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Best Oriental RugsFloor coverings go back to the earliest days of civilization, starting with simple woven mats and ending today in synthetic stain-resistant carpets. People have always needed to cover or protect their floors, and design and decor needs have become the driving factor in recent centuries as rugs have been used to define and anchor spaces in small and large rooms. Persian rugs are some of the oldest, most traditional kind of rugs available. Traditionally they were hand woven from wool, their intricate patterns requiring great skill and experience to create. Some oriental rugs were also made of silk, but these are much more expensive and less durable than a good woolen rug.
Buying a Persian RugWhen shopping for a oriental rug or persian rug, your first step is determining what size rug you need. Measure the area you wish to cover, whether it is a room, hallway, or dining area. For the best rugs, look for rugs made in Iran. This is the traditional Persian rug center, with skilled craftsmen, long lasting vegetable-based dyes and pigments, and high quality wool. More and more rugs are being made in China, Pakistan, Turkey, and India (especially) these days, but while you may save money, you will lose in quality and durability. If you are buying an expensive rug ($5K plus) ask for certificate of authenticity - this will aid you in reselling it some day. You should also know the age of your rug, as older rugs are generally more valuable assuming they are in good condition. A good oriental rug dealer will not pressure you into a sale. They should be willing to spend time educating you about the rugs, from manufacturing to care and cleaning.Most people need to see and touch larger rugs to get a real idea what they will look like in their home, so we suggest finding a local rug dealer near you rather than simply buying online. At a minimum, spend some time in a rug shop to get an idea of what your favority makes, styles, and colors are. Then, if you prefer to shop online for lower prices or larger selection, you at least have some experience and know what you are getting. For more expensive oriental rugs, there is usually plenty of room to haggle over prices, so if you do find lower prices online, don't hesitate to bring it up and see if you can get a price match from the rug dealer. In the Internet Age, most retailers know they are competing with online stores and are willing to cut deals to keep your business. You may also run across estate sales selling oriental rugs - make sure you know the condition and history of the rug before bidding though, as all sales are final. We found a couple of online oriental rug stores with good selection and prices. Rugman.com caught our attention with their huge selection. With over 4000 rugs to choose from, you are sure to find something you like. A large Tabriz 7x10 rug runs about $4000, while the same size Goravan is about $1200. A nice patterned Kashan rug (7'9" x 11') was on sale for $1028 -- this is a hand-knotted rug from Iran, which can take almost a year to weave. They also carries runners for stairs and hallways, and small and medium rugs for whatever room you need to decorate. They offer free shipping on most orders, which take about 2-4 weeks for delivery of custom items. For handmade persian rugs, they offer an amazing 6 month guarantee - you can return it any time if you decide you don't like it (this is a great guarantee for an online business). Secondly, check out Rugs-Direct.com for even more beautiful oriental rugs. If you want a BIG rug and have the money for it, how about this 14' x 24' Tabriz rug for $14K? Not cheap, but an AMAZING rug! They also carry contemporary and outdoor rugs, so there is a lot of variety if you are interested in more than just oriental styles. Cleaning an Oriental Rug - Caring for your persian rugYou'll want to be sure to purchase a rug pad when you buy your oriental rug. It should have the same footprint as your rug. A rug pad protects your rug and extends its life and prevents slipping on smooth floors. You can get an 8X10 rug pad for about $100, while large ones (12x18) might cost $250 or so. When it comes to cleaning an oriental rug, you need to be careful. The first step is preventative - take your shoes off when you come in from outdoors, especially if the rug is in a high traffic hallway. The second step is to determine how dirty your rug is (other than obvious stains). You can pick up a corner and whack it or kick it and see if a bunch of dirt or debris flies out in a cloud - if so, you are probably ready to have your rug cleaned. For small, inexpensive rugs, you can clean them yourself by vacuuming both sides and then washing wish mild rug shampoo - be sure to rinse thoroughly to remove soap residue. You can use a squeegee to squeeze out excess water. For larger rugs, you can have them professionally cleaned. You'll want to find someone that specialized in Oriental rugs, not just wall to wall carpet cleaners.To keep your rugs looking younger, rotate them every year or so so that areas get worn more evenly - no rug looks good when a worn down walkway becomes evident. The same is true for sun - if the sun hits one corner of your rugs, shift them around occasionally so they will fade and age equally.
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