Not every Rug is an oriental Rug. How can you tell the difference?

The term Oriental Rug has been used, overused and misused throughout the last few decades. Notice that suddenly, any carpet with a certain design pattern, whether handmade or factory produced is termed “Oriental carpet” by some companies.

Carpet outlets, furniture stores and even some large home improvement stores have been known to put out a carpet that 'looks' like an Oriental rug and just claim it as so. But Oriental rugs are much more than patterns or designs.

In this blog post we’d like to take a minute and define what is a real hand-made Oriental Rug:

• True Oriental rugs are made by hand and never produced in a factory. Mass factory produced carpets are not unique - the machines do a perfect job of duplicating a single pattern and we don't like perfect, not in the rug business. Hand made carpets on the other hand, are imperfect and even if they seem to have the same design, each and every one of them is different. The beauty of the hand made carpet (or hand-knotted, or hand woven, however, you want to call it) is in its imperfection. Each carpet is a unique work of art or as we like to call it "Art on the floor".

• By definition, Oriental rugs should genuinely come from an Asian country (that’s why there’s Orient in Oriental Rugs). Oriental rugs could be sub-divided into Middle East or Far East and the most well-known countries in the list for hand woven carpets would include India, Afganistan, Iran, Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, Turkey and some southern regions of what used to be the former Soviet like Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Just to be on the safe side: "Wilton"®, "Karistan"® and "Couristan"® are nice rugs that are made by machines and have Oriental carpet designs. Please don't confuse them with authentic "Oriental carpets". Also know that no genuine Oriental rugs are made of nylon or polypropylene.

If you're looking for a true Oriental rug, visit us at www.1800getarug.com where you will find a unique collection of beautiful handknotted rugs which is always up to date with color and design.

Got a Real Dirty Rug? Try Full Rug Immersion Hand-wash

In addition to regular vacuuming, you will prolong the life of your rug by performing regular maintenance as you would do for your vehicle. Full rug immersion hand-wash is recommended every 3 to 5 years, depending on the amount of traffic the rug gets.

In the process, your rug is immersed in 300 to 500 gallons of water in a shallow wash pool where it is agitated, using a natural soap. Both sides of the rug are agitated, working soap deep into the rug's fibers. A neutral, mild, pure animal shampoo, that does not remove the natural oils and lanolin from the wool, is used.

During the soaking process, the water in the wash pool is constantly circulating with clean water running in and dirty water pumping out.

After soaking, the rug is flushed and rinsed out. Then a roller, which also features a jet stream of water, is pushed over the rug to force out any remaining contaminants. Both front and back sides of the rug are flushed in this manner.

Rugs dry while hanging over a raised, moveable beam. And all this results in a superior wash. Not only is your rug cleaner, but it will smell better, look brighter, and last longer because it is free of abrasive particles.

For more information, visit us at www.1800getarug.com or give us a call at 201-583-8949 and we will work out all the details for you.

Don't throw away that old Rug. Bring it in for Rug Restoration

Even though antique rugs stand out as pieces of art, rugs are basically made to walk on. If they were hanging on the walls, rug care and maintenance would be much easier, but rugs are “art on the floor” and we try to do our best taking care of them. Still you can’t really tell what the dog will drag in tomorrow.

In time, some delicate rugs wear out. Some rugs have missing fringes, others have holes where a table’s leg used to stand, and we’ve seen water damaged rugs and wrap damaged rugs and rugs with vacuum cleaner damage or even bacteria and mold.

But this doesn’t always mean that you have to throw away your rug. That’s the reason rug restoration was invented. Rug repair takes great technical skills, gentle hands and refined eyes.

1800GetARug can help you with your restoration needs. We can repair small to large holes in your rugs, fringes, mending, whatever you need to have done.

And whatever your repair need is - we can handle it at a very fair prices. Call us and get a quote. We are located in the New Jersey area, but can handle even a long distance customer. Give us a call at 201-583-8949 and we will work out all the details for you.

If you have any type of question please call and we will be happy to service you!

How to choose a rug? Essential carpet buying tips

Buying a rug might seem like an easy task, just head on to the local rug dealer and choose the rug you like. But actually, there are a few things to consider before you buy a rug and several ways to make sure you get the carpet that will best fit your needs.

How to choose a rug?

Size. Before you go to the store, make sure that you know the size of the room that rug is intended for. Pay close attention to the furniture and consider a reasonable size that will not be too small to or too big.

Many stores keep rugs hanging from the ceiling which can be confusing. Ask the salesman to put the rug on the floor. You will be surprised to see how small it looks when you are standing above it.

Feel the rug. Not with your hands, but with your feet. Take off your shoes, your socks and walk on the carpet. This is what it’s meant for and you have to make sure you like the feel of the carpet under your feet.

Remember that dark carpets make rooms look much smaller than they are in reality. Bright colors make rooms look a lot bigger. So color is very important here. If you have a smaller apartment, you might want to consider going for bright colors.

For more information about Persian Rugs, Antique rugs or Semi-Antique, Fine New Oriental Rugs, 19th century European designs or modern area rugs, log on to www.1800getarug.com where you will find a unique collection of beautiful handknotted rugs which is always up to date with color and design.

