RUG QUALITY GUIDE

Rug quality guide, a complete and comprehensive solution for all those in need. So let’s start with ‘what is area rug quality’.
When searching for the best rug for your home or office, inevitably a question comes up. It is, how do I know if I’m looking at a good rug! This article gives a few basic guidelines on how to assess the quality of area rugs. The truth is that many factors go into judging quality in a rug. Its everything from the types of dyes in it to the rugs country-of-origin factor in.

How To Determine Area Rug Quality?

Four main factors that can tell you more about quality than others are:

  1. Knot count
  2. Thickness
  3. Density
  4. Wool quality

Knot Count
In our rug quality guide we’ll first talk about knot count. By knot count, we are referring to the tying of the number of knots per square inch into the rug by hand. Knot count ties tell in how much time and effort it took into making the rug. This more than any other factor will affect the price of a rug.

How To Count Knots Of A Rug?
To count the knots in a rug simply look at the backside of it. When you turn your rug over you will see many little squares of color on the back. Each this is a knot. Now take a ruler and count the number of knots in an inch.
To do so, run the ruler vertically and horizontally across the back. Multiply these numbers. You now get an approximate number of knots for your rug.
In most rugs, an average rug will have between 100 to 150 knots per inch. Anything over 300 knots per inch is some of the top-quality rugs. Well, some of the finest rugs in the world have over a thousand knots per inch.

Thickness
The next three factors all directly affect the durability in your rug.
First, the thickness of the rug. The thickness refers to the height of the pile in your rug. This is pretty much straightforward. The taller the pile, the more rug there is to wear through before the rug wears out. So thickness plays a very major role in the life span of your rug.

Density
A little tougher to judge is the density of your rug. Density refers to how packed together with the fibers of your rug are. If a rug is more densely woven, the fibers support each other creating a much stronger body to your rug. Also, dirt is the number one killer of rugs. It has a harder time working its way down to the base of the knots or it can slowly grind and cut away at the fibers of your rug. So much like thickness, density plays a major role in the life span of your rug. To test the density of your rug, take your fingers and try to work them directly onward into your rug. In any denser woven rug, it will be much more difficult for your fingers to brush it.

Wool Quality
Last, there is wool quality. This is the hardest of the four factors to judge. A good wool has a lot of lanolin, the natural oil that comes from the sheep. Lanolin gives the rug a nice sheen and its illustrious appearance. To test quality wool rug, grab your rug and run your fingers over the
surface. A good wool will feel supple to the touch, where bad wool will feel dry and brassy to the touch. Good wool will last for generations, where the bad wool can wear out in a matter of years. So to recap, the four factors and quality are knot count, thickness, density, and wool quality. Keep these simple tips in mind when you’re looking to buy an oriental rug. You’ll have a good idea of what you’re looking at. Of course, always remember that for custom design rugs come to Faisal International.

FAQs About Carpet Quality

How to choose a quality Persian rug?
Well, this question is the focus of our ‘area rug quality guide’. Quality Persian rugs are those that are hand-knotted with pure wool or silk. These oriental rugs have fringes that form up with the of the rug-making and not glued separately. Their color is natural and does not fade. As mentioned earlier, the best way to find the quality of a hand-knotted rug is to look at its back. A rug is a good quality rug if it reads at least 120 knots per square inch.

What is a high-quality rug?
High-quality rugs are those wherein the number of knots woven per square inch is more or dense. Weaving or tying more knots lead to more time and energy consumption. Not to forget this also adds material quantity. Hence, high-quality area rugs are more expensive than low-quality ones.

How to determine rug quality? (OR) How do you know if a rug is a good quality one? (OR) How to tell a good quality area rug?
You can tell the quality of the carpet by counting the number of knots at it back. You can also determine the area rug quality by running your palm over the surface of the rug. Feel its texture and its density & pile height. Inspect for the grade of the material used. If the texture is dense and there is a good thickness then it’s a good quality rug.

Are Safavieh rugs safe?
It is always advisable to talk to the showroom’s sales executive about the rug before buying. Safavieh or Rugs USA is a good brand to buy quality area rugs from. They have a variety of handmade and machine-made rugs and carpets in most materials. So get to them for a one and one discussion.

What is the best fiber for an area rug?
Area rug materials that are more durable, easy cleanable are the best materials to choose from. Wool and nylon material rugs are best for high traffic indoor rugs and are the most durable rug material. They are easy to clean as well. The other very good rug fibers are Silk, Cotton, Polypropylene, Viscose, Nylon, and natural fibers like Sisal and Jute.

How much does a good rug cost?
The better the quality of the rug the more they cost. A good rug is one that is woven compact and dense with good materials. The color must not fade and that they are soft, easy to clean and that lasts long. A cheap rug would amount to somewhere US$1.00 per square inch. An average area rug would cost about 4.00 per square inch. A little better ones would cost about US$ 5.00/sq. ft. Some of the high-quality rugs made of pure wool cost as much as US$ 7-15 sq.ft.

How thick should an area rug be?
The pile height of a rug or thickness of a rug means the same. Higher the pile height more cushion it feels. It also means more material quantity in the rug leading to higher rug’s cost. Flatweave rugs have no thickness, and rugs with pile height can be ¼” to ⅛” (or around 15mm).

What do you put under area rugs?
A rug pad under area rugs protects it from moving or slipping. The rug pad can also increase the cushion and the thickness of a rug. These non-slip rug pads do not come along with a new rug. They come separately in different sizes.

How do I choose a good rug?
Choosing an area rug depends upon the place of its placement.
* Measure the size of the area and decide the rug size.
* Think about the type of rug material. Wool rugs and viscose are luxurious. Nylon and polypropylene are great for outdoor and is pet-friendly as well.
* Decide about the rug pattern and the color(s). Go with a southwestern pattern or geometric or even floral. They are endless.

Should all the rugs in your house match?
Yes, it is important to match a rug with the surrounding interior. Imagine a person in a brown formal suit with a blue shoe on? To some, it would be fine but for most, it can be a weird combination.
The rule of thumb is, sprinkle all the main colors and patterns that are visible from the rug’s point. For example, from your dining room, bedroom, and hallway. Then make combinations from them and complement each other.

What size rug is recommended for a living room?
Some standard area rug size is 4×6, 5×8, 6×9, 8×10 and 9×12. Here is a complete guide to what rug size you need. It tells about different rug sizes and placement methods in a living room, dining room and bedroom.

What kind of rug is easiest to clean?
Every rug needs a good vacuuming in regular time. There are many different types of rugs. Check out our all rug types explained. Some of the easy to clean rugs are:
Wool, they are easy to clean plus very durable rugs.
The natural fiber rugs – sisal, jute seagrass, and cotton.
In synthetic material – polypropylene and nylon.

What color carpet makes a room look bigger?
To make your room look bigger do not choose dark color carpets. Pick soft colors like blue or green. They calm the mind and are perfect for a bedroom. Go with beige that is a neutral color and fit well with living rooms. Shades of light sandstone and grey colors make rooms look more spacious than they certainly are.

Quick Tips:

  • To inspect the quality of a hand-knotted rug, count the number of knots at the backside of the carpet.
  • Wool rugs are the best type of carpet for high traffic areas.
    Shag rugs and dark color carpets hide dirt and is easiest to keep clean. So dark carpet is a good idea.
  • To make a room look bigger choose light colors with geometrical patterns.

I hope this article of ‘area rug quality guide’ has answered all your questions.  Happy flooring!