Traditional style rugs replicate the classic patterns, colors, and styles of antique rugs. Below we outline some of the most popular rugs in the traditional style category.

Oriental or Persian

• 'Oriental' is an out-of-date term meaning 'of the East', with 'the East' being defined as a vast region reached by early European explorers when they travelled east over the Mediterranean Sea or by circling the southern tip of Africa. Oriental rugs loosely classify any rug in one of the original styles characteristic of these regions' rug weavers.
• Rug weaving began due to funcitonal necessity, and evolved into an art. Rugs were originally created by travelling tribes of shepherds who made themselves blankets and floor mats for comfortable sleeping. The craft was developed to include hand-woven flat weave rugs as well as dense, cushiony, cut-pile hand-knotted rugs, and a variety of other interpretations that developed into unique design and manufacturing traditions.
• Persian and oriental rugs feature intricate patterns, including many that specific to particular tribes of weavers. The motifs and patterns used can identify where an ancient rug was made, and who made it.
• Western explorers who found these beautifully handmade rugs recognized their exotic aesthetic appeal and purchased them for consumers back home. As demand for the beautiful 'oriental' rugs developed, so did the trade.
• The oriental rugs were originally made, from start to finish, completely by hand. Wool was sheared from sheep or goats and spun into yarns that were woven or knotted together on ancient loom structures. For hundreds of years this trade progressed, and while the traditional hand-made techniques for rug weaving are being replaced with more efficient machines as well as synthetic dyes and materials, the traditional patterns of the original oriental and persian rugs are still being manufactured today. Handmade imported rugs are usually more expensive than the machine-manufactured alternatives.

Tribal Flat-Weaves

• Many tribal flat-weave rugs are also examples of oriental or Persian styles. Styles like kilims and dhurries were woven originally by nomadic peoples to be used as blankets. However, similar weaving styles are also characteristic of Native American and Central American rugs, including rugs that fall under the often misused classification of Navajo rugs.
• Flat-weave rugs are made on looms. Warps are stretched vertically from the bottom to the top of the loom. The wefts are then woven through the warps to create a flat textile surface.
• Patterns in flat-weave rugs must be simple, due to the weaving technique. Therefore, geometric and simple pastoral designs are typical of the tribal flat-weave rug styles.

Aubusson and Savonnerie

• Aubusson and Savonnerie rugs are related styles that originated in France in the 15th century. Elegant, floral, and extremely popular with modern designers, Aubusson rugs are making a resurgence in modern homes.
• Typically featuring floral medallions in open fields, Aubusson rugs were originally flat-weave rugs. Today the Aubusson patterns have been adapted into more foot-friendly pile rugs. The Aubusson is the model for many contemporary Indian and Persian rug styles.
• Savonnerie rugs have always been pile carpets, and look similar to Persian rugs from Kerman. Savonnerie rugs have an impressionist quality that many people find to be very appealing.
• Aubusson and Savonnerie styles have evolved into several main styles over the course of the following centuries, right up until the turn of the 20th century. Other style names for the Aubusson and Savonnerie designs include Antoinette, Josephine and Maison.

Transitional style is easy to approach for the do-it-yourself designer. Transitional rugs combine both contemporary and traditional design styles into one, creating a look that is both classic and modern. Transitional rugs join contemporary elements like animal prints with traditional borders, simplify antique patterns into clean lines and shapes, and add bright colors to the antique look of traditional rugs.

The versatility of transitional rugs makes them a good choice if you're not sure which of the less flexible styles suits your taste or your home – transitional carpets work in pretty much any setting.

Floral

• Floral rugs are generally good examples of the transitional style. Floral patterns can be contemporary, but most fall somewhere between traditional Aubusson or Persian styles and more modern, abstract designs. Floral rugs and their botanical printed cousins add color and a welcoming breezy feel to a room or home.
• Tone-on-tone florals and botanicals, particularly Japanese inspired designs featuring bamboo and cherry branches, are a popular trend in transitional rugs.

Braided

• Braided rugs are classic examples of American folk art and tradition. Also known as rag rugs, braided rugs are made from multi-colored pieces of fabric that have been braided together and then sewn into concentric circles to create a broad floor-covering textile. With a distinctive feel of casual country style, braided rugs are not quite contemporary, and not quite traditional - even though they may remind you of grandma's kitchen! Braided rugs are usually washable and easy to care for, making them a great choice for outdoor or kitchen use.

Contemporary rugs have developed magnificently into an exquisite array of styles. The range of patterns and materials available is spectacular - designers' dreams come true!

Geometrics

• Circles, squares, stripes and swirls...geometric rugs can add bold life to a room with both color and style. Choosing a geometric print for your room will create a contemporary and urban look, if paired with chic modern furniture. However, when paired with more traditional furniture styles, a geometric rug can give your room a welcoming transitional feel.
• Many geometric rugs have embossed patterns, where the designs of the rugs are enhanced with careful hand-trimming around each shape. The embossed look gives the geometric shapes an elegant depth.

Animal Print

• Animal prints add exotic appeal and an air of adventure to a room. Bold, contrasting, yet neutral colors go well with many furniture styles, and definitely create a contemporary look.
• With leather-upholstered furniture, zebra print rugs can look sophisticated and modern.
• Some animal print rugs appeal to children and young adults. Create a safari themed room for your child with an animal print rug and accessory furniture that inspires your son or daughter to imagine an exciting jungle expedition.

Modern Art

• The contemporary rug category includes a variety of styles designed or based upon the works of modern artists, including Andy Warhol, Wassily Kandinsky, Mark Rothko and even Jackson Pollock.

Bamboo and Sisal

• These simple mats have the wonderful appeal of being easy to take care of, and naturally aging well.
• The natural look of a bamboo mat or sisal rug is wonderful in so many types of rooms, particularly in high traffic entryways and bright spacious rooms with Asian-inspired decor.

Shag and Flokati

• Those first steps out of bed in the morning can be harsh... but not if you have a luxurious shag or flokati rug to step into! These decadent, thick pile rugs feel wonderful to feet, and their solid colors and unique textures can add great contemporary style to a room.
• Shag rugs are typically made of synthetic fiber yarns, while flokati are a traditional pile rug made from wool fibers. Both styles are fluffy and fun, especially for your toes!