How to Shop for a Persian Rug

bepsf The best rug dealers will let you take a rug home overnight or for the weekend to decide if you want to keep it - and will let you trade in a rug you've purchased from them previously for another more expensive one

Suzy Q Mirjam Thanks a lot for the tip! Its always a good idea to test out your rug before you make a final decision since you will have it for many years to come!

hiddenstone My wife and I spent the better part of two years selecting persians for our home. It was a gloriously enriching but expensive affair. Each one though, will stand the test of time and is a joy to pause and savor. Like everything in our home. We are patient and we acquire over time. Rule #1. Learn about Persian rugs. Rule #2. You must find a reputable dealer (try Imperial Rugs, Church Street in Toronto). Rule #3. Take the rug you like home and try it out before the big purchase. Good luck to all.

Suzy Q Mirjam Thanks a lot hiddenstone for those great tips!

artistschmartist A quick primer for if you're out bargain hunting: "made in china" doesn't necessarily mean a bad rug: there are very nice Sinopersian and Indopersian rugs being made today. In fact, pre-1920's and post 1980's are generally agreed to be the best quality. (They used some funky chemical dyes for a few years, just be aware for value purposes.) If you're trying to score a good deal at an antique store or tag sale, and there's no "tag" to be found, first thing you do is flip the corner and look at the back of the rug. A hand-knotted rug will look basically the same on the front and back. If there is a backing or you see anything besides the front design, it may not be hand made. Again, machine-made rugs can still be very high quality, but the prices should reflect it. Beware of the phrases "hand tufted" or "hand loomed" as they do not mean the same as hand-knotted. Tufted rugs are much more affordable, but involve glue and sometimes rubber and cloth backing - they can be a beautiful alternative, but simply will not last nearly as long. Next, look at the sides - the binding should be in good condition, free of breaks. Then look at the ends of the rug - there will always be fringes on a hand-knotted rug - it's the way they are made. The absence of fringe should be a big clue that your rug is not handmade. (In rare cases some huge rugs are cut up into smaller rugs and bound - this is why it's best to go to a reputable dealer so you have more info about the rug.) Finally, fold the rug and check that the fibers are dyed all the way through - some rugs have been "tea-stained," "overdyed" or "antiqued." (Some to quite beautiful effect - just be aware of the actual age of the rug. Again, price should reflect true age and quality.) My last bit of advice is to have fun, don't worry about color so much because orientals have a fantastic habit of just kind of fitting in and becoming their own type of neutral, and if you fall in love, for heaven's sake, BUY THE RUG! They really are a great investment if you go for fine quality.

scarbowcow Wow, Artistschmartist (cute name!) that comment made the ideabook worth bookmarking.

Suzy Q Mirjam Thanks a lot for sharing all your great tips! Hope there is more to come!

abeerkalla from an interior design perspective, does a persian rug fit in with modern interior?

Suzy Q Mirjam Hi abberkalla,

Of course it does! Persian rugs are what gives modern decor an unexpected twist and adds charm like no other rug can. From experience, these rugs can fit just about anywhere with any decorating style.

Hope this helps!

Suzy Q

Bradford's Rug Gallery I created this page on my web site for our customers to educate themselves, RUGS 101 gives a run down of different contruction and fibers used in hand made rugs.
http://www.bradfordsruggallery.com/pages/rugs-101

Large Rugs & Carpets This is a phenomenal guide on how to shop for a Persian / Oriental rug. Thank you Ms. Mirjam. We also suggest for larger size carpets a search begin with width ranges. In many cases these seem to have more flexibility - Thank you. http://largerugscarpets.com

apennameandthata the most important thing is to get a rug with abrush. Often the coarser the weave, the better the rug - looks less synthetic.

apennameandthata the top rug, you can practically see the knots from the photo

concerned with knot count = dumb a---

apennameandthata too, make sure moths don't eat them :(

apennameandthata as if the average buyer can tell the age of a rug. Unfortunately, rug salesperson = liar.

My GUESS is that if the rug is old, it will have some ware, and each loop on the bottom will have a flat area.

Too, machines can not tie knots, so make sure that the wool is actually KNOTTED