Oriental rugs

Oriental Rugs – Facts, Tips and Buying Guide

Oriental rugs are among the most popular home accessories, as they are both decorative and functional. Anyone looking to buy an oriental rug is usually searching for a model that suits their personal style as well as the intended area of use. Given the vast variety of shapes, colours, patterns and regions of origin, choosing the right rug can be a challenge – but with a discerning eye, it becomes manageable. In addition to size, design and colour scheme, material, characteristics and usage situation should also be considered when making a decision.

Buying an Oriental Rug – What Should I Consider?

The world of oriental rugs is impressively diverse, highly artistic and full of vibrant colours. To make the search for the right rug easier, we've put together some useful information to help guide your decision and highlight what really matters when choosing an oriental rug.

What Is an Oriental Rug?

The term 'oriental rug' generally refers to all hand-knotted and hand-woven rugs originating from the Orient. The Orient refers to the geographical region stretching from Morocco across the Caucasus and Persia to India and China. This region is also known as the "rug belt".

What Types of Oriental Rugs Are There?

Just as vast and diverse as the geographical Orient itself is the range of different types of oriental rugs. The names of nearly all varieties of oriental rugs have developed historically and are usually based either on the region from which the rug originates – such as Nain, Isfahan, Caucasian – or on the name of the clan, tribe or people known for a particular rug style – such as Berber, Ghashghai, Mamluk. These origin-based names are also known as provenances. In addition, it is common in the trade – and also with us – to categorise rugs by the countries where they are produced. For example, Kazak rugs originally came from the Caucasus, but are now mostly made in Afghanistan, which is why we classify them under Afghan rugs.

Well-Known Types of Oriental Rugs

There are several hundred types of historical and traditional as well as more recent and modern oriental rugs. Among the most well-known are:

Persian Rugs

Persian rugs are undoubtedly the most renowned category among all oriental rugs. Originating from Persia (modern-day Iran), they encompass a wide range of regional styles and knotting techniques – from rustic tribal rugs like Gabbeh to the finer classical styles such as Keshan, Moud, or Bidjar. The finest Persian rugs come from Isfahan, Nain, Tabriz and Qom – these four provenances represent the pinnacle of rug weaving artistry. They are characterised by central medallions, floral patterns, high knot density, and fine wool or silk quality.

Berber Rugs

Originally woven and knotted by the Berber tribes of North Africa, many modern Berber rugs now also come from Asia. Berber rugs hold a special place among oriental rugs, as they differ significantly from other provenances in style. They are usually coarsely natural-coloured, with a high pile – sometimes very long and shaggy – and have a rustic texture. Geometric diamond patterns and minimalist designs are typical features.

Kilim

Kilims are flat-woven nomadic rugs without pile. The term Kilim originally comes from Turkish but is now used as a generic name for all flat-woven oriental rugs. Kilims are typically woven from sheep's wool or cotton. They are lightweight, colourful, and reversible. Interestingly, nomads originally used kilims not only as rugs, but also as blankets, curtains, cloaks, and insulation for their tents. Kilims are the oldest among all carpet-like textiles and are considered precursors to knotted rugs.

Ziegler Rugs

A Western-inspired variant of the oriental rug, developed in the 19th century for the European market. Typical features include soft, faded colours, large floral patterns, and an overall understated appearance.

Gabbeh Rugs

Strictly speaking, Gabbeh rugs are part of the Persian rug family, but their distinct style makes them a category of their own. Gabbeh is a particularly characteristic form of Persian nomadic rug from southern Persia. These rugs are known for their simple, rustic appearance and almost modern appeal, despite being deeply rooted in tradition. They are characterised by a thick, soft pile, simple geometric patterns or large solid-colour fields, occasionally accented with playful animal or plant motifs.

Afghan and Pakistani Rugs

Rugs from Afghanistan and Pakistan play an important role among oriental rugs and are widely represented in both traditional and modern rug markets. Many designer rugs and modern versions of various classical oriental rugs are knotted in these two countries. Additionally, popular traditional rugs such as Khal Mohammadi, Mauri, Akhche, Beluch, and Bokhara rugs come directly from Afghanistan or Pakistan.

