Posted on October 20, 2015 by Behnam Rugs

Should You Buy a Persian Rug?

You need a rug for your living room. You’ve heard wonderful things about the beauty and craftsmanship of Persian and Oriental rugs and so you’ve decided – just like that! – that a Persian or Oriental rug is what you will buy.

But should you purchase one of these rugs? While these rugs are exceptionally beautiful and will last for generations, and as much as we hope you’ll buy a Persian rug, sometimes “just any” quality rug will do.

Here are some things to think about before you purchase a Persian or Oriental rug.

• Hand-knotted rugs are woven by hand by artists who take years to learn their craft. It then takes them weeks or many months to years to finish the rug. Hand-knotted Persian/Oriental rugs, therefore, are not inexpensive. While these works of art come in all different sizes and price points, expect to spend anywhere from several hundred up to several thousand dollars for a true hand-knotted Persian or Oriental rug. (Hand-tufted rugs, may look somewhat similar to a hand-knotted rug but the person creating the rug uses a tufting tool to weave the rug. They will be less expensive than a hand-knotted rug because a true hand-knotted rug is entirely knotted/made by hand).
• While these rugs will last for decades, if not centuries if properly cared for, many area rugs on the market today are much less expensive and can be quite beautiful. Many also come in “Persian” and “Oriental” rug designs. If your budget isn’t such that it can readily afford a hand-knotted Persian rug, there is no shame in purchasing a machine-made rug for your home.

• If you want a hand-knotted rug, are you prepared to do some research beforehand so that you will be able to tell the difference between a hand-knotted and a hand-tufted or machine-made rug? You owe it to yourself to do this research, both online and in one or more rug dealers such as Behnam Rugs so that you will be able to see for yourself the difference between hand-made and machine-made rugs.
• As mentioned above, hand knotted rugs will last for decades, so long as they are cared for properly. Caring for these rugs takes more time than caring for a machine-made rug. Machine-made rugs, for example, can be vacuumed with a vacuum with a beater brush; Persian/Oriental rugs can’t be (you should use only the suction tool, which means it will take you longer to vacuum the rug). Persian/Oriental rugs also should be rotated regularly to prevent wear, shouldn’t be placed in direct sunlight and, most importantly, should never be shampooed with a rug cleaning machine. We urge you to have them cleaned professionally by someone trained in how to properly hand clean these works of art.

If you’ve decided that you want a hand-made Persian or Oriental rug, or if you’d like to learn more about these gorgeous textiles, visit the Behnam Rugs’ Dallas showroom. We’re happy to show you the difference between hand-knotted, hand-tufted rugs and machine made rugs. Just contact us at 972-733-4000.

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono/FreeDigitalPhotos.net