When you imagine an Oriental rug, where do you picture it? Many people would answer either in the living room or in a fancy study of some sort, perhaps a den. These are all fantastic spots to place an authentic Oriental rug, but it’s far from an exhaustive list. In fact, you can put Oriental rugs anywhere and everywhere in your home!

Tips for Placing Oriental Rugs in Each Room of Your Home

Don’t limit yourself to only placing Oriental rugs in certain living areas. In fact, they are perfect for family spaces, like living rooms, kitchens, or dining rooms, because they hide dirt and spills well. Here’s a few tips for getting it right:

Bedrooms

These rugs can change the dynamics in the room and bring your entire look together. They connect the different elements and give your room a sense of softness, comfort, coziness, and harmony- all things you want in your bedroom. 

What you’re looking for here is a rug that is incredibly soft. It will be the first thing you touch in the morning and the last thing at night, so pay close attention to the materials. We encourage you to find an Oriental rug made from “kurk.” Kurk comes from the first shearing of lambs between nine and 14 months old, and only from the neck and under the arms. Kurk has a feel almost like velvet, but is exceptionally strong.

Living Room and Other Common Living Spaces

Oriental rugs are perfect for family spaces, like living rooms, dens, TV rooms, playrooms, or dining rooms, because they hide dirt and spills so well. Not only is wool a natural dirt repellent, but you can purposefully find a design that hides stains. Find a bold and beautiful design with multiple colors, designs, shapes, and borders. Something like the Ardebil is incredibly not only gorgeous, it will also go a long way to hide dirt and spills. 

Kitchen

If you’re nervous about taking the leap with a large living room rug, try a smaller one for your kitchen instead. A smaller rug is more affordable, and you can ease yourself into expert rug purchasing. You’ll be amazed at the difference a small rug can make in a kitchen that seems bland and sterile.

A word of advice, though- be sure to stick with a dense and sturdy material. Stay far away from materials like viscose and silk. These materials are pretty, but even water droplets will stain it. This makes them a poor choice for the kitchen floor. 

Wall

That’s right- you don’t even need to limit Oriental rugs to the floor! Rugs are art and great art hanging on your walls can give your space warmth and depth. With a few dollar’s worth of supplies, you can hang your rug on the wall to showcase it properly.

No matter where you plan to place it, there is an Oriental rug for you at Serafian’s! We encourage you to shop with us to find your new rug, either on our website or in-person at our Albuquerque location. If you need help finding the ideal rug for your desired spot, we would be happy to help.

Whatever Oriental rug you choose, you are likely to have it for a long time, possibly even passing it down to future generations. This is because Oriental rugs are known for their longevity– if it’s authentic that is. There are many things to consider when investing in an Oriental rug, and it’s not always a simple task to choose the best carpet for you and determine whether it’s top quality.

That’s what we’re here for! We take educating our shoppers, in Albuquerque and across the country, very seriously. It’s important to feel confident about your choice in Oriental rugs. That is why we put together a few tips and guidelines for judging the quality and authenticity of a rug.

Judging the Authenticity of Oriental Rugs

What you’re looking for are hand-woven Oriental rugs made from the best wool in the world. It’s not as difficult to find as you may imagine. A few things to consider when purchasing an Oriental rug are:

Tightness of the Weave

What you want is a rug with a tight weave. A tighter weave is one that expresses the design as clearly as possible. This is referred to as its “pile.” This is the term to describe the density related to knot count and affects the longevity of a carpet. The tighter and denser the pile is, the better the rug will withstand wear. Are you unsure about a particular rug? Take your fingers and try to wiggle them into the pile. Is it difficult to work them all the way to the bottom of the pile? If so, the carpet is dense and likely to wear well.

Iranian Wool

Synthetic rugs are made from materials like Polypropylene, Nylon, Acrylic, and Polyester. An authentic rug will be made from the best materials. In fact, one of the most important factors in the longevity and beauty of a rug is the quality of the wool. We have found that the best carpet wools in the world come from Iran. The best Iranian wool is called “kurk“. Kurk comes from the first shearing of lambs between nine and 14 months old, and only from the neck and under the arms. Kurk has a feel almost like velvet, but is exceptionally strong. Iranian rugs have always been the most sought after rugs in the world, and it’s clear to see why.

Hand-Knotted

An authentic rug will be hand-knotted. Only an authentic Oriental rug will offer the strength and structural integrity of a true hand-knotted rug. When the back of the rug is hard plastic, this means that your rug’s top pile is made from a synthetic material and the hard plastic back is holding the rug together. 

The fringe on hand knotted oriental rugs not only is a design element, it is a structural element. When the rug is being hand knotted, the fringe is the first element on the loom. The fringe is a part of what’s holding the rug together. Manufacturers add fake fringe to a rug to make it appear hand knotted. If you flip an inauthentic rug over, you’ll see that the fringe is either glued or sewn on. This is one of the easiest ways to determine if your oriental rug is not authentic.

If you have any additional questions, we’re always here to answer them. Contact us or stop into our Albuquerque store! 

You may have an idea of the kind of home that Oriental rugs would look good in or perhaps the type of person who would own one. We’re here to tell you that these misconceptions are not true! In fact, because there are so many colors and designs, there is an Oriental rug for everyone. That includes you!

Who Needs an Oriental Rug?

There is a beautifully-crafted Oriental rug for every space and every person. This is because they never go out of style. Oriental rugs are surprisingly versatile in all kinds of homes; there are thousands of options in terms of color, fabric, scale, and style. No matter if you’re looking to accent a funky bedroom, an opulent library, or a sleek modern living room- there’s a rug out there for you! Consider the following: 

People With Kids Want a Rug That Hides Stains

Oriental rugs are ideal for a family home! Accidents happen. What you’re looking for is a rug that is designed in a way that a few spots here and there won’t ruin it. Find a bold and beautiful design with multiple colors, designs, shapes, and borders. Something like the Antique Reproduction Heriz is incredibly eye-catching, and will also go a long way to hide dirt and spills. Stay far away from materials like viscose and silk. These materials are pretty, but even water will stain it. If a noticeable stain does happen; don’t worry. We offer Oriental rug cleaning services!

Pet Owners Need a Durable Rug

You’re looking for a rug that can stand up to paws and teeth. An authentic Oriental rug that is hand-dyed and woven rug will be superior to one that is mass manufactured in a factory. You’re going to want to pay attention to the materials as well. A wool blend will last the longest. One of the most important factors in the longevity and beauty of a rug is the quality of the wool. We have found that the best carpet wools in the world come from Iran, which is why Iranian rugs have always been the most sought after rugs in the world. If your furry friend chews a hole in your rug, you can always bring it in for professional rug repair.

Those in a Small Size Can Add a Focal Point to the Room

If your house is short on square footage, you may think you should avoid placing a large rug in the center of the room. In fact, this is the perfect opportunity to get a stunning Oriental rug of any style or color you want and make it the focus of attention.

Those with a Modern Decor Can Make the Space Cozier

Oriental rugs are classic, but you don’t need to have classical decor in your home to have one. The most popular complaint of modern decor is that it feels sterile and boring. These rugs can change the dynamics in the room and bring your entire look together. They connect the different elements and give your room a sense of softness, comfort, coziness, and harmony.

There is an Oriental rug for you at Serafian’s! We encourage you to shop with us to find your new rug, either on our website or in-person at our Albuquerque location.