Follow These Tips to Identify High Quality Rugs at a Glance

In a room full of rugs, those of superior quality may get buried underneath ones that don’t quite make the cut. 

Not only does sales talk distract you from the telling signs, intricate patterns and vibrant colors might also steal your focus away from the authentic ones. So many have fallen for the trap and ended up with rugs that are overpriced for the quality they possess. 

Identifying high quality rugs would indeed be so much easier if you can see red flags with the naked eye. Luckily, years of experience have brought to fruition these tips that help you find a great rug with just a glance—and a couple of touches. 

Knot Density 

For the most part, a rug’s quality boils down to the quality and density of its knots. A good habit to cultivate when looking for high quality rugs is flipping the rug onto its underside and inspecting the quality of the knots. 

Top quality rugs are firm to touch and should be about 290 knots per square inch or more—the closer the knots are to each other, the denser it is per square inch. This is an attribute that low quality rugs can never replicate. 

Also opt to put your fingers on top of the rug. These pieces are often subjected to foot traffic which might affect their quality in the long run. Should your fingers sink, move on and look elsewhere. 

Detailed Patterns

Apparent in the detailed patterns found on high quality rugs, the arduous task of making them is what sets it apart from ones of lesser quality. 

Only masters of such craft have the patience and skill to create beautiful patterns that machines can never replicate. The amount of time devoted to the making of high quality rugs should be evident, even with just a glance. 

So, spare a few glances and take quite some time to compare and contrast rugs from each other. The more detailed, the more valuable.

Superior Material

For years, Persian rugs have been the top-tier rugs that dominated the entire rug industry. However, resources and styles have changed with time, offering a vast selection of high-quality materials that are also worthy of recognition. 

Wool is now closely followed by silk, seagrass, and even jute. While there is some debate for synthetic fibers, nylon is slowly deserving of the spot amongst natural materials. 

Ask the right questions and rub your fingers on the rug for a few seconds. If a collection of shedding forms, walk away and offer your time elsewhere. Superior materials shed less because of their durability and quality. 

In Sum

Although red flags are not as apparent when it comes to finding the right rug, sparing a few glances and touches help you separate superior quality from those of lesser ones. 

Pay close attention to details and don’t be afraid to allow your fingers to do their own form of inspection. After all, the right rug will always be worth the amount of time it took you to find it.