How to Pick a Persian Rug

Select the size of the Persian rug you need for the room. For example, if you are purchasing a Persian rug for your dining room, measure your dining room table and chairs. The rug should be large enough to accommodate the chairs as well, to ensure the chair legs do not sit unevenly or teeter on the edge of the rug.

Inspect each Persian rug for its quality and country of origin. Look at the weave of rug, which should be fine enough to define the pattern. Check the rug for imperfections in the weave or irregular knots and the quality of the wool used. The dyes used in the rug should be consistent and show no signs of bleeding together. Originally, Iran -- or Persia -- produced the highest quality rugs, but in recent years India, China, Turkey, Pakistan and Nepal have all crafted rugs of exceptional quality as well. Rugs produced in any of these countries should be of high quality.

Evaluate Persian rugs based on the condition and age. As long as the rug is in good condition -- free of holes, stains or snags -- the value increases. Any of these factors will significantly decrease the value of the Persian rug.

Consider the color palette of the rug. If you are purchasing a Persian rug for your home, pick colors that coordinate with the color scheme in your home. But, if you are purchasing a rug for investment purposes, choose colors that are likely to remain popular. Persian rugs produced in the 1960s featured bold colors such as orange, green and brown, but now are worth a fraction of original prices due to the color choices. Persian rugs with one-color backgrounds such as ivory or navy blue are highly desirable.