Oriental Rugs: Key Points To Remember

By Dehlia Menon

If you are looking to add a touch of elegance to your home you might want to consider an Oriental area rug. Authentic Oriental area rugs are luxurious and will compliment any design style. Before purchasing one, it is a good idea to an understanding of how they are made and what to look for when shopping.

Oriental rugs are made of fibers from silk, wool, cotton, sisal and synthetic materials. The kind of fiber influences the price of the rug. Silk and wool are considered the highest in price. It's good to note that synthetic materials, though not as sophisticated as silk and wool have the strongest resistance factor against stains and abrasion.

The colors of Oriental rugs come from the dye. Natural coloring such as those from plant roots, fruits and vegetables give off high-quality colors found in silk and wool-made rugs. Oriental rugs with less quality such as in synthetic materials or the imitations do not have the same superior colors produced by natural dye.

Oriental rugs, just like the other kinds, can either be handmade or machine-made. You can check which is which by checking the pattern on the back of the rug. Machine-made give an appearance of hand knotting and have a rougher texture. Those made by hand have a soft cloth backing, normally made from cotton. One technique to ensure you're getting a quality purchase is by checking the backing. Sewn backing is recommended as the glued-on ones easily deteriorate.

Hand knotted authentic Oriental rugs have a handmade fringe. A fringe that has been sewn on is a mark of a non-authentic Oriental. In authentic pieces the border is a part of the material that comes from the loom; it is not sewn on after the fact.

Treat your home decor shopping just like any of your shopping trips, like when buying new clothes or shoes because rug shopping can be fun too! You might be lucky and might just end up scanning the displays of stores selling authentic Oriental rugs, straight from their source, the Middle East.

If you are shopping in an authentic Oriental rug store don't rush. Part of the fun of buying your treasure will be your interaction with the carpet seller. You will be offered tea and the dealer will want to know a little about you. Dealers rightly consider these carpets works of art and want them to go to a good home.

Expect that a genuine, Middle Eastern-made Oriental rug is skyrocketing expensive. Before your shopping expedition, mark a budget and work your way around it for a slightly higher quotation or if you're lucky, a cheaper rate. Whichever the case, try to negotiate. Who knows, you might just charm the dealer to give you a price that's well within your budget. Perhaps, with the best deal, you can grab yourself an extra area rug to adorn your home. - 29956

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