RUG BUYING 101

First time buying a handmade rug?

Where to shop?

If you want a good deal on handmade rugs, find a rug shop that manufactures their own rugs. There are many exchanges starting from production to trader, exporter to importer, and then finally from a wholesaler to retailer. The price will increase  with each exchange. It is always wise to buy a rug from a rug shop who are direct manufacturers and carry good quality rugs, you will get an amazing deal.

Carpet-culture.com is a good example. They let you try a rug on approval. They even have a free drop off and free pick up policy with 100% refund. The trust between buyer and seller is very important. Check Carpet Culture online. They carry both new and old rugs from Turkey, Morocco, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and more not to mention people have given them amazing reviews Yelp and Google!

Shopping online?

Safety: You can find thousands of new and old rugs online. Beware of online scams of people paying by checks and never received a product. You never know if the rug posted is real. The product may be completely different than what you ordered.

Type of rug: There are different categories of hand knotted, hand tufted and hand loom rugs. Most rug dealers categorize them as hand knotted rugs. There is a huge price difference between a hand knotted and hand tufted or a hand-loom rug.  Make sure you are paying right money for the right rug.

The smart choice will be to buy a rug from a rug store rather than shopping online if you are a first time buyer.  You can feel the quality and match the colors and sizes with your fabric or floor plan. It will be a great experience for first time rug buyers. Try a rug on approval before you buy it. You may like a rug in the rug store but things look completely different at your home. Good luck!

How to stay under budget?

Many rug stores have a clearance section. Carpet Culture's web site says "Give Us Your Budget We Will Give You a Rug". They have variety of rugs ranging from $300 up to 50,000! Remember always compare the prices before you make a final decision. Always try to negotiate! Rug dealers are always open to negotiate a little if they see that you are serious about buying!

What are the common rug sizes?

In United States

• 2' by 3'
• 3' by 5'
• 4' by 6'
• 5' by 7'
• 5' by 8'
• 6' by 9'
• 8' by 10'
• 12' by 15'

 

What is a rug pad? Why do you need one?

• Increases the life of the rug: Reduces the effect of wear and tear of your rug in the long run
• Cleanliness
• Safety: Prevents from sliding, slipping or pulling
• Sound proofs your apartment