The following is an article that appears in the Fall 2003 issue of Pink Pages Pride Home Magazine
Top 10 Questions to Ask Yourself
Before Buying an Oriental Rug
By Liz Washer, Gregory Hites and Scott Gregorian
Oriental Rugs are more than just furniture or a touch of carefully plotted interior design. They are works of art in their own right, and therefore many different considerations must factor in to your decision. Buying a quality Oriental Rug for your home is a significant purchase, similar to buying a diamond or a piece of art: significant not just in terms of cost, but in terms of emotional investment and the need to satisfied with your choice for a long time. It is not a choice to be made lightly, but with the right mindset the selection process can be a very enjoyable experience.
To get a better idea about what sorts of things are important to think about,
I queried Gregory Hites, Vice President of Arthur T. Gregorian Oriental Rugs
in Newton Lower Falls (www.atgregorian.com). With his help, we assembled the
Think-List for prospective rug buyers. Before you fall head over heels in
love with a glorious antique or a high-quality brand-new piece of art and
whip out your much-abused credit card, ask yourself these questions:
What size/shape rug do I want? This is pretty self-explanatory - you
cannot put a 12'x16' rug in an 8'x10' living room - but because there are
so many different varieties of rugs, you may run into more choices than you
know how to handle. Oriental Rugs come in many different shapes and sizes.
Some might fill a room nearly wall-to-wall while others provide an understated
yet luxurious accent in front of the fireplace. Others still may be hung on
a wall. Before you buy a rug, you need to be thinking about where to put it
and how much space you'll need. Will anything sit atop of the rug, such as
a table or an easy chair? Know your dimensions!
Where will the rug be placed in my home? In addition to determining which room the rug will adorn and how much space you have for the new purchase, you must think about what sort of "traffic" the room gets. Do you have young children or many pets? (My mother's little terrier delights in digging into the small dining room rug, and has successfully - and devastatingly - caused a whole corner to fray.) Does the room get a great deal of foot traffic, especially people coming in from outdoors? Although rugs can and should be cleaned, and a splash of mud here and there probably isn't going to ruin a well-made rug, it is worth thinking about whether this is a rug that will be used a great deal or one that is primarily decorative. Obviously, an antique rug would not be able to withstand day-to-day use as well as a new rug, so be sure to consider these factors before purchasing an antique that you wish to maintain in good condition!
Should I buy from a specialist? This is completely up to you. You will of course pay more shopping at a store than specializes in Oriental Rugs, but you will also be relatively assured that the staff is very familiar with their product, and able to answer questions about different types and styles. Specialists are also more likely to offer ongoing cleaning services, trade-in policies, and educational programs.
How do I choose a dealer? Where you buy is up to you and your finances, but here are some things to look for: a knowledgeable, helpful staff who seem very savvy in their field, and can readily answer any questions you might have. People that stand behind what they sell (ask about what happens if you take the rug home and decide it doesn't work after all - can you exchange it? Some stores allow you to take it home for a few days as a trial, to ease your commitment-phobia!) Does the store have a trade-in policy - for example, if you move in 5 years, will they take it back if it is in good condition, or exchange it for a rug that best fits your new home? Do they offer professional cleaning services as well? And of course, how does the merchandise look - is it in good condition and high quality? All of these factors, combined with your gut instinct, will help you choose the dealer that is best for you. Shop around, but if you are concerned about quality, beware of liquidations and anyone selling rugs out of temporary or non-established locations. (The rugs being sold at international airports may be discounted for a reason!)
What colors/patterns should I choose? Again, this is a highly individual choice, and shoppers today have many more choices than they did just 30 years ago. Chances are the beauty in a rug store will boggle you, and many different colors and patterns will appeal to you. Gregory Hites insists that the most important factor in choosing a rug is simply whether you like it or not. Do not buy a rug just because you think it might fit in with your dÈcor - even if it does match, you don't want something that just blends into the background, especially if you aren't truly in love with it. Take your time, and indulge your curiosity with a little research about what the various patterns mean - a subject far too vast to cover in this article! (A tip about dyes: if you are suspicious of the quality of the rug, wipe the fabric with a damp white cloth. The dyes in a quality rug should never run.)
How do I match a rug with existing furniture? Many people go into a rug store thinking, "I have a blue sofa, so I want a blue rug." But a reputable dealer will show you all sorts of different colors, and the customer who thought she wanted a match might end up going home with a completely contrasting color and loving it! Chances are, you won't be able to find a rug that perfectly matches the swatches of fabric from your living room. And would you really want something that looked as though it had been made as part of a Martha Stewart matching set? Part of the charm of Oriental Rugs is their individuality. You may want to think instead about how your furniture best fits with the rug of your dreams. Remember: it is better to have a stylish contrast than a not-quite-perfect color or pattern match! A near-miss will clash far more horribly than something that presents its own unique qualities in a room.
Should I buy new or antique? That depends: do you plan to walk on, sit on, play on, and generally use your rug for the types of purposes to which floors are routinely subjected? If not, an antique might be for you. (And remember, you can always hang it on the wall!) Most people who want to be able to sit on their rug by the fire opt for a new rug. Antiques must be treated delicately, and even if they look amazing and are in excellent condition, they will not stay that way if subjected to regular stresses.
How much should I spend, and what factors determine a rug's price? Expect to pay $1,500-5,000+ for a good medium-sized Oriental Rug. In a reputable dealership, the price is mainly determined by material and labor cost. Hand-woven and dyed rugs will always cost more than machine fabricated rugs, and the higher the knot-count (similar to thread count in sheets!), the higher the price.
What sort of maintenance do rugs need? Every 4 to 5 years, it is a good idea to have your Oriental Rug professionally cleaned. Your best bet is to hire the dealers that sold you the piece, if they offer cleaning services. Be cautious about chemical cleaning services that do not specialize in Oriental Rugs, or home cleaning products. Your dealer can discuss how to do routine upkeep and cleaning. (The rules may vary according to dyes used, so always ask.)
What is the best type of rug to buy? You may be a purist, and want only hand-woven, hand-dyed, high-knot-count new rugs or antiques. And among enthusiasts there are certainly considerations that go beyond those of the average buyer. But if you buy from a reputable dealer, they will be able to tell you what went into the making of the rug: where it was made, what kind of dyes were used, how high the knot-count is… all those little details that you can use to impress your guests!
Choosing a rug is a highly individualistic process, and there are no hard and fast rules except these: take your time, indulge your creativity and curiosity, and explore as many options as you can. If you choose something you love, your new rug will add that indelible sense of artistic mystery to your home for many years to come!
For more information about Oriental Rugs, visit the New England Rug Society
webpage:
www.ne-rugsociety.org.
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