Different Types of Oriental Rugs and Their Uses

What are Oriental Rugs?

Oriental rugs are hand-knotted in the Middle East, by specialized rug makers, that pay particular attention to every little detail. They are old and timeless pieces of textile, which embellish years of tradition and cultural heritage within them. All of these features elevate their value and make them even more desirable than other carpets.

When speaking about rugs, Oriental rugs are probably the most precious and appreciated in the interior design realm. They are especially valuable due to their interesting and creative design motifs, in addition to the peculiar craftsmanship required to produce them.

They come in a variety of sizes, materials, and colors, which allows anyone to find the right fit for the empty space they are trying to fill. Picking an Oriental rug is almost an expression of one’s artistic soul.

Rugs are some of the most important elements you can find in any room. While some might consider them as accent pieces, or last-minute additions to a space, the reality remains that a room without a rug is unsatisfying and cold.

It is, in fact, the placement of a rug that brings a new layer of detail to the entire decor of a space, making it look more charming and complete. You may want to check our in-depth guide on rug placement.

Oriental Rug Uses

Oriental rugs display powerful features such as bold colors, attractive motifs, and creative designs. This is why they are mainly used to anchor all the furniture in a room together and add a splash of creativity and character to the space.

Whether it is a neutral living room with pale textures or a colorful space with bold furniture, an Oriental rug can bring the entire design together by making it more authentic and charismatic.

Since Oriental rugs do not come cheap, they are mostly used as prominent design elements in living rooms, spacious dining rooms, hotel lobbies, continuous hallways, or fancy stores.

In some instances, this rug type is also used as wall decorations due to their immaculate level of detail. See our article on ‘Hanging Oriental Rugs as Wall Art‘ for some inspiring decor ideas!

Identifying Types of Oriental Rugs

Identifying an Oriental rug is not easy. These types of rugs have been in the market for decades and even centuries. They originate from Oriental countries, which have some of the most complex artistic representations in the world.

The designs of the rugs bring to life all the symbols of their countries of origin, as well as the unique craftsmanship techniques used to produce them.

There are a few common tells that can help you figure out what type of Oriental rug you have in front of you. Here are some of them:

Color

Most Oriental rugs feature bright and bold colors such as red, brown and blue. There are some rugs however that display natural wooden colors such as brown, beige and cream. These are known as Chobi rugs.

Motifs

Motifs are also a big tell of what type of Oriental rug you are dealing with. Some rugs have flowers on them, others have lines. There is one type of rug, however, that features tribal abstract shapes. These are called Ikat patterns, and the rug itself is known as an Ikat rug.

Weaving

You may have noticed that some Oriental rugs are much thinner than others. These thinly weaved textiles are called Kilim rugs.

Material

Most Oriental rugs are hand-knotted in wool on a cotton foundation. New modern Oriental rugs can also be found in cotton only. There is a specific type of rug however, that is made in silk. Not surprisingly, this is known as the Silk rug.

Production time

While Oriental rugs are mainly appreciated for being old and traditional, some rugs are in fact produced in today’s modern era. These are the Vogue rugs.

Origin

Origin is probably the most distinguishable characteristic of Oriental rugs. You must have heard about the Bokhara rugs and the Persian rugs. These two types are distinguished by the places where they originate from.

Different Types of Oriental Rugs

Here is a list of some of the most noteworthy Oriental rugs you can come across.

Chobi Rugs

The Chobi rug is a type of Oriental rug that is different from the rest due to the pale palette that it uses. This rug was originally crafted in Turkey and is quite appreciated in Western countries nowadays.

Once the Chobi rug started to gain popularity, Pakistan took over its production, becoming one of the main countries to manufacture it. It features a beige background with brown and wood colored patterns on it.

Some noteworthy Chobi rugs include:

• Peshawar hand-knotted rugs
• Ziegler rugs
• Afghan Chobi
• Pakistani Chobi
• Persian Chobi

Ikat Rugs

The Ikat rug is a very special type of rug that uses bold colors and geometrical shapes such as triangles, lines, and diamonds to reminisce stories from ancient cultures. This feature gives historical meaning to the rug, in addition to the design value that it already beholds.

