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How to choose an Oriental rug

Oriental rugs are an investment

Believe it or not handmade Oriental rugs fall into the category of art work. Unlike paintings and
sculpture, Oriental rugs can be used throughout their lifetime and represent one of the best
investments you can make. They can be enjoyed as an art form, useful in their utility as a floor
covering and represent an investment that will appreciate in value over time. They can also be passed
down from generation to generation as it is not uncommon to find rugs over 100 years old that
remain in usable condition.

At 50 years an Oriental rug is considered semi-antique.
At 100 years an Oriental rug is considered an antique.


The 3 fundamentals of an authentic Oriental rug:

    It must be made of natural fibers. (Wool, cotton or silk).
    It must be woven completely by hand.
    It must be of Asiatic origin such as Iran, India, Russia, China, Tibet, Nepal, Morocco; hence 
     the term, “Oriental rug”.

Machine made Oriental design rugs lack at least one of these requirements and usually only last about
20 years. Where-as a high quality hand made rug can last 3 or 4 generations. An Oriental rug may be
genuine and still not be of fine quality. The quality of an Oriental rug is dependent upon the use of the
finest wools, the truest of color-fast dyes, and the most skillful hand-weaving techniques.


Factors that determine the quality of Oriental rugs:

Consistent weave; are there flaws in the weave? Look on the back side of the rug to detect
irregular weaving.

The rug should lay smoothly on the floor; does it ripple, pucker or wrinkle?

Consistent dyes; is the dye colorfast? Compare the colors on the front and back of the rug to
determine if the rug has faded. 
 
Straight edges and ends; the selvedges or the sides of the rug should be straight and properly secured.

Width dimensions should be the same at both ends.

Well finished ends; is the fringe straight and neatly cut? Rugs with-out fringe should have ends that are finished in a neat and secure manner.
 
Good long-staple, high elevation wool.

Has the carpet been washed; this should have been a light soap and water wash. (Once you
have purchased your rug it is best to let a professional rug dealer clean it for you).

High knot count; the tighter the knot, the higher the knot count and therefore the more
valuable the rug. The knot count can vary from as few as 20 to as high as 500 or more knots per
square inch. Although a high knot count does not necessarily mean the execution of the weave is superior.

Read our guide about knots!



Some guidelines to consider concerning size, design and color choice:


Size
 
For living rooms, family rooms and dens with wooden floors, set your furniture where you think is
best for the room. Measure the open space up to the sofa and chairs, making sure that when seated,
both of your feet should be on the rug. Allow 8 inches of exposed floor around the baseboards on all
sides. More than one rug is acceptable.

In the dining room pull the chairs away from the table, as you would to sit down, on both sides and
the ends. Now measure from the rear chair legs in width and length. Add 8 inches to this total
measurement. This will give you the minimum size needed.

In the bedroom, if the rug is under the bed, allow 3 feet on both sides of the bed.

Try to avoid having the rug end up in the middle of the doors or archway openings.


Design

A rug design with a center medallion should be centered with the center of the sofa. If it is off center it
will throw the room off balance. An all-over design works well to avoid this issue.

For small rooms, a small pattern is best to make the room appear larger.

For dining rooms a medallion centered under the center of the table works well or an allover pattern
works fine.


Color

The rug is probably the largest splash of color in any room. If you are decorating from the floor up,
shop for, but do not purchase at this point, the furnishings for size and style. Measure each piece and
lay out a pattern either on paper or in the actual room to determine the size of the rug that will
accommodate the furniture you have selected. Select your rug first, and then select upholstery to blend
with the rug. Next should come window treatments and walls.

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