Your Starter Guide To Buying A Persian Rug

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Lovingly woven by hand, Persian rugs, and all handmade carpets for that matter, are a testament to the talent and creativity of the artisans who craft them. This art form is passed down from every generation. And just as every individual who weaves these rugs is a different person, each Persian rug is one-of-a-kind and unique.

Understandably, because of the lack of uniformity and the enormous variation of qualities, buying a Persian rug can be an overwhelming process. Therefore, it's crucial to enter with an open mind. With assurance, I can lay out a few steps that will help start your journey for the perfect Persian rug. It’s comparatively like finding your perfume scent; you'll have to try out a few, but once you find your scent, it will capture you. 

HANDMADE OR MACHINE MADE?

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Machine-made rugs are produced quickly on a ‘power loom’, also known as a machine operated loom. Created from mostly synthetic materials like polyester and nylon; the machine-made rugs unusually follow interior trends, so likely won’t last long in the home. We understand if you've recently moved into your first home or renting, budget restraints mean there isn't any excess money to spend on household accessories. However, our suggestion is to think about setting some extra money aside over the upcoming months to put towards an 'investment piece'; you can divert your attention to something of superior quality and a little more long-lasting.

Handmade rugs are pieces of art, and take a long time to create (have a read through the previous post to find out more on this). They are made with natural materials, mostly cotton and wool, and are dyed with all-natural vegetable dyes.

 Some quick tricks to tell the difference between the two: 

• Flip it! Have a look at the back of the rug: look for slight imperfections in the knotting on the back. If the knots are too perfectly aligned, it could be machine made.
• Have a look at the fringes: if the rug has a fringe, get a closer look at it. If it’s machine made, it will be falsely attached in some way (sewn or glued) but if it’s handmade you’ll see that it’s an extension of the material that has made up the weave.
• Ask an expert. If you’re ever unsure, just ask someone that has the experience. You can always contact us on this.

So now you’re set on handmade, and hopefully have a good understanding of what you’re paying the premium for.

MEASURE YOUR SPACE

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Handmade rugs do not come in exact uniform sizes in the way that machine-made do. Some size and style ranges are also more common than others too. A sensible place to begin is to measure the MAXIMUM and MINIMUM width and length you can fit into your space. I typically recommend keeping at least half a metre between any rug and wall; especially if you have lovely wood floors, let them shine too! It’s crucial to have the max and min, to be flexible on size, allowing you more choice. 

Check out our rug fitting guide here for more. 

COLOUR PALETTE

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When buying a Persian rug, I use the word palette, because it’s important not to have a strict colour in mind. If you want to find an exact shade of blue, with the right hint of cream, you will be narrowing your choices a lot. Persian rugs contain various shades within them, so just think about your room and the overall complementary colour palette. I always advise taking a picture of the room to a showroom which you can use as inspiration for your rug choice. 

You can send us a picture for FREE online advice. 

BUDGET

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Think of your maximum budget and be open about that if you’re seeking help. Persian rugs vary from a few hundred, all the way up to double-figure thousands. Filtering your options online by the price or letting a sales representative know your budget, will condense the array of choices you'll be looking at, which will help! 

FLORAL OR GEOMETRIC

Rug Choices (left to right) - OHIO, HOLLIE, ELLYSON

Floral? Geometric? Depending on what area of Iran they come from, carpet patterns differ greatly. A good way to filter Persian rug designs is thinking about whether you prefer floral designs (usually the city pieces, such as Nain & Kashan) or geometric designs (usually more the tribal and nomadic pieces). 

Rug Choices (left to right) -TALE, LANDON, TROY

TRY IT!

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Are you on the fence about a rug you saw? Don't be shy, just try it! First, check the store accepts easy returns. We always encourage taking the rug and a few other options home with you. You can then observe what the rug looks like in setting; making it easier to decide if you have the perfect fit or not. If it isn’t, not to worry, simply send the rug back. Don’t give up on your search though; a rug is a timeless item to keep and treasure forever. 

Persian Rugs will last a lifetime, so long as you ensure you look after it properly! Have a look at our clean and repair guide for further information.

Good luck & happy discoveries! 

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