Your Guide To Traditional Rugs

Most of us own some kind of floor covering or floor rug at home. These rugs come in many different and diverse styles and types. There are just so many rug styles that are available today, and one of these is the traditional rugs. Traditional rugs are made based on the designs that are synonymous with Oriental as well as European designs that have been around for many centuries. This means that the rugs today still use designs that have been adapted from Oriental rugs like the Persian rugs, Turkish, and Indian rugs, and the European rugs like the Aubusson and Savonnerie rugs.

If you were to take a look at the history of these area rugs, you will see that it spans several centuries. Oriental rugs are believed to have evolved from the court carpets woven in the Persian Safavid period, and the Mogul court weaving tradition. The Persian Safavid period is between the year 1490 and 1720, while the Mogul weaving tradition is between 1550 and 1750. These art historical carpets provided the basis for the Oriental rug designs. Back in those times, court carpets were actually very fine rugs with complex curvilinear designs. These designs were intricately layered on top of each other, which created the illusions of space.

Surely we’ve all seen floor rugs with the medallion layouts. These rugs actually made their appearance in the 15th and 16th century. One significant design theme that was mostly prevalent in these rugs was the metaphor of the garden. Subsequently rugs that used these garden designs were associated with the gardens of paradise. During that time, Oriental rugs also used religious and mystical themes in their designs. Even today, we can still find traditional Oriental rugs that use designs which were popular in 16th century palaces, mosques and churches in Western Asia.

For the European rugs, even up till the 17th century, carpet and rug weaving centers were mostly found in England, France and Spain. These centers were commissioned to produce Coats of Arms rugs which were to be used by the kings, lords and the noblemen of that period. These centers had also produced some decorative rugs. These rugs were inspired by the Persian and Turkish rugs of that era.

Then came the French Renaissance period and this is when the most significant change took place in these European designs. Savonnerie and Aubusson design houses began producing ornate and complex floral design rugs. The Savonnerie and Aubusson design houses also introduced carpets that had been designed as a reflection of the elegant ceilings of the Chateaus that they were made for. Even till today, we can still find the design influences of the Savonnerie and the Aubusson, with rugs using the medallions and ornate floral designs.

These days we are still fortunate to be able to enjoy these traditional rugs with all their geometrical shapes and curvilinear designs, their bright and contrasting colors, not to mention their intricate and elaborate designs. Traditional rugs make a great addition to the home. No matter what type of existing furniture you own, or what your décor theme is, there is surely a traditional rug that can be used to suit your look.

Looking at the many types of traditional floor rugs for sale can provide you with a wide selection of rugs to choose from. Take your pick from the many Persian rugs, Turkish rugs, Tibetan rugs, Indian rugs, Kurdish rugs, Central Asia rugs, Chinese rugs and many more. They are available in all sorts of materials, sizes, shapes and types. You can pick a large area rug or a small accent rug, a runner rug or even a prayer rug.

You can still find many traditional rugs today that are hand woven or hand knotted. Most times wool is used as the material of choice. Sometimes cotton and silk are also used in these hand knotted rugs. The dyes that are used are natural plant-based dyes. These rugs are hand woven by skilled craftsmen who use weaving techniques and traditional rug patterns and designs that have been handed down to them from many generations of weavers. This could explain the high price that these authentic traditional rugs are sold for.

On the other hand, if you would still like to enjoy the beauty and elegance of these traditional rugs without spending a bomb, you can pick the next best thing, which are the synthetic rugs made using traditional designs. These rugs are usually made of polypropylene, acrylic or even nylon, and are machine woven. They are soft and have the traditional designs on them, but are sold at a much more affordable price compared to the authentic hand knotted traditional rugs.

Whether you decide to go for a real genuine hand knotted traditional rug, or its synthetic alternative, your traditional rug can immediately transform the look of your home. Your home will never be more stunning and beautiful.