, gold orange and turquoise
Iranian- burgundy, rust, heavy blues, and heavy greens
Kurdish –brighter, mixed with embroidery
Used as rugs to cover doors and windows, for their dwellings,
Used as prayer rugs
Major part of a bride’s dowry
Females weave each rug
Each piece contain symbols of the family traditions and tribal identity
No two hand-woven are exactly the same in color and size

Three Categories Of Rugs

Braided

Practical and beautiful
Constructed from wool or nylon, chenille and olefin or polyesters
Can be crafted into any size or shape
Very durable, hard wearing
Easy to care for

Flokati

Referred to as sheep skin rugs
Made of 100% hand-woven New Zealand wool
Originated in Greece 1500 years ago
“Shaggy” look
Contemporary style with long pile and natural colors

Naturals

Made from natural materials including: Sisal, Jute, Sea grass and Bamboo

Four Types of Naturals

Sisal:

Strong and versatile
Fibers come from the leaves of the Agave Sisalana plant that is grown as a renewable resource
Leaves of the plant produce a thousand fibers
Fibers range in color from straw yellow to a creamy white
Spun into yarn and then woven into carpet
By itself, tough on the feet
Can be combined with wool or nylon for a softer feel
Durable
Provide sound absorption
Anti-static
Naturally insulating
Fire resistant
Absorb moisture
Not recommended for use outdoors or in areas of water inside

Jute:

Woven with loop or flat construction
Fibers stripped from their stalks and can be spun into yarn or rope and woven
Yarn is strong and used as warps in knotted rugs

Sea grass:

Product of the paddy fields of China and India
Popular choice among designers
Natural beauty and strength
Stain resistant
Come in warm beige tones with undertones of green
Different patterns available such as Herringbone and Basketweave

Bamboo:

One of the fastest growing plants
Plentiful in supply
Strong and beautiful
Woven from natural bamboo fibers
Feature natural variations in color
Offer texture and style in a understated way