When faced with choosing an area rug, the sheer range of different styles available can feel unapproachable, especially if you don’t know an oriental rug from a contemporary rug.Listed below are the most common rug styles you’ll find at your local rug store and a few important details on each one:
Contemporary area rugs
Contemporary area rugs are fantastic work of arts and have vibrant colors featuring a diverse range of patterns, which you probably won’t find on other styles of area rugs. They’re usually associated with patterns no older than 25 years old. Contemporary style rugs comes in a huge range of colors, textures and patters and are best if you’re looking for a modern style of rug. Contemporary area rugs can be used in all rooms but are especially ideal for smaller rooms as they can give a more brighter and spacious looks due to their bolder designs.
Persian area rugs
Persian area rugs consist of bright colors and complex designs which when combined form a marvelous work of art. Made from wool, cotton or silk, they’re much more durable than synthetic rugs. Most Persian rugs are red or blue based but of course have additional colors added. This style of rug is found in 3 forms; geometric, floral and pictorial. The Persian area rug is one of the oldest types of rugs aging back to a time when they were solely used to cover cold flooring - however it didn’t’ take long for the immense beauty of the Persian rug to be known as work of art. Persian rugs are a sign of wealth and happiness and are known for being high in quality, and they’re just some of the reasons this rug style is highly sought after.
Oriental area rugs
Oriental area rugs are usually made from wool or silk and come from any part of Asia, however China and Japan are the main producers. Oriental area rugs feature captivating designs and are usually based on oriental traditions. Earthy colors like white, peach, yellow and blue are the major colors used with this style. The popularity of the Oriental rug has soared in the western world, with designs featuring dragons an admired style. Authentic oriental rugs are of very high quality and are treated with more respect than other types.
Braided area rugs
The braided rug is extremely durable and is formed by braiding strips of heavy wool together. Often found in oval shapes, it’s not uncommon to now find them in other shapes such as rectangles, squares or even circles. Traditional braided rugs are hand made and come in more toned colors, but modern styles are usually machine made and feature bolder colors. Braided rugs can add elegance to any room and the smaller sized rugs are great in complementing other styles of rugs. Braided area rugs came into fruition during the American native era and during the early 1900’s rug braiding became an art form. Braided rug kits can still be found today but this pastime is nowhere near as popular as it was decades ago.
