4 Ways To Identify High Quality Area Rugs

9x12 Finest Persian Sarouk

If you're in the market for an area rug, all of the options available to you might be a little overwhelming, but the bottom line is that you want a rug that will lend itself well to your personal taste, you want a rug that will last, and you want a rug that's worth its cost. Simple.

In this post we want to give you a few tips that will help you identify the best rugs and what to look for when you're shopping for a high quality rug. 

1. Knots Per Square Inch (KPSI)

The number of knots within a rug determines the density, durability, and clarity of pattern; the more knots, the higher the quality. Less knots means a looser weave, a looser weave means the rug will be less able to withstand and uphold against foot-traffic and general use without incurring visible damage sooner than a higher quality rug.

Different Weave Types

 2. Detail

The amount of time and labor spent on creating a handmade Oriental rug varies from design house to design house and from country to country. Authentic Persian rugs have earned the reputation of being the highest quality because of the perfected weaving techniques used in Iran. A sharp pattern means more time and hand-labor was taken to build a clear and precise design. 

3. Premium Wool

Whether the rug was made in Persia or another country, the best area rugs are hand-woven with Persian wool. Other countries like India, Pakistan, and China will import fine Persian wool to improve their final product. In Iran, the sheep that are raised to be sheered are fed an optimal diet to yield softer and stronger wool.

4. Color

There are many kinds of dyes used to take wool from shades of white and brown to vibrant and rich shades of blue, green, pink, yellow, and red. When purchasing a rug, you want to be sure the dyes used are either organic vegetable dyes or derived from high grade pigments.

Avoid: Tufted Rugs

Machine-tufted and hand-tufted rugs are among the most mass produced type of area rugs you can find, because they can be made easily and quickly. However, the processes and materials involved in creating one is not only artless, but sometimes a health hazard. 

Tufted rugs are created by taking loose wool that's often treated with unsafe chemicals and adhering it to a fabric or plastic backing with a type of latex glue that emits fumes that can be detrimental when inhaled.

The price for tufted rugs is much lower, therefore the quality is much lower.

If you're local, please visit us in person to learn more about handmade Oriental rugs, we're sure we have the perfect rug for your home or design project!