Oriental carpets are unique floor coverings, bringing to your home and environment an opulence borne from centuries of careful craftsmanship and passionate creativity. Many people regard an oriental carpet as an artwork in its own right. Asian weavers create these fine rugs in unique patterns from individually knotted fibers and knowing how to pick a good quality rug is essential if you want to get the most for your money. This type of carpet can be expensive so you really want to take your time and shop carefully. Here are some tips on how to choose an oriental carpet that you can hand down to future generations.
* Take Accurate Measurements for Your Oriental Carpet
The first step is choosing the right oriental carpet for your room and taking accurate measurements helps to avoid mishaps. Measure the floor area carefully and decide if you want your rug to cover the whole floor or if you prefer having a border of, for example, uncovered wooden floors around the edge of your carpet. If you are covering a staircase, measure and count the number of risers.
* Match Your Oriental Carpet with Your Existing Decor
Take a photograph (in good light) of the room where you intend displaying your oriental carpet. Once you are at the store the photograph will help you to match colors and patterns to the existing décor in the room. You may be faced with a choice of geometric, floral, pictorial and decorative designs and become confused as to whether a design you like will work with the rest of the items in your room. A photograph will help you decide.
* Choose the Right Textile for Your Room
Nothing can beat wool carpets for warmth, softness and durability but if the orinetal carpet is more for display and decorative effect and won't have heavy traffic then you can consider the delicate, luxurious silk carpets - especially if the climate is warm. Remember to know your rug terminology - if a rug is labeled as art silk, it's actually rayon.
* Ask About the Origin of Your Oriental Rug
Ask the seller about the origin of your oriental carpet. Persia (Iran) is considered the finest producer of oriental rugs in the world. Genuine oriental carpets also come from Afghanistan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Romania, Albania, Morocco and Egypt.
Find out in what area of the applicable country your rug was woven or by whom. Rugs made in Turkey are often deemed of superior quality while the city of Hereke is lauded for its wonderful carpets woven from silk.
