Persian carpets, symbol of Iranian art and valuable asset

Covering your floor is so much more than a mere protection for your hardwood or tile filled room.

Area rugs can serve to deaden sound, express your decor taste through neutrals, fun patterns and tones, or simply a solid color, and even soften the flooring underfoot, among many other uses. But how do you know what’s your fit?

According to Houzz, here are five tips that will help ensure that your next area rug will serve its purpose in any given room or space, as well as follow your design of choice.

• Don’t be afraid of a little wear and tear, especially if the area rug is of superior quality to begin with, or could be considered vintage. In fact, many antique low-pile or flat-weave rugs with a visible patina can imbibe any room with a sense of mystery and even romance that comes with age and simply can’t be created on demand in a new piece. Instead, it has to develop over time – much like a fine wine – and when you see it, you’ll recognize it.

• Like the idea of something old, but feel wary of the price tag? Or maybe you would just prefer a newer take on a traditional look? If so, consider opting for a patchwork rug that is pieced together using the most beautiful pieces from antique rugs that were unable to be salvaged in their entirety.

• Choose an area rug that has a timeless pattern and can travel along if and when you move, or would some day make an excellent family heirloom. Carefully selected rugs can easily transition through a variety of design schemes – from contemporary, to traditional to eclectic – depending on the other accent pieces and architectural elements of the space. The bottom line? Investing in a high quality rug now will continue to pay dividends for years – if not generations – to come, so don’t skimp on quality.

• When choosing high-pile or shag carpeting, try to use it in small doses instead of all throughout the room. This will help to create an unexpected mix of texture and will also lend a sense of luxury to the space. Just make sure that enough flooring is left visible around the high-pile or shag carpeting to avoid invoking a 70’s look while still providing the distinct level of comfort and coziness these types of super-dense area rugs are known for.

• Consider safety and traffic patterns in the space where the rug will be located. For example, it’s essential that an awkwardly placed corner of the rug does not create a hazard when walking through the room and be sure to rotate and clean all area rugs regularly to avoid buildup of dust and other debris, as well as to ensure even wear and tear. Finally, place a non-slip pad under the rug, which will not only help it last longer by diminishing the level of stress applied to its backing, but a rug pad will also keep the rug held snugly in place, thereby diminishing the possibility of tripping over an errant corner.

In this post, we share some of our top rug buying tips. Keep these easy tips in mind next time you’re on the hunt for a new area rug.

Ideally, when purchasing a rug, it should be seen in person, spread out on the floor. Always go to a reputable shop that you can trust. Online shopping is convenient but when it comes to rugs there are many benefits to buying your rug in person.

Some of The benefits of buying a rug in person

• You will be able to assess the colors more accurately in person. Remember that most rugs will have a light and dark end, depending on the direction of the pile. If you’re interested in a rug, make sure to view it from both ends.
• It is also important to touch and feel a rug. There are various materials, pile densities and finishes which can affect the feel of a rug. When purchasing a rug in person, you can touch, feel and compare the various qualities.
• Oftentimes, the rug can be taken to your home for approval. Most reputable shops will offer this service and can bring a few of your favorite options to be seen in your home.

Nowadays, there are many qualities available at more affordable prices, and the consumer should know their options prior to settling on a machine-made rug. If you’re considering a machine-made rug, keep in mind that it should cost next to nothing, as there is no labor required in their production and the fibers are basically poor quality plastic. Wool is the most common and best material for making rugs. A hand-knotted wool rug will outlast a machine-made rug by at least 50 years on average.

Choosing the right rug

1. First and foremost, do you like the rug? Is it attractive? Normally, the right rug will stand out to you.
2. Will it harmonize (size, design, color) with its intended setting?
3. Is it within your intended budget?

Keeping these points in mind, it will be much easier to make the right decision.

For years now, there has been an increase in the demand for modern rugs in Toronto and the global rug market. Today, modern rugs are available in a wide variety of designs and qualities. For the purpose of this post, when discussing modern rugs, we’re referring to handmade quality rugs.