How Persian Rugs are made?

The Persian Rug is more than just a decorative piece. Rugs and carpets are a vital part of the Iranian culture. It’s also interesting to know that rug weaving is an honorable occupation in the Persian culture – only last year Iran exported more than 400 million dollars worth of hand made rugs and it’s Iran’s largest export after… oil!

You can imagine that rug weaving is pretty complicated. Depending on size, quality and the pattern of the carpet, it can take up to a few years to make a rug. When knotting a rug, the weaver creates detailed and complicated patterns as rug weavers can create thousands of patterned knots in each day.

Sounds like much of a hassle over something that a machine can do in a matter of minutes. Well, there are machine rugs which might look like Persian rugs but there is no real knotting involved and as in most of machine made products – these rugs are made from industrial materials and synthetic fibers that can not match the true beauty and quality of a handmade rug.

If you’re interested in seeing the magic of weaving – it’s fairly simple. All you have to do is visit Tabriz – the center of carpet production in Persia. Here's a glimpse at the process of weaving an Oriental rug in Turkey:



For more information about Persian Antique or Semi-Antique, Fine New Oriental Rugs, 19th century European designs or modern area rugs, log on to www.1800getarug.com where you will find a unique collection of beautiful handknotted rugs which is always up to date with color and design.

How to keep your Oriental rug looking at its best. Part II

Clean Regularly

Vacuum rugs often, and do it on both sides. Try to use the vacuum nozzle instead of a beater bar and whatever you do - don’t shake them! Shaking Oriental rugs leads to thread and knots damage. When you vacuum, don’t skip areas that are hidden under furniture. Moths love those dark, quiet places and moths’ eggs just love to consume rugs.

Or you can try this:



Know Rug First Aid

There’s nothing to do about it - sooner or later a glass of wine will spill, coffee will drip, the kid’s soda, and the dog that couldn’t wait… It is very important to master the rules of rug first-aid and act as quickly as humanly possible in order to prevent rug stains and heavy smells. Before the spill begins to dry, clean the area with a wet paper towel. Then use a mix of water and vinegar if you want to prevent color damage.


Get a Rug Pad

A rug pad is also recommended and can help prevent slippage, act as a buffer to minimize abrasion and protect your floors. A good quality pad will also provide airflow between your floor and the rug and airflow allows the rug to breathe, which in turn will extend the rug's life. Rug pads may also prevent the crushing and wearing of pile after heavy use.

If you still need help with your rug cleaning or rug restoration, turn to a professional Oriental rug dealer such as www.1800GeatARug.com where you will find experienced importers and wholesalers of beautiful rugs from all over the world.

How to keep your Oriental rug looking at its best

You’ve just bought an Oriental rug and it really ties the room together. Now you probably want your new rug to last years to come. No problem. You just have to follow a few simple rug maintenance instructions in order to make the most out of your rug’s life and durability.

Take you shoes off!

Of course that there are some issues that can not be avoided. Rugs, unlike most of our purchases, are made to be walked on. So the best and first thing to do is to ask your family to remove their shoes while in the house. Most of the dirt and wear of rugs is a direct result of the surprises we carry on our soles (by the way in Persia, nobody keeps their shoes on while inside).

Rotate

Although Oriental carpets come from a land of a thousand suns, rugs do not like direct sunlight and they tend to fade out. So just like you do with your mattress, try to rotate the carpet from time to time and prevent wear and color fade from happening in the same areas. Rotating a carpet a couple of times a year can help you maintain the rug’s value and look.

Come back next time for more tips, or log on to www.1800getarug.com where you will find information about your rug maintenance.

Rug Glossary II - Persian Rugs

Oriental rugs are generally carpets that are hand-knotted using natural fibers such as wool cotton or silk or any combination of them or may be simply woven rugs. Machine made rugs or rugs woven by anything except by hand are not considered real oriental rugs. Different cultures and countries influence the design and production of oriental rugs, and they are usually categorized by their geographic origin: Persian rugs, Chinese rugs, Kurdish rugs, Turkish rugs and more. Let's take a close look at Persian Rugs:

Tabriz Gumbat Rug

Persian Rugs: are an integral part of the culture and tradition of Persia. Iranian and Persian rugs were woven in ancient Persia thousands of years ago. The Weaving of rugs in Persia is part of it's art and as many as million hand weavers are producing hand made Persian rugs for domestic and for export. Persian rugs in general are categorized by sizes: over 6X4 ft rugs are called Farsh, and smaller carpet includes Kilim and Zilu.

Amazing Persian Esfahan, Great Wall Hanging

Tabriz Rugs: Tabriz is a Persian city, which is famous for fine handknotted rugs with timeless classic floral designs. It is one of the cities with the longest weaving history like Esfahan, Kirman and Kashan. In this collection you will find the finest handmade and hand knotted Tabriz rugs at discount and wholesale prices with free shipping.

Tabriz Revival Rug

So whether you're looking for a Persian Antique or Semi-Antique, Fine New Oriental Rugs, 19th century European designs or modern area rugs, log on to www.1800getarug.com where you will find a unique collection of beautiful handknotted rugs which is always up to date with color and design.