What Makes Oriental Rugs So Special?

Oriental rugs differ significantly from other rugs in several key ways. The greatest difference lies, of course, between traditional handmade rugs from the Orient and machine-made industrial rugs.

It's the combination of craftsmanship, choice of materials, material properties, technical execution and cultural background that makes oriental rugs so unique.

1. Authenticity and Craftsmanship

An oriental rug is considered authentic only if it has been hand-knotted or hand-woven – machine-made imitations may look similar but can never match the durability or character of true handmade craftsmanship. Typical signs of handcraft in oriental rugs include individually knotted and slightly uneven knots, unlike the uniform knots of machine-made products. Small imperfections in shape and colour are also tell-tale signs of handmade origin. No genuine oriental rug is perfectly symmetrical; most are slightly irregular in shape and display variations in colour intensity, sometimes even striking colour changes. It is precisely these imperfections that make oriental rugs so genuine, so unique – and yes, so perfect.

2. Craftsmanship and Knot Density

Producing a genuine oriental rug is a complex and demanding process. From preparing the loom to processing, dyeing, and spinning the wool, through to precise knotting based on design, and finally washing and trimming, it usually takes several weeks to complete a single rug. Depending on the complexity and detail of the pattern, it can even take several years. A reliable indicator of the quality and refinement of an oriental rug is its knot density. The higher the knot count, the more precisely floral and figurative motifs can be represented – without sacrificing stability. The required knot density depends primarily on how finely a design needs to be executed. Coarse nomadic rugs naturally have a lower knot density than the extremely fine masterpieces from Nain or Qom, yet knot density is still a useful scale for classifying oriental rugs.

As a guideline, the following knot densities (per m²) apply:

Rugs with 750,000 knots per m² are typically only found among the finest Persian and silk rugs.

Considering that an experienced and skilled weaver can tie up to 10,000 knots per day, it’s easy to calculate just how long it takes and how much craftsmanship goes into creating an authentic oriental rug.

3. Materials and Dyes

The pile of traditional oriental rugs is almost always made of sheep's wool, primarily a mix of undercoat and outer coat wool. Finer rugs may be made solely from undercoat wool (known as kork wool) or include a proportion of silk. The finest rugs are made entirely from silk. Depending on the tribe and the composition of their herds, nomadic rugs may also include goat or camel hair. For modern and designer oriental rugs, bamboo silk is often used to create beautiful highlights, effects, and contrasts. Warp and weft in all types are generally made from cotton.

The dyes traditionally used to colour wool and silk come from natural sources, meaning they are almost exclusively plant- and mineral-based. Some examples include: madder root for red, indigo for blue, walnut shells for brown, pomegranate skins for yellow. These natural dyes create tones with subtle irregularities and natural colour shifts (abrash) in the pile.

4. Cultural Background and Origin

Each provenance of oriental rugs has its own history, symbolism and signature style. Whether Persian city rugs, Afghan nomadic rugs or Moroccan Berbers – each piece represents a specific region and thus a unique understanding of aesthetics, function and meaning. This cultural depth is not merely decorative but profoundly influences the design of every oriental rug down to the last detail.

Finding the Right Oriental Rug

When choosing the right oriental rug for your home – for example, as a living room rug or for the dining area – factors such as origin, material and craftsmanship are just as important as size, format, pattern design, colour distribution, and style. These criteria determine how the rug looks overall and how well it fits into your interior.

Designs and Patterns

Most classic oriental rugs follow specific compositional principles: medallion, arabesques, all-over patterns, borders, garden motifs, geometric shapes, diamonds and lines, as well as stylised plants and animals.

Floral motifs with grand medallions, palmettes and tendrils are typical of city rugs – the classic, fine Persian carpets. Geometric patterns with diamonds, lozenges, and stylised symbols are common in Persian village and Caucasian rugs. Afghan and Pakistani rugs often feature repetitive geometric designs. Kashmir rugs frequently have garden motifs. Kilims usually display vibrant diamond and line patterns. Gabbeh and Berber rugs are often single-coloured with no pattern or have freely arranged geometric structures, typically in the form of diamonds, panels, or offset lines.

