Oriental Rug Buying Tips Pt. II
At ABC Rug Outlet, our goal is to assist your selection of the perfect rug. While others may pressure you to buy a rug, we refrain from that sales technique at all times. We prefer to let you view the rugs at your leisure and help you fall in love with the right one.
Take the time to learn the lingo of rugs. When you walk into our store we want you to be comfortable and confident as you view our fine rugs. Terms such as weft, weave, pile, and Bukhara should be in your mind, but if they aren't we can always get you up to speed. We will present a list of terms in a later blog.
Like any important purchase, do not allow yourself to be pressured to buy. Go to a store that has a solid reputation for good, friendly service and prices that are fair. Avoid attending “going-out-of-business” sales and auctions because you may find yourself pressured to buy a rug that is overpriced, low-quality, or a misfit for your interior design; or all three. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, just walk away.
Oriental rugs are hand-woven on a loom, with strings or strands of wool (warps) which extend from from top to bottom. The weaver makes horizontal rows (wefts), weaving in and out between the warps. Tying the warps together with a piece of wool then creates the pile. Knot by knot, row by row, the weaver works diligently. Depending on the number of knots per square inch, a 6' x 9” rug could take as long as six months to complete.
You’ll notice that each rug has a “direction” which indicates which end is the “dark” or “light side. Since most rugs are woven on a vertical loom, the ends of each knot are pulled downward while cutting the yarn. If you are standing at the top end, the rug will look markedly lighter than looking at it from the “bottom” end. Therefore, it's important to survey your rug from all angles to appreciate the different perspectives.