Ikat rugs are mainly woven by village tribes that reflect their cultural heritage rather than symbols of peace and power.

The origin of Ikat rugs is unknown. These rugs are so old that it cannot be pinpointed for sure where the technique was first used. What is apparent however is that Ikat rugs have been seen in many countries of the world, with Latin America, Northern Africa and Asia being the most common.

Linguistics however argue that Ikat is an Indonesian word that means knot, which could lead to the assumption that the first people to make Ikat rugs are the Indonesians.

Here are some of the most popular Ikat rugs:

• Egyptian Ikat rug
• Turkish Ikat rug
• Modern Ikat rug
• Bright Ikat rug
• Adirondack rug

Kilim rugs

Kilim rugs are soft, woolen rugs that feature linear designs in bright bold colors, with red being the most prominent. They are thinner than all other Oriental rugs.

These rugs were hand-woven in different countries of the Persian Empire, such as Turkey, Azerbaijan and the Balkans.

Kilim rugs include:

• Chalk kilim
• Handmade Afghan Veg Dye Kilim
• Handmade Persian Shiraz Kilim
• Handmade Persian Shiraz Runner
• Handmade Circular Persian Patchwork Kilim

Silk rugs

Silk rugs are softer to the touch, plusher and have a distinct shiny finish.

Here are some of the most common Silk rugs:

• Nain rug
• Indian Suzani Embroidery
• Tabriz rug
• Kerman Lavar Antique rug
• Tehran rug

Vogue rugs

These have been the years of fashion not only regarding clothing items but also interior design. As a result, having a Vogue Oriental rug comes as no surprise.

Vogue rugs are easy to spot as they are brand new looking rugs that use the traditional designs of Oriental rugs and mix them with modern features.

Vogue rugs are somewhat more commercial and include names such as:

• Milano rug
• Hollywood rug
• Radiant rug
• Ritzy rug
• Panache rug

Bokhara rugs

Bokhara rugs were first hand-woven in the Bokhara region, an area known today as Uzbekistan.

This region was widely known for the production of rugs of very high quality and immaculate detail. As a result, the Bokhara rugs started to become extremely popular, which led to surrounding countries such as Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, India and Central Asia start to produce the same type of rug.

In terms of design, despite their origin, Bokhara rugs feature oval motifs in somewhat empty backgrounds.

The knot characteristics however differ from one country to the other. The knot used in Pakistan is the symmetrical knot (single knot), whereas Central Asia and Afghanistan use the Senneh knot (double / asymmetrical knot). Central Asian and Afghan based Bokhara’s are well-known for their intricate design and amazing quality.

Some of the most popular Bokhara rugs are listed below:

• Salor Bokhara Rugs
• Tekke Bokhara Rugs
• Princess Bokhara Rugs
• Royal Bokhara Rugs
• Yomud Bokhara Rugs

Persian rugs

Persian rugs are produced in former Persia, which is now known as Iran. They are some of the oldest and most traditional types of Oriental rugs, which makes them also extremely famous. The craftsmanship of these rugs is unique and utterly precise.

Learn about all the different types of Persian rugs.

Their design is quite special as well, featuring flowers, fruits, crosses and lotuses, basically more organic shapes, contrary to other Oriental rugs that display geometrical figures. The most traditional colors that these rugs display are red, blue and gold.

Some of the most well-known Persian rugs are listed below:

• Heriz Rugs
• Kashan Rugs
• Gabbeh Rugs
• Isfahan Rugs
• Balouchi Rugs

Persian rugs include numerous other rugs as their subcategory, featuring some similar characteristics. Here are a couple of them to help you get an idea of what these pieces look like and symbolize:

The Afshar Rug

The Afshar rug is an Oriental rug that became popular during the 19th century. It is categorized as a Persian rug due to its origin and color scheme.

Name and origin

This rug is named after the Afshar tribe located in Kerman, Iran. It takes the name of the tribe because it is also handwoven by them in the same area. Speaking of keeping tradition and cultural heritage alive!

Material

In terms of material, these rugs offer a blend of wool and lanolin, which gives them an extra sheen. This kind of technique is mainly seen in old Afshar rugs, while the new products of today are using cotton as a base material.