Rug Glossary I

Persian Rugs, Silk Rugs, Needlepoint Rugs, Vegetable Dyes Rugs, Antique rugs and the list goes on and on. How can you choose a rug if you don't know the difference? So before you head on to the store, here is a Rug Dictionary, weaved by the specialists of www.1800getarug.com:

Aubussons: Aubusson is actually a town in the French region of Creuse. An Aubusson rug is a flat weave, pile less rug, mostly featuring a floral medallion with curvilinear floral borders and soft pastel colors. Aubusson rugs have been famous throughout the world since the 14th Century for their graceful and elegant designs. Our collection consists of the finest handwoven Aubussons, which are made with 100% highest quality lambs wool.

French Aubusson Area Rug:

Silk Rugs: Silk fabric was first developed in ancient China and was originally reserved for the Kings for their own use and gifts to others. Today it's accessible by all and in great demand because of its texture, luster and durability. A silk rug is the most intricate type of handknotted oriental carpet with very fine weave, copious detail and a rich color combination. In our collection, you will find stunning examples of classic Persian Tabriz, Kashan, Qum, Isfahan and Turkish Hereke patterns at unbeatable prices.

Oval Silk Rug:

Savonnerie: These rugs have been the most prestigious European style knotted-pile carpets since early 17th century (Louis XIII). They are made with wool and sometimes silk in the small details, knotted using the Ghiordes knot in purely French designs with the occasional addition of Rococo elements. Our collection consists of the most meticulously woven plush area rugs in all sizes at wholesale prices.

Black Savonnerie Runner

So whether you're looking for a Persian Antique or Semi-Antique, Fine New Oriental Rugs, 19th century European designs or modern area rugs, log on to www.1800getarug.com where you will find a unique collection of beautiful handknotted rugs which is always up to date with color and design.

Should I get the largest sand rug in the world or just go for the largest Persian rug in the world?

You probably know about many things that happen in Iran these days. But did you ever think that one of them is creating the largest rug in the world? At astonishing 60,546 square feet and 38 tons of wool, the largest Persian rug was made by 1,200 weavers, in 3 different villages, over almost two years. The carpet will not stay in Iran; it is destined to fly over to the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile in Island of Hormuz, we see that Iranians also love the beach, and they love building stuff out of sand. But if it’s castles for us, guess what they are building? You guessed right… a carpet. Group of Iranian artists created the world’s biggest sand carpet that spreads over amazing 400 square feet and created with 70 different types of send:


And here's how you do it:


Think you are ready for your own Persian rug? Well we can't offer you a sand rug or a 60,000 square feet rug, but we can offer Persian Antique or Semi-Antique, Fine New Oriental Rugs, 19th century European designs or modern area rugs. Just log on to www.1800getarug.com where you will find a unique collection of beautiful handknotted rugs which is always up to date with color and design.

What's the deal with antique Persian carpets?

With everything that’s been going in Iran lately, we tend to forget that the Middle Eastern country is known as the original home of the oriental carpet. Iran (Persia) is the oldest and once the most powerful empire in the Middle East.

Persia stood at the crossroads of Eastern and Western civilizations. Under the Safavid dynasty Iran attained its artistic height. Court weaving, together with the art of calligraphy, miniature painting, and tilework, flourished to exceptional heights.

The brilliant era witnessed the development of highly qualified carpet factories in cities including Kerman, Isfahan, Kashan, Tabriz, and Herat (now a part of Afghanistan).



Iran is the genesis of most motifs, patterns, and traditional colorations, produced in rugs throughout the world today. Over the centuries, Persian carpets have become treasured heirlooms, passed on from one generation to the next.

High End GOOMBAT DOME Design

So whether you're looking for a Persian Antique or Semi-Antique, Fine New Oriental Rugs, 19th century European designs or modern area rugs, log on to www.1800getarug.com where you will find a unique collection of beautiful handknotted rugs which is always up to date with color and design.

Handmade rugs are "Art for the Floor"

Welcome to 1800GetARug's new blog. We’ve been in the fine Oriental rug business since 1990 and in the blogging business since 2009.

If you guys were not sure yet - at 1800GeatARug we are experienced importers and wholesalers of beautiful rugs from all over the world. We travel around the globe in order to get you those one-of-a-kind precious hand made Oriental rugs, imported from Persia, Pakistan, China and India.



Our Needlepoint and Aubusson weave collection, as well as Vegetable Dyes, Silk rugs and Persian rugs, are a beautiful addition to any setting as the motifs and designs add a warm touch to any room in your house.

Sample from our Aubusson Collection

We enjoy the art of buying, selling and restoring these beautiful heirlooms and we hope that you will enjoy our blog, where we’ll share our love of rugs with you. Every week we will post the latest and greatest rugs in our collection and bring you tips and tricks of how to keep your rug looking as good as it was on the the first day you brought it home.

So whether you are looking for a Persian Antique or Semi-Antique, Fine New Oriental Rugs, 19th century European designs or modern area rugs, log on to www.1800getarug.com where you will find a unique collection of beautiful handknotted rugs which is always up to date with color and design.