Turkish rugs are a big part of life in Turkey. You can see them in every room of every home, no matter where you go in the country.
Even though there are lots of rugs made in factories, people still really like the old handmade ones. These rugs take weeks or even months to make, and they are very special.
When a girl is going to get married, her family often gives her Turkish rugs as a gift. Many homes have these rugs on the floor or hanging on the walls.
People all over the world love Turkish rugs. Because it’s easy to travel and buy things from other countries, you can now get a Turkish rug without even going to Turkey!
It’s never been easier to have a beautiful Turkish rug in your home. Let’s learn more about these special rugs and how they can make your home look amazing.
A History of Turkish Rugs
Weaving didn’t begin as an art form. Thousands of years ago, people wove for practical reasons.
The Turkic people lived in cold, harsh environments. Their homes, giant round tents, needed to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They initially used wool to pad their tents, but it wasn’t enough.
Over time, these nomadic people learned to weave wool into tight knots, creating a fabric that effectively blocked out the cold. This was the start of Turkish rugs.
One particular rug is about 189 cm wide and 200 cm long, though some say it’s slightly smaller. What makes this rug special is the way it was made. It contains 3,600 tiny knots in a small section of the rug. Today, no one can replicate a rug with that many knots. This rug isn’t just the oldest known rug; it’s also the most meticulously crafted.
Rug weaving gradually spread south through Central Asia. By the 300s AD, different styles of Turkish rugs began to emerge. These rugs even made their way to India. Later, in the 800s, they gained popularity in Arab lands, especially among the Abbasid rulers.
As the Turkic people began to settle, rugs became less about survival and more about beauty. They started creating smaller rugs for homes and larger ones for mosques.
The Seljuk Empire introduced rug weaving to Turkey around 1100 AD. Centuries later, during the Ottoman Empire, Turkish rugs became famous in Europe. The wealthy were particularly fond of these beautiful, handmade creations.
For centuries, Turkish rugs remained valuable gifts. Even after the Ottoman Empire ended and Turkey became a republic in 1923, rugs continued to be cherished as important presents.
Today, Turkish rugs are loved worldwide. People appreciate their rich history, stunning designs, and exceptional craftsmanship.
How Turkish Rugs Are Made
While you can buy machine-made Turkish rugs today, the older ones are always special. These vintage rugs are handmade, knot by knot, and each one is unique.
What makes vintage Turkish rugs extraordinary is the way they’re made. This special technique ensures no two rugs are exactly alike.
Preparing the Wool
Before weaving begins, the wool is prepared. In the past, skilled craftspeople spun the wool by hand, just like they did for vintage rugs.
To get the right colors, the wool is dyed in big pots. The dyers check the color often to make sure it’s perfect. Then, they hang the wool to dry in the sun before using it to weave the rug.
Weaving the Rug
Weavers start by placing woolen threads on a special tool called a loom. Depending on the rug’s size, several people might work together on one big loom.
Looms differ from place to place, but they all have two long, parallel wooden parts. The rug’s base threads, called the warp, are tied to these parts.
A tool called a varagele helps spread the threads apart and keep them straight. This makes it easier for the weavers to tie knots without getting tangled. Another tool, called the atkı, holds the knots in place. Sometimes it’s a thin stick, other times it’s a special kind of thread that becomes part of the rug.
To make the knots tight and close together, weavers use a tool like a wooden comb called a kirkit. They push the knots down to make room for new ones.
When there’s no more space for knots, the weaving is finished. Rugs with more knots per square inch are usually more valuable. So, even though big knots are faster to make, they create a less prized rug.
Final Touches
After weaving, the rug is washed, sundried, and at times pulled to flatten to give it a smoother look. The threads are also cut of equal length to each other.
Manufacturing an authentic Turkish rug is a complex and time-consuming process that may literally take months or even years. This is why these rugs are so unique and dear.
Now let’s look at what material use to craft the best Turkish Rug.
What Makes Up a Turkish Rug?
The type of material that’s applied in making a Turkish rug determines its price and durability. Natural fibers seem to have some advantage over synthetic ones in terms of the durability whereby rugs can last for decades and centuries.
Wool and silk stand as the primary materials for the knots in authentic Turkish rugs. These rugs can be categorized based on the material of their knots: wool rugs or silk rugs. While wool or silk forms the knots, cotton often serves as the rug’s foundation, or warp. Cotton’s strength allows for tighter knots without compromising the rug’s structure, resulting in wool-on-cotton or silk-on-cotton rugs. Alternatively, some rugs use only wool or silk for both knots and foundation, known as wool-on-wool or silk-on-silk rugs.
