Rugs are a perfect way to add that element of comfort to any room in your home. If you didn’t know this already, rugs come in a variety of weaves and knots that can entirely change the look of each one. Here is everything you need to know about a flat weave rug. So, you should know this before shopping for area Oriental rugs.

What Is A Flat Weave Rug?

A flat weave rug is a type of rug that’s has a flat surface. This is already a huge difference between a knotted and woven rug because knotted rugs have that fluffy and tufted pile, whereas these rugs are thin and flat in appearance.

Because of this reason, flat weave rugs don’t have a backing or canvas either. This allows the rug to be the same on both sides, so flat weave rugs can be used as reversible rugs too.

That’s a big plus because you don’t need to wash it as often and even if you do, you’re not going to damage any fragile part of the rug, which in most cases, is the canvas backing that shouldn’t get wet, otherwise the whole rug might unravel and get ruined.

Reversible rugs are a huge lifesaver because they’re extremely versatile and there’s no hassle of displaying the right or wrong side. Not a lot of rugs are reversible, so this characteristic makes flat woven rugs unique and popular. These rugs are available in a variety of colors, patterns, and designs, and you can choose from rich and bold colors and muted and neutral ones too.

Another great thing about flat weave rugs is that they have a minimal yet luxurious appearance that a lot of rugs don’t have. Some rugs are very bold and out-there with their colors and designs whole some others are just too plain and muted. Flat-woven rugs are considered to be the perfect liaison between the two extremes.

How Are Flat Woven Rugs Made?

The process of making a flat woven rug is very simple. It consists of a loom and two thread strands. One strand, called the warp, is fixed vertically on the loom, while the other strand, called the weft, is threaded into the warp. The artisan weaves the rug with a set of repeated motions countless times and the rug starts to take its shape.

If you want to incorporate a design in the rug, then the same back-and-forth motion is used, but in specific places, to make motifs, designs, abstract patterns, and other things on the rug.

This technique is different from traditional hand knotting, where individual strands are braided and tied in a knot to get that tuft. In a flat weave rug, the back-and-forth motion, combined with weaving, leads to the formation of a thin fabric, and that’s the rug that people know and love.

This weaving technique is found in a lot of Oriental and Persian rugs like:

• Dhurrie rugs
• Kilim rugs
• Soumak rugs

Another thing that makes these rugs appear flat is the arrangement of the strands. The strands are horizontally woven on the loom, which gives the illusion and appearance of a thinner rug. It also doesn’t fray as easily because the weaves are tight and they don’t have any give or stretch to them either, making flat weave rugs extremely durable and exceptionally strong.

Materials Used In Making Flat Weave Rugs

There are a lot of materials that can be used in the making of flat weave rugs, but the most common ones are:

• Wool
• Linen
• Silk
• Cotton
• Jute

These materials are chosen because they are sturdy and well-structured and since flat weave rugs don’t have a backing on them, they rely on the material’s strength to hold themselves in place. Jute and wool are already quite durable, so these rugs are going to last you a long time and they’re going to hold their shape better too.

Things To Know About Flat Weave Rugs

Now that you know what flat weave rugs are, here are some things you should know about them.

They’re Not Soft

Flat woven rugs aren’t the softest and fluffiest of rugs out there. This can be a deal breaker for a lot of people, as they prefer rugs with a bit more fluff and tuff. These rugs, because they have no backing or canvas, are flat and thin in appearance, so they’re not going to give your feet or body a lot of cushion.

On the other hand, a lot of people love this fact and they want to invest in thinner rugs as it makes the space look more minimal and cleaner. So, the choice is ultimately up to you.

Lightweight In Comparison

One of the biggest advantages of flat weave rugs is that you don’t need an army of people to change its placement. A flat weave rug is very lightweight, as compared to traditional woolen rugs.

A heavy rug might be luxurious and all, but if it’s not easy to handle, then it can lose a great majority of its appeal. This is why flat weave rugs are very popular among people because they can be easily moved from one place to another without breaking a sweat. It’s nice to have a rug that’s not only beautiful in appearance, but a breeze to manage as well.

Reasonable In Price

If you have a tight budget, but still want to get a rug, then a flat weave rug is the perfect option for you. They won’t break the bank and you can still get a beautiful yet durable rug for your house, office, apartment or college dorm.

Let’s be real; no one wants to spend a fortune on something like a rug (unless they are super rich), so it’s better to have budget-friendly options too. If you want to get a flat weave rug for an even better bargain, then you can check out thrift stores to find rugs of many kinds.

They’re Durable

These rugs are extremely durable. You might think that these rugs fray easily because of the absence of backing, but that’s not the case. Flat weave rugs are very strong and they can last up to 30 years if maintained properly.

But keep in mind that, ultimately, the durability of these rugs depends on the same factors that are critical for high pile rugs like are they handmade or machine made and which material are they made of.

Easy To Maintain

Maintaining a high pile rug can be a huge hassle, especially if you’ve spent a lot of money on it, but with flat weave rugs, you don’t need to worry about such things. Flat weave rugs, because they’re so lightweight and easy to handle, can be hand washed and machine washed in a normal speed setting and you’ll end up with a clean and fresh rug in no time.

If you want, you can also get it dry-cleaned, but it’s not necessary for the most part. Maintaining a rug never sounded this easy.

Conclusion

Every rug is beautiful in its own way, but something about a flat weave rug is very minimal yet attractive and it transforms any room you put it in. So, the next time, you’re out looking for traditional rugs Virginia, don’t forget to check out some flat-woven options too.