In modern interpretations of oriental rugs, traditional patterns are often abstracted or intentionally irregular to give them a fresh, exciting and contemporary look. Modern rugs also frequently combine several design elements, resulting in visually layered compositions.

Colours and Contrasts

Traditionally, wool for oriental rugs is left in its natural state, meaning it is not bleached. The base colour is therefore determined by the wool’s natural tone, which in many rugs results in a beige base. This beige may vary, appearing creamy-white, sandy-grey or with a yellowish tint.

The colour scheme of oriental rugs usually follows regional traditions and is naturally linked to the available dyes. Classic rugs from Persia, Afghanistan or the Caucasus often feature strong tones like carmine red, dark blue, brown, yellow, and black.

Many village and nomadic rugs use strongly contrasting colours – for example, light motifs on a dark background or bold borders surrounding more subdued central fields. City rugs, on the other hand, tend to favour finely balanced tone-on-tone combinations with subtle contrasts.

Modern oriental rugs, as well as Mamluk, Arijana and Ziegler types, usually exhibit softer, more muted colours – beige, grey, olive, sage, rust red or muted blue. These rugs often have a faded, stonewashed look.

In oriental silk rugs, a shimmering effect can appear depending on the viewing angle – the smooth fibre surface causes colours to look lighter or darker depending on the perspective. This sheen is inherent to the material and typical for the richly coloured rugs from Qom, Kashmir or Hereke.

Formats and Sizes

Oriental rugs come in a wide variety of formats – from small mats and runners to large-scale floor coverings. The most common format by far is rectangular with various side ratios. There are also plenty of square and round oriental rugs, while polygonal or oval shapes are less common. Freeform designs are rare and mostly found in designer rugs.

The size of a rug should always reflect the intended use and the layout of the space. Here’s an overview of common oriental rug dimensions:

• Mats and small sizes: 60 × 90 cm, 80 × 120 cm – suitable for entryways, bedside rugs, narrow spaces or under individual pieces of furniture.
• Runners: Widths from 70–100 cm, lengths from 200–500 cm – ideal for hallways, corridors or as connectors between areas.
• Standard sizes: 240 × 170 cm or 300 × 200 cm – typical for living and dining rooms, can be placed under sofa sets or tables.
• Large sizes: from 350 × 250 cm – for spacious rooms, open-plan layouts or central placements.
• Square rugs: 200 × 200 cm, 250 × 250 cm – less common but ideal for symmetrical room layouts or square furniture arrangements.
• Round rugs: Diameters from 150–300 cm – especially suited for round tables or freestanding seating areas.

Oriental Rugs as an Investment

Oriental rugs are often regarded as valuable cultural assets – and rightly so. However, one should not automatically expect financial appreciation when buying one. In most cases, an oriental rug is a high-quality utilitarian item – made to be used and admired.

Only a few rugs become genuine collector's items over the years. Factors such as age, provenance, condition, rarity, and especially documented origin all play a role. Antique one-of-a-kind pieces of exceptional quality and well-preserved structure can appreciate in value over decades – but this is the exception, not the rule.

Most hand-knotted oriental rugs are durable, resilient, and retain their original value well when properly cared for – they rarely lose value, but they seldom gain significantly either. Anyone investing in an oriental rug should do so out of conviction and aesthetic appreciation – not primarily for speculative reasons. A well-chosen rug will bring joy, impact, and substance to a home for many years – that is its true worth.

Buying an Oriental Rug Online

Purchasing a rug – especially a high-quality, valuable, hand-knotted oriental rug – online requires, above all, trust between buyer and seller. For us, this means ensuring the purchase process and order handling are secure, straightforward, reliable and transparent for our customers. We guarantee a professional buying experience under the best conditions. Whether it's advice on choosing the right oriental rug via email or phone, a simple and secure purchase through our website, fast shipping, or an extended 31-day return policy with hassle-free returns – at Nain Trading, trustworthiness is our top priority. That’s our promise.