Motifs

The designs and motifs of Afshar rugs are similar to other Persian rugs, with a twist of Kurdish influences. The surface of the rug displays clean geometrical patterns, in addition to boteh shapes, diamonds, and medallions.

Some models also feature organic shapes like tulips, birds, and animals. What makes the design of these rugs extra special is the tree of life that is usually found in the middle of the piece.

Colors

The colors of Afshar rugs are noteworthy as well. Afshar rugs use hues of red, ivory, blue, brown and gold, all warm colors that evoke a sense of charm and seduction to the space they are used in.

Despite their attractive designs and color scheme, the Afshar rug is not used as a central piece in a room due to its size.

Size and price

Oriental rugs come in a variety of sizes, and these are mostly square-shaped and smaller than the rest. The reason for this is because Afshar rugs are handwoven in horizontal looms which makes it hard to create full-size carpets.

Their size does come with an advantage, however, price! Usually, Afshar rugs are sold at around 350 US dollars, which can be perceived as more affordable than other Persian rugs. The prices do vary however according to the age and level of detail found on the rug. The older it is, the better!

The Mashad Rug

Mashad Rugs are famous Persian rugs produced in Mashad, Iran. If you are somewhat knowledgeable about rugs, then you have probably heard about this rug.

Name and Origin

Mashad rugs are hand-knotted in one of the most popular weaving towns in Iran, Mashad. This area is famous for its rug craftsmanship, immaculate level of detail and precision in the production of Oriental rugs.

Material

These are wool rugs of very high quality. Despite being known as wool rugs, the foundation of the Mashad rug is actually cotton. This is a great weaving technique that allows the wool to maintain its softness and quality while allowing the rug to remain tight and elegant.

Motifs

The design of the Mashad rug is something to be admired as well. This rug features a central medallion and a detailed background full of flowers and organic motifs. The corners of Mashad rugs are also quite detailed with flowers and curvy lines.

What distinguishes Mashad rugs from the rest are indeed the corners, as they have been designed as elongated lines.

Color

In terms of color, the most predominant are typically red and blue. The design details can often be seen in blue or khaki. These are attractive rugs that evoke a sense of passion and charm to whatever setting they are put in.

Size and price

The weaving process of these rugs is quite peculiar. They use 4 wraps of asymmetrical knots rather than 2 as most other Persian rugs. In addition, the Mashad rug weavers go back and forth between straight and sinuous wefts to create a two-level foundation.

The result of this entire complicated but highly attentive process is a full-size carpet of very high quality.

These rugs demand to be the center of attention due to their high-quality materials and mesmerizing designs. As a result, Mashad rugs do not come cheap. They can amount to thousands of US dollars depending on the size.

Motifs And Symbolism In Oriental Rugs

The design of an oriental rug comes across in shapes, patterns, motifs, weaving techniques, and color.

These designs are not random, however. They are deeply rooted in the cultural background of their places of origin and display some symbols and meanings behind each line, as an intention to record history and facts on the rug itself.

There are two main design symbols from which you can define whether an Oriental rug has been produced by craftsmen in the city or by tribes.

Generally, if the rug has floral and organic patterns on them it comes from city producers, while if it has clean geometric lines then it has most probably been woven by a village tribe.

In addition, all other design elements that behold symbolism are plants, animals and colors.

Plants

Plants are mostly used as positive symbols in the Oriental rug design.

Some common symbols include Lotuses and Lilies that represent purity, the Tree of life which represents paradise, fruit trees such as Cyprus and Pomegranate represent health, while Bamboos and Peonies represent wealth.

Animals

Animal symbols are also very common in Oriental rugs. They represent happiness and wellbeing, such as bats, butterflies, and deer. Doves represent peace, dragons, elephants, and phoenixes represent power, the horse is used to show speed while fish is a symbol for abundance. Lions are used to show victory, while ram horns show male fertility.

Colors

Bold colors are very dominant in Oriental rugs. These rugs use mainly primary colors such as red, blue and green. Some more strong colors can also be seen.

Generally red is used to show happiness, while black shows destruction. Brown represents fertility, while blue is the color of the truth. Green and orange have more of a spiritual meaning, where green represents paradise and orange is used to show devotion. Some rugs also feature yellow and white, where yellow means power and white is purity.

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