Modern rugs typically feature designs which are plain (solid color), patterned or abstract. These designs differ from the classical Persian and Oriental rug designs, most of which have been around for centuries. Modern rug designs can be quite neutral and simple or involve more intricate patterns in a wide range of colors. Typically, in modern rugs we see a lot of blues, grey and ivory tones. These rugs are primarily produced in India, Nepal and Tibet.

For the most part, handmade modern rugs are crafted with the use of wool and cotton, which are natural materials. However, they also often include synthetic materials such as viscose and bamboo silk. This is common practice in modern rugs and nothing major to worry about but it’s good to keep in mind that the use of synthetic materials does make these rugs more susceptible to wear and tear. On the other hand, the use of these materials results in a soft pile with a lovely sheen. This not only adds to the look of modern rugs but also makes them soft to the touch, which will feel nice under your feet.

A modern rug can be washed professionally as needed and vacuumed regularly at home. Still, they are generally more prone to overall wear and tear when compared to traditional Persian and Oriental rugs. You may notice more loose threads over time and less impressive results after a good rug cleaning. That’s not to say that modern rugs can’t be cleaned — it just means that they’re more sensitive and will require more work to try maintaining their original look. This is mainly due to the use of the synthetic materials in these rugs, which do not hold up as well in washes when compared to wool, which is the best material for rug making.

Still, modern rugs are beautiful to look at and easy to decorate with. There’s constantly new patterns, designs and color combinations available to select from. This versatility also makes them an excellent candidate for customization. When it comes to custom rugs, the possibilities are endless.

also known as Iranian carpet, is a heavy textile made for a wide variety of utilitarian and symbolic purposes and produced in Iran (historically known as Persia), for home use, local sale, and export. Carpet weaving is an essential part of Persian culture and Iranian art. Within the group of Oriental rugs produced by the countries of the “rug belt”, the Persian carpet stands out by the variety and elaborateness of its manifold designs.

Persian carpets and rugs of various types were woven in parallel by nomadic tribes, in village and town workshops, and by royal court manufactures alike. As such, they represent miscellaneous, simultaneous lines of tradition, and reflect the history of Iran and its various peoples. The carpets woven in the Safavid court manufactures of Isfahan during the sixteenth century are famous for their elaborate colors and statistical design, and are treasured in museums and private collections all over the world today. Their patterns and designs have set an artistic tradition for court manufactures which was kept alive during the entire duration of the Persian Empire up to the last royal dynasty of Iran.

Carpets woven in towns and regional centers like Tabriz, Kerman, Mashhad, Kashan, Isfahan, Nain and Qom are characterized by their specific weaving techniques and use of high-quality materials, colors and patterns. Town manufactures like those of Tabriz have played an important historical role in reviving the tradition of carpet weaving after periods of decline. Rugs woven by the villages and various tribes of Iran are distinguished by their fine wool, bright and elaborate colors, and specific, traditional patterns. Nomadic and small village weavers often produce rugs with bolder and sometimes more coarse designs, which are considered as the most authentic and traditional rugs of Persia, as opposed to the artistic, pre-planned designs of the larger workplaces. Gabbeh rugs are the best-known type of carpet from this line of tradition.

The art and craft of carpet weaving has gone through periods of decline during times of political unrest, or under the influence of commercial demands. It particularly suffered from the introduction of synthetic dyes during the second half of the nineteenth century. Carpet weaving still plays a major part in the economy of modern Iran. Modern production is characterized by the revival of traditional dyeing with natural dyes, the reintroduction of traditional tribal patterns, but also by the invention of modern and innovative designs, woven in the centuries-old technique. Hand-woven Persian carpets and rugs have been regarded as objects of high artistic and utilitarian value and prestige since the first time they were mentioned by ancient Greek writers.

Although the term “Persian carpet” most often refers to pile-woven textiles, flat-woven carpets and rugs like Kilim, Soumak, and embroidered tissues like Suzani are part of the rich and manifold tradition of Persian carpet weaving.