How to Select the Best Brands of Oriental Wool & Silk Rugs

An authentic Oriental rug is a handmade and one-of-a-kind piece of art. Intricate patterns, rich colors and a luxurious feel make these rugs much sought-after treasures. Unfortunately, the ancient, traditional methods of hand-knotting natural silk and wool fibers have been replaced with machine-based processes and synthetic fibers. With a myriad of Oriental rugs boasting intricate patterns and vivid color palettes, it is not uncommon for unsuspecting consumers to pay top dollar for a forgery.

Measuring tape
Camera
Paint samples
Fabric samples
Damp cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the room that the Oriental rug will be purchased for. Determine whether the rug is to be an accent or if you would like it to cover the entire room. Determine the maximum and minimum dimensions that the rug can be to avoid being limited to one specific size.
- 2
  
  Use a photograph to ensure your new rug will match the room's existing color schemes and patterns.
  
  Take a photograph of the room that the Oriental rug will be featured in and print off a copy to take with you while shopping. A photograph will remind you of the color schemes and patterns that the new rug should coordinate with. For a more accurate reference, also bring a paint sample of the wall color and samples of the fabrics incorporated within the room.
- 3
  Examine each carpet carefully. Beware of negative characteristics in Oriental rugs discernible to the average eye. Bald areas where the foundation is visible, creases and uneven weaving techniques that are often passed off as due to age are often indications of a low-quality rug. Instead, choose rugs that lay flat, and have an even weave and pile height.
- 4
  Examine the number of knots per square inch (KPSI). Much like pixels in a television, knots that are finely woven with a high number of knots per square inch allow for fluid and continuous lines, enhancing the creation of a graceful pattern. The finest KPSI ranges to 290, while the coarsest rugs may feature a KPSI of 30.
- 5
  Choose between a silk or wool Oriental rug. The softness and subtle sheen of silk creates a more luxurious and delicate look but is not as practical as wool. Choose silk for areas that will not receive high traffic and wear. Wool rugs are less delicate and provide a natural resistance to staining. Durable and resilient, a wool rug is the perfect choice for high traffic areas. Test for colourfastness to ensure that the dyes will not bleed or run from the rug. Rub a damp cloth on the rug and if the color is transferred onto the cloth, move on.
- 6
  Test the quality of the wool or silk that the rug is woven with. High quality wool feels soft while an inferior wool is scratchy and dry. Additionally, hand-dyed wool absorbs dye unevenly, resulting in natural color variations, and often has an overall glowing finish. To test for real silk, rub the surface of the rug. Natural silk will feel warm to the touch while art silk or rayon will feel cool.

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