Many consumers are looking for ways to give their homes a sophisticated look. The exquisite designs of an oriental rug can instantly bring a room to life with a contemporary or antique elegance.
When choosing an oriental rug to spice up the look of their home many consumers are heading to the big box retailers thinking they are getting good quality oriental rugs for half the price of specialty stores, but that is like purchasing just any car because it is cheaper. All are NOT created equal! When consumers go to a furniture store or department store they are not getting the quality or the uniqueness that they may be expecting. Big box retailers get their oriental rugs mass-produced. They are created by machines, not hand woven by people who are passionate about their art.
Value in an oriental rug is due in part to uniqueness, as well as quality. Uniqueness comes from the weaving style of the person who crafts them. When a machine is programmed to make a rug, it makes thousands of them... all exactly the same. Quality comes from years of learning and experience on the part of someone who enjoys their work, are passionate about what they do. They aren't just whipping out the next item on an assembly line, they are giving a part of themselves, in a work of art that takes months or years to achieve completion.
Specialty store owners are also more knowledgeable about the designs they sell to their customers. They are not looking for a quick buck, they are looking to build a business by giving their customers the best quality possible, while helping a customer choose something that will bring them satisfaction and enjoyment for years to come.
Specialty store owners are trained to look for quality and originality. They sell what they consider to be the best quality rugs they can obtain. They do not have their rugs mass-produced – they spend long hours searching available pieces to find those that they feel are unique and desirable. Rugs may be fairly new, or they may be used – many are antiques, or semi-antique, and each has a history.
Mass-produced rugs are created for price not quality. They are meant to be thrown away when they get worn out, not to be handed down from generation to generation like the handmade oriental rugs you will find only in specialty shops. Handwoven rugs, when properly cared for, will appreciate in value over time. Mass Produced rugs, in contrast, will decline in value.
When looking for a high quality, handmade focal point for your room, choose something that can become a family heirloom. You won't find that sandwiched between hardware and housewares, nor will you find it displayed in an arrangement of home furnishings through a big box retailer. Find a specialty rug dealer, and browse the showroom, to feel the passion and sense of history that those who created the rugs put into their work.
Written by Tracy Collins, marketing assistant for Handmade Oriental Rugs, NYC – http://www.handmadeorientalrugsnyc.com – a New York based company which has sold high quality handwoven contemporary Oriental carpets for 4 generations. Visit their showroom in New York, or their store online for a wide selection of lovely handmade carpets.
