Even though there are hundreds of different rugs to choose from, the most common ones that you’ll hear will be oriental and Persian rugs. Have you ever wondered about the differences between the Persian rugs and area oriental rugs?

What To Know About Oriental And Persian Rugs?

Here is the right information to help you understand the difference between these two popular types of rugs.

Oriental Rugs

Origin

Oriental rugs are rugs that essentially originate from places like Turkey, Iran (yes, you’re reading it right), the Middle East, India, and Pakistan. These rugs are very beautiful and they have an overall subtle look. These rugs are generally thinner than most handmade rugs and they’re very easy to manage and handle.

Oriental rugs also have a rich cultural history woven into the patterns and designs of the rugs, making them articles that screams beauty and heritage through and through. If you’re looking for a rug that will be a snippet of history in your room, then you can certainly opt for oriental rugs.

Weaving

Oriental rugs are handmade, but the difference between this rug and Persian rug is that oriental rugs are made on a jacquard loom. Each strand of material is woven with care, precision, and hard work to make beautiful embroidery on the rug.

The loom also uses a woolen foundation and the rest of the rug can either be made out of the same material or a mixture of two or more natural materials like wool and cotton, cotton and silk, etc. The cherry on top is the inclusion of thick, light fringes.

Variety

Usually, oriental rugs are considered to be rugs with a muted color scheme. If you’ve ever been to a rug store before, you would know the rugs that are made out of wool are available in a lot of colors and patterns. They are either very bright or the motifs are screaming vibrancy. If you’re on the lookout for a rug that has a neutral and more versatile color scheme, then oriental rugs will be your best bet.

The color theme includes shades of taupe, light browns, yellow, muted pastel tones, and more, making them a perfect addition to your room whichever types of décor or theme you have.

Price

Oriental rugs can or cannot be more expensive than Persian rugs. The vital determining factors are the thickness of the rug, the material used in weaving the rug, how big the rug is, and where it is sourced from.

Usually, Turkish rugs are pretty easy to source, hence they are very easily available. Some exquisite oriental rugs are really hard to get your hands on, and you need to search far and wide before you can find something that piques your interest. However, generally, an oriental rug is considered to be less expensive than a Persian rug.

Materials

The materials used also set oriental rugs apart from Persian rugs. Oriental rugs aren’t just made out of wool. Yes, there is a woolen foundation on which the actual rug is weaved, but there is also the inclusion of other materials to make the rug lightweight, manageable, and easy to move around. Cotton, silk, and other naturally obtained fibers are used in weaving these works of art and they’re really something once fully weaved.

Any room in which you put the rug in will be decorated with rich beauty, vibrant yet subtle motifs, and designs that you just can’t find anywhere else.

Persian Rugs

Here is everything you need to know about Persian rugs and how they differ from oriental rugs.

Origin

Believe it or not, Persian rugs are actually oriental rugs. They originated in Iran (formerly known as Persia), however because of their extreme popularity, they have been detached from the category of oriental rugs altogether and have been deemed as a separate type of rug.

Persian rugs are extremely bold and vibrant that show the rich Persian culture and embody their story beautifully. These rugs are nothing less than natural beauty sealed in artwork and you will fall in love with the designs that these rugs have to offer.

Weaving

Persian rugs are weaved on a tabby loom. This loom focuses on the knot count per square inch of the rug and this sole factor makes Persian rugs the best quality rugs in the entire world. Rugs that have dimension in weaving and the overall precision are loved by the masses.

Combined with the fact that these rugs are high piled makes everything more cushiony and oh-so comfortable. These rugs also make for great furniture anchors and feet warmers because of this very quality. Many times, weaving a single rug takes years.

Variety

If you love dark and bright-colored rugs, then Persian rugs have you covered from the front to the back. The variety in these rugs will have your head spinning because there are a lot of colors, patterns, and motif designs to choose from. Whether you’re a fan of dark reds or bright greens, or if you want something similar to the golden sun, Persian rugs have it all.

However, it is understandable that not everyone likes their rugs extremely bold and some prefer a more subtle color palette. Well, Persian rugs don’t even come close to that word, so you’ll need to search for other options if bold is not in the cards for you. In that you’ll really like oriental rugs.

Price

Persian rugs, because of their popularity and unmatched quality and durability, are very expensive. However, people will stretch their budget to be able to buy at least one of these weaved wonders of wool. Same as oriental rugs, the price of Persian rugs ultimately depends on the size of the rug, the material, the origin, and the color you’re choosing.

Most of the colors are very easily obtainable, however, some colors are hard to get a hold of since they are not totally in demand. You’ll need to pay a bit extra and wait longer to get your hands on these rugs.

Materials

Wool is the primary material that’s used in making Persian rugs. Wool gives the rug that cushiony and comfortable feel that’s hard to beat. Also, wool makes these rugs thicker than most oriental rugs, which adds tremendously to the quality as well as the weight of the rug.

Being thick means that these rugs need to be professionally cleaned otherwise it’s almost impossible to maintain and take care of these rugs regularly.

The Takeaway

Whether you choose an oriental rug or a Persian rug is completely up to you. There are always different factors that need to be considered when buying any type of rug for your room. How well you can maintain it, whether you can afford it or not, the color scheme, and the overall availability of the rug are just some of the many things that people need to consider.

This guide compared the key points of Persian and oriental rugs and now the ultimate decision is in your hands. It’s always a good idea to do your research before committing to a rug. You should also check out various designs and colors of oriental and Persian rugs VA to make the right decision.