How to Price a Traditional Rug

You can get the best value for your money when purchasing a traditional rug by being a well-informed buyer. By knowing the real thing, you can easily spot a fake. So, know your carpet first.

When buying a traditional rug, ask it to be laid out on the floor. It must lie flat with no lumps noted. The finest quality rugs are the thinnest ones.

Check the rug's length and width for it also affects the price. It should be uniform.

Check also for any damage on the item. There should be no discoloration, such as fading or bleeding. It should not also look too washed out or too shiny. No odor should be noted.

Rugs of the best quality are found and made in Iran. These rugs have a unique hand knotting and have beautiful colors that do not easily fade, and can usually take a family a year or more to create.

Some rugs are created using child labor. These are cheaper and not of good quality. Rugs created by adults, on the other hand, have the best quality because it is born out of experience and honed skills.

Real Persian rugs also use good quality wools and natural plant fibers like cotton, hemp and flask. This reinforces its quality and durability. It also absorbs natural pigments well and does not contribute to allergies or pollution. Another great thing about this is that the dirt does not easily cling to it, so it makes it easier to clean.

The natural dyes used jacks up the value of the rug.

The rampant use of synthetic fibers nowadays, such as rayon or nylon, decreases the value of rugs. This is common with rugs made in China.

With its unique repetitive symmetrical patterns and intricate curvilinear designs, these rugs have become a must have for the rich and wealthy. In fact, real Persian rugs are not only bought for its practical use, but also for its art value.

A Persian rug uses only one knot and is relatively flatter than those made in India or China.

Hand knots are very important when pricing a rug. The number of knots per square inches affects the value of a rug. Tribal rugs do not have a knot number structure while those that are made in the city have. Rugs with 30 knots per inch are very coarse while those that have 290 knots per square inch are of very fine quality. This can be compared to pixels wherein a picture with greater number of pixels produces clean lines and vibrant images. The more number of knots there is, the greater its quality and price also.

Another factor to consider is the age of the carpet. Do not be fooled of antiqued rug or chemically washed carpets. When buying a carpet, ask for a Certificate of Authentication.

Rugs are a great heirloom and can be handed down from one generation to another. Do not be afraid to ask questions about the product. Do your research as well when pricing a traditional rug to assess its competitive market value.