Posted on May 13, 2020 by Behnam Rugs

5 Signs of a Persian Rug’s Quality

You’ve found a handmade Persian rug with a design you adore. You want to purchase it, but you want to make sure it’s a quality rug – after all the rug seller is asking for a good amount of money for this gorgeous “investment piece.”

Read below for 5 indications of a rug’s quality.

1. If the dealer is saying the rug is handmade or hand-woven, it should have no backing at all attached to it. You should just see tiny knots on the rug’s back side. In fact, the design on the back of a handmade rug should be almost as clear as it appears on the face of the rug.
2. Take a look at the back of the rug. A rug made by machine will have a uniform warp-and-weft grid while a handmade or hand-knotted rug’s back will have variations and slightly wavy wefts and warps. Perfection is an indication that the rug may be machine made.
3. You’re not looking for a rug without any imperfections. Handmade rugs will have a few – they are made by hand, after all. Still, a quality rug will lie straight and flat on the floor and should be realistically regular in its shape.
4. The colors should be lustrous and the rug should be made of wool or silk. Its colors should be balanced and a new rug’s colors shouldn’t have bled or faded. Note that silk rugs have a more noticeable sheen than wool rugs. However, it shouldn’t be too shiny, nor should its colors be exceptionally harsh or bright.

This antique Sarouk rug is a great example of how an antique rug retains its colors over the years. The colors of a new, high-quality Persian rug should be brighter, but not much more so.

5. Perhaps the most important component of a rug’s quality is the density of its knots. To check for knot density, press your fingers into the base of the rug’s pile. The knots should feel as if they are packed tightly. You should do this on different quality carpets so that you can get a “feel” for how dense a rug should be. Many rug dealers – such as Behnam Rugs – are happy to take you around their showroom to teach you how to check for knot density.

You should check out many rugs before you find one to adore; don’t buy the first rug you like. Purchasing a fine Persian rug should be looked at as an investment – in time and in money. Take care as you shop; don’t rush it.

Many reputable rug dealers, including Behnam Rugs, will allow customers to take a rug home with them for a day or two to make sure they love the way the rug looks in their home. All you need to do is leave a credit card on file and return the rug in the condition you brought it home in if you don’t end up purchasing it.

Of course, you should purchase a rug you love and, while it’s certainly fine – and even wise – to purchase a quality Persian rug for its investment value, it’s far more important that you love the rug’s design, it’s beauty, its quality, and how it adds so much to your home’s interior.

As mentioned above, we’re more than happy to take you by the proverbial hand in our Dallas showroom and teach you how to ascertain a handmade rug’s quality. Contact Behnam Rugs at 972-733-0400.