Educating yourself about the product you are buying.

So you are interested in buying Persian and Oriental area rugs for your home, but are not sure what to look for? This guide is intended to be a quick and helpful introduction for the new rug buyer, though there may be more profound considerations that an expert would add to this list. Usually, as long as you go with a handmade piece that looks good on the spot, you’ve made the right decision.

Rug Sizes

It all starts with what size rug would be best for the area. Standard sizes (in feet) are: 2×3, 2×4, 3×5, 4×6, 5×7, 5×8, 6×9, 8×10, 9×12, 10×14,12×15, 2.5 feet wide runners in any length, rounds, and custom made sizes or ovals. Hand made rugs will vary a little in size usually. The following picture will help give you an idea of what size you may need.

Rug Materials

Natural materials, such as wool, cotton and silk have much greater durability than synthetics. They will never release chemical gases, as most synthetics eventually do, and are also innocent of other environmental concerns, like causing allergies, pollution, etc.

Today there is also great concern that wall-to-wall carpeting is filling a significant portion of all garbage dumps, whereas a Persian or Oriental rug typically becomes an heirloom and is rarely thrown away.

Knots per Square Inch (KPSI)

Knots per square inch is a good indication of the quality and value of a fine carpet, the higher the number the better the rug. It takes experienced fingers to make that many very small knots. Keep in mind, some rugs are meant to have bigger or rougher knots.

Imperfections in Rugs

It is often said that Persian rugs are ‘perfectly imperfect’. Slight inconsistencies are the proof that a rug was not made by machine. Even if a rug is coming out perfectly, the weaver will usually make an intentional mistake, in line with the belief that only the Supreme Being can make something that is perfect.

Pricing in Rugs

The price should be reasonable for the quality you are receiving. Until recently, a handmade area rug could be marked up many times, sometimes quite unreasonably, as it traveled from dealer to dealer. Beware of unusually high marke offs, such as “80% Off” as seen at fraudulent “Going out of Business” sales.Prices should vary according to labor, materials, quality, place of origin, style, kpsi, and rarity of design. In the end, it comes down to the quality you are buying, and how much you are paying out the door. Hand-TUFTED rugs are a good & less expensive alternative, if don’t want anything too pricey. Please click here to see a sample of our inventory.

Rug Authenticity

To avoid rugs that might be sold illegally as Persian, you can obtain a Certificate of Authenticity online at rugbazaar.com, or a hard copy can be mailed to you at no cost, if you purchased the rug from us. This will validate the origin, style, materials, size, age, condition, kpsi, and estimated retail value for Insurance purposes.

When Shopping for Rugs

To make the process easier & more efficient, make sure you have approximate measurement of the size you need. Bring any color swatches that you would like to match your rug to. Decide what style is more “you”: Traditional, Old World, geometric, contemporary are just a few styles to consider. Again, go with what you LIKE, as long as its handmade.

Avoid fraudulent “Going-Out-of-Business” sales!

Be wary of such sales. Check to see if the owner has a history of such sales. If a particular dealer has had such a sale more than once in the past 3 years, avoid it! These sales are often designed to trick the customer into thinking they are getting a great deal at 80% off, unaware that the retail price has been unreasonably inflated. Also, wouldn’t you rather receive continued support for your investment? Oriental Rug Bazaar’s warranty covers your rug against any defects or flaws in workmanship, which are not unusual in handmade rugs. We also offer expert cleaning for your rugs.