What’s Inside:
- Discover what makes a rug a Persian rug.
- Learn how to style your home with these beautiful rugs.
- Get help placing such rugs in your bedroom, entrance, living room, and more.
- Find answers to common Persian rug questions.
- Buy Persian rugs and take their beauty home.
One of the most popular types of rug styles is the Persian rug. Many homeowners choose Persian rugs to adorn their home because of the intricacy and timeless elegance. If you’re looking to add new floor pieces to your home, read on to learn more about Persian rugs.
Whether it be a large rug for your living room or a smaller piece for your home’s entryway, choosing a Persian rug can be trickier than you think. There are so many different shapes, styles, and sizes that it may seem impossible to pick the best choice for your home’s aesthetic.
What is considered a Persian rug?
While you’ve likely heard of Persian rugs, could you identify one easily? Of the many styles of rugs out there, various types have elaborate patterns with intricate weaving. What distinguishes a Persian rug from other styles, particularly Oriental rugs?
Learn more in our FAQ: Where do Persian rugs come from?
Persian rugs are also referred to as Iranian carpets. A Persian rug is a high-quality rug made with expert craftsmanship and attention to detail, with unique Iranian-inspired patterns and dyes. Most Persian rugs are created using naturally-sourced dyes, giving them a rich, vibrant color payoff. They always feature distinctive bold patterns, such as oversized medallions, corner piece outlines, or ornate floral patterns. Persian rugs are also often highly geometric and symmetrical.
The intricate details and knotting of a Persian rug are what set it apart from other rug styles. Persian rugs are hand-knotted by skilled professionals and typically consist of wool, cotton, or silk. The knotting method of Persian rugs is distinct and labor-intensive. These rugs are often more expensive than other rugs because they tend to have higher knot counts, meaning they took longer to make.
How to Style a Persian Rug Throughout Your Home
The great thing about Persian rugs is that they are available in endless colors, shapes, and sizes. You can have large, round Persian rugs or small, rectangular Persian rugs.
There are Persian rugs with deep, warm colors and other rugs with soft, cool colors. When you’re shopping for Persian rugs, the choices are simply infinite. Whatever area of your home you’re looking to accent, there’s a Persian rug that is perfect for the job!
If you’ve decided to add a Persian rug or two to your home’s decor, there are so many ways you can do this. Below are just a few tips for incorporating these timeless rugs into your home. Also, read our FAQ below: How do you decorate with a Persian rug?
Living Room
For most homeowners, the living room is the focal area of the home. This is where you spend most of your time and where your guests spend most of their time when they visit. That is why living rooms are usually the main concern when it comes to interior decorating. The design choices you make for your living room are the ones that are most likely to be seen and appreciated.
Incorporating a Persian rug into your living room’s decor is an excellent choice and perhaps one of the most straightforward design ideas to execute. You can add any shaped, styled, or sized Persian rug to this space in your home.
If you want to make a major statement, you can choose an extra-large, rectangular Persian rug with bright, vibrant colors to sit directly in the center of the room with a coffee table on top. If you want to be more subtle with your rug placement, you can choose several smaller round Persian rugs of complementary color palettes to place strategically throughout the living room. You can place a small one under an end table or reclining chair, while a medium one sits in the center of the room with nothing on top. In general, living rooms are very versatile spaces that allow for many decor options when it comes to Persian rugs.
Main Bedroom
The bedroom is a great place to incorporate a Persian rug that matches the room’s color palette and overall decor style. That may look like a large, round rug that lays in front of the bed, with a few inches nestled just under the foot of the bed and the remainder stretching out into the room. You can then choose a bedding set and drapery to complement the rug’s color or vice versa.
Front Entrance
Your front entryway is an important space in your house for interior decorating because it is the first thing a guest will see when they enter your home. That makes this section an excellent spot to place a statement-making Persian rug.
Immediately inside the front door, you can place a small Persian rug of any shape with bright colors. The pop of color will immediately catch your guest’s attention upon entrance and let them know they are stepping into a fun, lively home full of creativity and inspiration.
Dining Room
The dining room is another important space for interior design choices because a visitor or a group of guests will likely spend a lot of time here. You can easily add a Persian rug to this room to give it added flare and make it a focal point of your home.
The simplest way to do this is by adding a large rug under the dining table. Choose one in a color palette that compliments the color of the table and surrounding decor to pull the room together.
Learn more in our FAQ: Where do you put a Persian rug?
Frequently Asked Questions about Persian Rugs
- Where do Persian rugs come from?
- How do you decorate with Persian rugs?
- Where do you put a Persian rug?
- What are Persian rugs made of?
- How do you clean a Persian rug?
- How much do Persian rugs cost?
- How long do Persian rugs last?
- Are all Persian rugs handmade?
Persian rugs bring intricate patterns, a global sensibility, and layers of colorful depth to a living room or dining room. They aren’t just floor coverings–Persian rugs are cultural works of art that display unique designs and patterns. Covering a part of your house with a Persian rug participates in an ancient tradition going back as far as the 5th century B.C.
These rugs are often shrouded in mystery, but they don’t have to be. If you’re considering adding a Persian rug to your living space, you should learn more about what these rugs are, where they come from, and what kind of maintenance they need.
Where do Persian rugs come from?
