Dollhouse Rugs & Carpets

Turkish Area Rugs

So, you want to invest in a piece of art, but you’d like it to be useful, too. Have you considered buying a quality Turkish Rug? These quality rugs are beautiful, functional pieces that can seriously hold their value. Even better, there’s a rug that fits any budget. A large, well woven handmade rug can cost as much as four to five thousand dollars, while a small machine made rug may cost as little as forty or fifty dollars.

Turkish rugs got their name because they were extremely popular in Turkey, they actually are made in many places in the Middle East and Africa. If you decide to travel to this region to shop for rugs yourself, be sure you find a reputable person to help you make your purchase. Many shop owners actually work with local guides to sell rugs and they give a percentage of the sale price to the guides. This means the prices are a bit higher.

To be sure you pick the right rug; you’ll need to do a bit of investigative work to protect your investment. First, look at the weave of the rug.  If it looks perfect, then it’s probably been made by a machine. A true hand woven rug has an irregular weave, meaning that there may be a slight gap between some of the knots. Cheaper rugs which have been mass produced usually don’t have edges that are finished properly or have a skimpy fringe.

The best Turkish rugs are made with one hundred percent wool and are very thick and luxurious. You’ll find some of the higher quality rugs are also made with a blend of wool and silk. You’ll also find rugs that are made with cotton. These rugs don’t wear well and don’t have a good resale value. To find out whether you’re looking at a wool rug or a cheap cotton knock off, take a close look at the fringe. Wool rugs are wool right down to the last thread, so if the fringe is cotton, the rug is definitely not wool.

Finally, don’t be afraid to spend time looking at all the rugs a merchant has to offer. The salesman won’t be upset if you don’t rush through the shop. In fact, he’ll consider the fact that you’re taking time to look at his wares as a sign of respect.  He’ll answer all your questions, no matter how trivial. Once you select a rug, you don’t have to accept the first price that’s thrown out to you. They expect people to think of that price as a suggestion and give a counteroffer or two before you actually buy the rug.