The Best Floor Rugs

Persian Rugs

• The Persian Empire began the tradition of high-quality carpet weaving around 500 B.C.. Persian rugs have been made since then, using roughly the same techniques. The best examples are regarded by art experts as some of the finest textiles in the world, according to American University. Genuine Persians are painstakingly hand-knotted in what is 21st-century Iran -- the geographical seat of the former Persian Empire -- using high-quality wool as the primary material, and rich colors. The most expensive varieties are mixed with gold, silk and silver thread. Persian rugs are distinguished by their curved designs -- a difficult task in rug weaving -- and a wide border highlighting the primary pattern. Genuine Persians are expensive, ranging in price from several hundred dollars to $2 million. Because they are primarily composed of wool, they are washable and fairly durable. However, due to their high cost, they are most suitable for areas that do not experience high traffic, high humidity, a high likelihood of spills or play from children and pets. If well-cared for, Persian rugs can last for generations.

Chinese Rugs

• Genuine Chinese rugs are thick, luxurious, hand-knotted, hand-tufted, sculpted carpets made from five-ply wool. Like Persian rugs, they are regarded as functional art pieces, and the best examples are worth thousands of dollars. However, the 1920s introduced an Art Deco style of Chinese rugs with wider borders, simpler designs and less expensive wool. Both the real thing and "Chinese-style" rugs are still available in the 21st century marketplace. Imitations feature Chinese designs, are often made of hand-tufted wool and are about half the price of their genuine counterparts. Like Persians, genuine Chinese rugs are most suitable for areas that are the least likely to experience high traffic or other potentially damaging situations. Imitations are cheaper and would be suitable for well-maintained rooms free of children's and pet's play.

Braided Rugs

• Braided rugs' origins are most closely associated with Colonial America. Financially strapped pioneers used whatever material was available to braid a long strip of material, coil it and stitch it together in large circles or ovals. The ideal material for this was wool, but anything from chenille to rags was also used. Braided rugs are durable, washable and thick. They are much less expensive than Persians or Orientals, and common types sell for a few hundred dollars. Because of their durability, braided rugs are suitable for homes with high traffic, pets and children. Because they are not the cheapest rugs out there, though, care should be taken to minimize damage.

Renewable Plant Rugs

• Rugs made from fast-growing plants, such as bamboo, sisal, jute and seagrasses, are increasing in the 21st-century marketplace. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, for example, and a variety of products are made from it. These materials can produce floor rugs that are harder and slicker than traditional rugs, but resistant to dirt, allergens and bacteria, at a price lower or comparable to that of braided rugs.