What are Gabbeh Rugs?

Gabbeh (can also be spelled Gabbe) rugs are a variety of Persian rugs. The word Gabbeh itself means raw, natural and uncut. The word itself can best describe what the rug is. They are coarsely woven rugs and are considered the world’s best-known in its category.

One unique characteristic of a Gabbeh rug is its thickness which can be an inch in depth. Also, they are much coarser than most rugs. Designs include traditional geometric patterns but are often symbolic to the weaver. Traditionally, these rugs are made by women and the women’s spirit and artisanship are included in the design. So a design can also be about an animal or a person. More intricate rugs depict scenery or a landscape. Some designs can even be used to convey an emotion, usually the weaver’s own feeling while making the rug.

There are 5 categories that Gabbeh rugs can fall into: the Basic Gabbeh, the Amalehbaft Gabbeh, the Kashkoli Gabbeh, the Luribaft Gabbeh, the Gabbeh Sumak and the Baluch Sumak. The Basic Gabbeh, or the traditional kind, has a coarse weave and is a thick pile of wool. In terms of design and colors, this Gabbeh has basic shapes and simple colors. The Amalehbaft Gabbeh is a level higher than the Basic Gabbeh as it features a medium weave and can feature more colors. Although patterns are still simplistic, the addition of more colors can light up a room without being too distracting. The Kashkoli Gabbeh and the Luribaft Gabbeh both have fine weaves and are short, soft pile rugs. The difference between the 2 rugs can be distinguished in the design. The Kashkoli Gabbeh has little or no design while the Luribaft Gabbeh has more intricate designs inspired by other Persian rugs. The Gabbeh Sumak and the Baluch Sumak are not considered pile rugs rather flat woven rugs. The Gabbeh Sumak feature very intricate designs that are often tribal inspired. The Baluch Sumak is not as colorful as its counterpart but its detailed tribal design element make up for the lack of color richness.

Unfortunately, there are many “imitation” Gabbeh rugs masquerading as authentic. It is a good thing that there is a major difference between the authentic rug from the “knock-off”. One of the major differences is the quality of the wool used. Authentic Gabbeh carpets have softer wool and are more durable. Simply put, the quality is better.

Although these rugs are very expensive, collectors and even homeowners buy them for their design elements and uniqueness from other Asian rugs. It is definitely worth every penny that you spend when you buy the Gabbeh rug.

What Are Area Rugs and Where to Find Cheap Ones?

Area rugs, as suggested in the name itself, are rugs used for a certain area in a room. Whether you are going to use them to highlight a certain corner in a room or use it as a decorative accent in a room, area rugs no doubt can add warmth to any room.

Area rugs come in different sizes. They can be as small as a floor mat, which is typically 3 feet by 5 feet. They can also be as large as oversized rugs, which are typically 10 feet by 14 feet. However, the average size of area rugs is 8×10 feet.

It’s not only the size that you can choose from, you can also choose any design that you wish as they come in many shapes and colors. Traditional area rugs are usually rectangular in shape but there are some companies that offer square, oblong and even circular area rugs. Also, traditional area rugs’ colors come in different shades of brown, gray and blue. But with more and more people wanting to express their individuality, they can come in a variety of different colors.

Basically, when it comes to design, shape and color possibilities, you are only limited by your own imagination. And area rugs can be used to decorate any room, even kid’s rooms. There are area rugs available on the internet that have cartoon characters as part of their design. Some area rugs are even shaped to the outline of the cartoon character.

Speaking of the internet, you can get the best deals and cheapest prices online. All you have to do is to research very well. There are so many online stores that are fraudulent so be wary of these websites. There are also trusted websites where you can purchase your area rugs. If you look around cyberspace, you can buy an 8×10 rug for as low as $25. And these are good-quality rugs, too.

If shopping online is not your thing, you can also find cheap area rugs at any furniture store in your city. Often times, the cheapest ones are found in clearance bins so check them out. One advantage of buying in a furniture store instead of online is the fact that you get to “feel” the product instead of just basing it on pictures and customer testimonials.

If these area rugs are still not within your budget, then next best bet are flea markets. Flea markets sell second-hand items so be careful when shopping. Make sure that you ask the seller the history of the rug before buying. If you do get to purchase one, make sure to clean the rug thoroughly.

Whatever the use is for or wherever you buy them, area rugs are a good addition to any home.

What are Turkish rugs?

There are two types of Turkish rugs available in the market today. We have Turkish rugs that were made and originated from the different regions of Turkey. We also have the cheaper type which is rugs that are Turkish-inspired.

Turkish-inspired rugs are essentially your basic area rugs. The only thing that makes it distinct from other area rugs is the design. Turkish designs have very distinct patterns that can mean different things. Other than the design, Turkish-inspired rugs can come in sizes typical of a basic area rug. It is also priced as cheaply as any area rug.

On the other hand, authentic Turkish rugs are expensive. The cheapest one can cost around $250 and the more expensive ones can range from a thousand dollars to the tens of thousands of dollars.

