What Is a Dhurrie Rug?

History and Origin

• Traditionally, the dhurrie rugs were exclusively hand-loomed from cotton or wool. Some of the countries of origin include India, Pakistan, Tibet and Afghanistan. Today most of the dhurrie rugs in the U.S. come from India. This ancient art-form has been around for centuries in India, and was passed down from generation to generation. Many times entire families earned their livelihoods through the weaving of beautifully patterned dhurrie rugs. Today they are still hand-loomed.

Uses

• Dhurrie rugs can be used on the floor of your home or as a creative wall hanging. The diversity in patterns, variety of colors and assortment of sizes makes them a versatile rug and unusual wall art. All dhurrie rugs are reversible, so if one side gets stained or dirty, just flip it over and you have a clean rug. They should be placed on a flat floor surface such as wood, tile or ceramic. A rug pad placed under the rug helps to prevent slippage on the floor.

Style

• The style of dhurrie rugs leans toward a more casual ambiance due to their construction. With a myriad of geometric patterns, stripes or solids, there is a stylish dhurrie rug for for a more traditional style as well. The older color palettes tended to be softer and more pastel in nature. Bolder and more vibrant colors have been loomed in modern times as an option to the lighter color hues, expanding their use to virtually any home style.

Cleaning and Care

• Cleaning and care instructions are not the same for every dhurrie rug. Every dhurrie rug should be vacuumed or shaken to remove dirt, dust and other particles. Special care must be taken when vacuuming one with fringe. Dhurrie rugs created from silk or wool should be dry cleaned. Those made of cotton can sometimes be machine washed in cold water with mild detergent, but they must be hung to dry. The specific cleaning and care instructions accompanying your dhurrie rug should be followed.