While you can’t find the country of Persia on the map anymore, Persian rugs came from the kingdom of Persia, which is now modern-day Iran. The kingdom of Persia encompassed many different regions in the Middle East, Central Asia, and even parts of South Asia. Artifacts of Persian rugs have been found in places like Siberia, Georgia, and Russia. Ancient Greek historians noted Persian rugs in their writings.
The oldest known Persian rug dates back to the 5th century B.C. The ‘Pazyryk carpet’ was found by archeologists encased in ice in Siberia, and believed to have come from Persepolis in Iran. However, while the Persian rug survived war, famine, and changing regimes, it did not become the Persian rug we know today until the 17th century, under Shah Abbas the Great. The ruler transformed the textile industry in his nation, causing Persian rugs to be highly sought after by almost all European countries.
Art, fashion, and design have all been influenced by the Persian rug and its unique appearance. Today, Persian rugs only come from all over the world.
How do you decorate with Persian rugs?
Persian rugs have a distinct look to them that requires some planning when it comes to interior design. These rugs can add a unique look to any room. Because of their patterns and colors, which vary from rug to rug, you’ll need to consider what kind of effect you want the room to have overall. Generally, Persian rugs come with many different shapes and floral designs that build on each other. The symbolism behind the fruits and flowers, paired with the colors used, makes every Persian rug unique.
One way to design a room around a Persian rug includes finding neutral colors to emphasize the fabulous colors on the rug itself. But don’t be afraid of matching patterns with your rug, or even finding clashing patterns. As long as the clashing patterns have roughly the same color scheme, your room will look beautiful.
Where do you put a Persian rug?
Persian rugs can go anywhere thanks to their durability and versatility. While most people like to put Persian rugs in their living rooms or in other display rooms that won’t suffer from high traffic, you shouldn’t feel limited by these habits.
Put a Persian rug in your home office under your desk to add an air of sophistication. Nothing says established home office like the delicate colors and lines that come with a Persian rug. You can even angle your Zoom calls to catch a peek of the rug in the background!
Add a Persian rug to your master bedroom to give the room a luxurious feel. The Blue Persian Paradox Area Rug found at Rugs USA would pair well with a white blanket on the bed and a wall mirror.
What are Persian rugs made of?
Most antique Persian rugs are traditionally made with wool, but some of the more modern variations use synthetic fibers. If you purchase an antique or vintage Persian rug, it most likely is made from wool.
Some Persian rugs are made from silk, while other, more durable ones are made from cotton. These rugs are made from weaving knots together. The higher the number of knots, the finer the Persian rug will be.
Other forms of Persian rugs, especially the machine washable kinds, are made from materials like polyester. These kinds of rugs can take more wear and tear than their wool counterparts and might fit better in hallways and children’s bedrooms, especially if you have pets.
How do you clean a Persian rug?
Most Persian rugs can be vacuumed once in a while on a low setting. But what if your Persian rug gets stained? If you have a handmade Persian rug made from wool, cleaning it can be tricky.
Unless your rug is made from synthetic material, the best solution is to clean it by hand. Blot any excess liquid up, and then pour a mixture of warm water and gentle detergent on the stained area. Use a clean sponge to blot up the stain, and then rinse the area several times with clean water until the detergent is gone.
This is also the best way to clean the entire rug by hand. Instead of choosing a stained area, simply use a clean sponge, warm water, and detergent to wash the whole rug. Rinse until the detergent is gone.
Antique rugs need to be washed, but these can be even trickier. Use cool water to rinse the rug, and pick organic kinds of soap so that chemicals don’t damage the rug itself. Gently stroke the rug with a clean sponge, and then when the soap is gone, hang it to dry in a dry room with sunlight.
How much do Persian rugs cost?
Modern Persian rugs made from synthetic material can be extremely affordable. They are typically the easiest way to get the look of a Persian rug with the price tag that comes with it. A Persian rug made with wool will cost a little more because of the natural materials used to make it.
Antique Persian rugs can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000, depending on the style, the age, the history behind the rug itself, and the quality of the rug. In Iran, handwoven rugs are priced based on the number of knots used to make the rug and the quality of the material.
How long do Persian rugs last?
Persian rugs can last throughout generations, based on the quality of the work and the material. If you treat an authentic Persian rug with care and hand-clean it correctly, you can pass it on to your children and your grandchildren.
While these rugs may not last quite as long as the ‘Pazyryk carpet’ previously mentioned (which lasted more than two millennia), they can remain in families for hundreds of years.
Are all Persian rugs handmade?
An authentic Persian rug would be handmade over time, based on the patterns and styles from the villages and regions in Iran. Weavers create knots in their looms, feeding wool or silk or any other material in their loom to form a previously drawn design. These rugs can have more than 1,000 knots per square inch.
But in this modern age, Persian rugs can be made through machines and copy popular designs. Machine-made Persian-style rugs are not as expensive as hand-woven rugs. Not everyone can afford a handmade, custom Persian rug, and not everyone can travel to Iran to select a Persian rug for themselves. Modern manufacturing allows homeowners to enjoy the style of a Persian rug without the difficulties that come with procuring one.
Visit Rugs USA for Your Persian Rugs
When you’re looking to add new rugs to your home, look no further than Rugs USA. We offer a large selection of endless rug styles, including Persian rugs.
Whether you want a small, round rug for your entryway or a large, statement-making rug for your living room, we’ll have the perfect piece to complete your home’s unique aesthetic. Visit our website today to browse our wide array of rug options!