The value of these rugs depends on the materials, construction and the pattern. Most important indicator though is the region where these rugs were made. When it comes to materials, there are three distinct types: wool on wool, wool on cotton and silk on silk. Wool on wool is the cheapest among the materials because wool cannot be spun finely. However, according to some, rugs made from this type of material are the most authentic Turkish rugs available. Designs are usually geometric patterns. Silk on silk Turkish rugs are often the most expensive and have very intricate designs. This is because silk can be weaved very finely therefore the designs can range from floral to geometric patterns. There even rugs that have woven sceneries which make it more expensive.

You can also categorize the value of Turkish rugs depending on the region they were made from. There 5 distinct regions in turkey where they can originate from. There are Bergama rugs, Ushak rugs, Milas rugs, Hereke rugs and Konya Rugs. Bergama rugs are the oldest rugs available. Some of them date back to the 11^th century. Ushak rugs are popular in European countries because of the silky, luminous wool weavers use to make the rugs. Milas rugs are distinct because of the designs. Hereke rugs are known because instead of materials like wool, cotton and silk, there are some rugs that use silver and gold threads. Lastly, Konya rugs, similar to Ushak rugs, are known for the wool used. It is considered by many that the wool from this area is the richest in the world.

Whatever the material used to make them or wherever region in Turkey they came from, one thing that’s certain about authentic Turkish rugs is the fact that they are the most sough after rugs available in the market. Although expensive, owning one will be a great investment and a very good design addition to any home.

What are Tibetan Rugs?

Tibetan rugs are a type of area rugs that originated from the area of Tibet. Although most modern Tibetan rugs are manufactured in Nepal and India, there are still some traditional workshops in Tibet that make these prized rugs.

Tibetan rugs are prized by collectors and used by many designers because of the intricate designs and the richness of the wool used. Design motifs have two distinct classifications. The first being simple geometric patterns composed of checkerboard designs, amulet (locally called “Gau”) designs and medallion designs. This motif was considered the traditional style and was part of Tibetan art for thousands of years. Colors were limited to reds, blues, yellows and shades of browns and grays.

The second classification included more intricate designs usually derived from the Chinese culture. Dragons, phoenixes and floral patterns were used often in this motif. Colors were also much more colorful which includes deeper shades of red and the inclusion of green. We can attribute this design innovation with the advent of modern technology and modern rug making techniques. This came about during the early years of the 20^th century.

If there is one design that caught the attention of more rug collectors, we can safely say that it is the tiger rugs of Tibet. Tiger rugs, as the name suggests, have realistic renderings of tiger skin from the pattern itself right down to the color. More abstract versions also include the legs of the tiger and a grinning face. This is called the “whole pelt” design. Many of these Tibetan tiger rugs were used by monks during meditation and prayer. It is believed that tiger skin provides protection to a person who is meditating. Although this design concept is not unique to the culture, Tibetan tiger rug makers have achieved the highest quality in weaving this form. The difference in the richness of color and the intricacies of the “pelt” design help differentiate a Tibetan tiger rug from others.

Any person trying to locate and purchase an authentic Tibetan rug, whether the traditional design or a tiger rug, will find it to be a tedious task. Even if you go to Tibet, Nepal or India you can only see modern rug makers. That is why genuine Tibetan rugs can cost anywhere from $5000 to $20,000. There are companies on the internet that sell these authentic rugs, however, the best places where you can find these treasures are antique shops and auction houses. Although, there is no assurance that you can really buy one, if you do get to purchase it will be well worth all the effort.

What Are Oversized Rugs?

Rugs are floor coverings that consist of two parts, the top layer called the “pile” which is made up of wool or manmade materials and the bottom layer which is called the “backing” which normally consist of non-slip materials. A regular sized rug normally comes around 4 feet by 6 feet to about 6 feet by 8 feet. Oversized rugs however are double the size of normal rugs, usually 12 feet by 15 feet and can be larger.

Oversized rugs have their advantages and disadvantages. But one has to remember that whether oversized or normal sized, rugs definitely have their uses. Rugs are a cheaper alternative to carpeting the whole room. Rugs can also compliment a room’s overall design and if not compliment it, these can definitely complete the whole look of the room. Sometimes though, interior designers design a room with the carpet in mind. It will help set the tone and then the decorators can build off of that.

One of the advantages of an oversized rug is just like the name would suggest, it size. For smaller rooms, instead of paying tons of money to install floor carpets, an oversized rug can do the trick. This is a cheaper investment and you can use these in any room that you like even if it does not cover the whole floor.

Most home designs now have what people call the “great room”. It is a large room that spans the whole floor. This makes a person see the expanse of the floor without having to go from one room to another. Since it spans the whole floor, walls are limited and dividers are used. However, dividers defeat the purpose of a great room and this is where oversized rugs come in. It helps divide a large room into different areas. And since it’s on the floor, it does not block the view of a person if he or she wishes to look somewhere else.

One has to remember that the large size of these rugs also make it heavy. So when you choose to move the rug, it usually takes two or more people to carry it. This can be considered a disadvantage by some. Another disadvantage to owning an oversized rug is cleaning it. It would take you longer to vacuum the rug and if you want to steam clean it, you would need to use more water and more detergent.

Oversized rugs, as mentioned earlier, can be a bane and a boon. It lets you decorate your room easily but it will also add to your household chores. One thing’s for sure, owning one can be a cheaper alternative in the long run.