Oriental Rugs, Art You Can Walk On

Oriental Rugs, Art You Can Walk On

For centuries, genuine oriental rugs have graced beautiful homes. Despite the name, many oriental rugs are actually made in a variety of countries. The term itself refers to any hand-knotted pile weave rug, but the best are still made in the Middle East, Turkey, and Central Asia. Most varieties are named for the areas that they come from. Tabriz rugs, for example, come from the area around Tabriz, Iran, while Anatolians usually come from the Anatolian Peninsula that makes up much of Turkey.

An oriental rug can be made out of wool, but it can also be woven out of real silk blended with wool. Real silk, from silkworms, has a nicer underfoot feel than wool, but it is also harder to maintain and much more expensive to purchase. To maintain an oriental rug, it should be vacuumed at the lightest possible setting. This will get rid of most surface dirt and dust. Anything more intensive should be done by a professional. The amount of care required is an investment to preserve the rug’s structural integrity and beauty. Well cared for rugs can last for centuries.

The colors in an oriental rug sometimes have symbolic meanings associated with them. Such as, red can stand for joy and happiness, brown for fertility, white or cream can represent peace and purity, and blue sometimes reflects honesty and power. There are multiple decorative styles that can beautify any room in your home.