Just like the rugs, natural colors are better than fake ones. People have used flowers, roots, and bugs to color things for ages, especially in places like Anatolia. These colors don’t fade and look even better as time goes by.
The things traditionally used to dye wool depend on what grows naturally in the area. Here are some common examples:
- Pear tree leaves create a light brown color.
- A shrub or vine with thorny stems and deep green leaves forms a light yellow shade.
- Quince peel gives a truly blue shade.
- Safflowers produce a bright red, and I think part of that color comes from the red onion I added to the dish.
- Chamomile makes a dark yellow, and the shade and transparency vary depending on how much is used.
- Walnuts make brown.
- Indigo grass is used to create a blue color known as indigo.
- Oak bark produces red.
- Hibiscus leaves create green.
- Poppy flowers make purple.
- Saffron gives a light blue-green hue.
- Pennyroyal makes black.
- When applied to food, it gives a red-yellow flavor and color.
- Kermes produces a very bright red.
These natural dyes, when combined with durable wools and silks, make Turkish rugs more than just floor coverings—they are timeless works of art with a rich history and lasting beauty.
How to Take Proper Care of Your Turkish Rug?
Turkish rugs are so attractive with bright colour and can also last in the family for so many years if well taken cared of. There are many things that you can try to attempt at home to maintain your rugs but occasionally you can call on professional assistance.
Regular Dusting
In order to maintain cleanliness, shake the rug outside or with a broom brush, take off the dirt from the rug.
- Spot Cleaning: If you spill something on your rug, act quickly! Use a clean white cloth to blot the stain and soak up as much liquid as possible. Be gentle—don’t rub, as this can spread the stain and make it worse.
- Gentle Washing (for small areas): For small, dirty spots, you can try hand-washing with cold water and a mild, natural detergent. Important: If you’re using a cleaning solution for the first time, test it on a small, hidden area of the rug first.
- Professional Cleaning: DIY cleaning is effective for general cleaning, however, professional cleaning is required after six months to 1- 2 years, for wool rugs.
Well, when should you seek the services of these professionals? Here’s when:
- Visible Dirt and Stains: If simple vacuuming is not an efficient method anymore.
- Odors: Being the case that sometimes home cleaning fails to eliminate certain smelly items.
- Wear and Tear: To assist in the rejuvenation of used or faded rugs.
Looking for a professional cleaner for your handmade rug, try to find services that are related to handmade rug cleaning. Such experts understand that such rugs are sensitive, and they always employ cleaning processes that do not harm the strands.
How to Decorate a Room with Turkish Carpet Rugs?
Decorating with Turkish carpet rugs can transform any room into a warm and inviting space. These rugs are not just floor coverings; they are pieces of art that can set the tone for your entire room. Here’s how you can decorate a room with Turkish carpet rugs,:
1. Choose the Right Rug for the Room
Before you start decorating, think about where you want to place the rug. Turkish rugs come in many sizes, so you’ll want to pick one that fits your space well. A large rug can be the centerpiece of a living room, while a smaller one might be perfect for a cozy reading nook.
2. Match Colors and Patterns
Turkish rugs are famous for their stunning looks. They have bright colors and detailed patterns. To make your room look beautiful, you should pick furniture and other things that match the rug’s colors.
For example, if your rug has strong red and blue colors, you can use cushions or curtains in these colors too. This will create a nice look in your room.
3. Pair with a Turkish Sofa
A Turkish sofa can be the perfect companion to a Turkish rug. These sofas often have low, comfortable seating and can be upholstered in fabrics that match or complement your rug. By pairing a Turkish sofa with your rug, you can create a cohesive and authentic Turkish-inspired living space.
4. Layer with Other Textiles
Incorporate other textiles like throws, cushions, or curtains to add depth and warmth to the room. Choose fabrics that echo the textures and patterns of your Turkish rug. This layering creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxing.
5. Use the Rug as a Wall Hanging
If you have a particularly beautiful Turkish rug, consider hanging it on the wall as a piece of art. This works especially well in rooms where you want to create a focal point. Pair it with a Turkish sofa underneath to create a stunning, cohesive look.
6. Keep the Rest of the Room Simple
As the patterns of the Turkish rugs are frequently very intricate, it is best to introduce the rest of the interior as unpretentious as possible. Indeed, caregivers should select colorless walls and limit the pattern in some other aspects of the room. This makes the Rug to appear more suggestive and in its own class create a focal point in the room.
7. Add Wooden Furniture
Turkish rugs complement wooden furniture perfectly well. Wooden material emanates heat, and this warms the color of the rug, thus giving the room an elevated form of any form of classy feel. To enhance the appearance of the room you may also consider installing wooden coffee table or wooden shelves.
8. Consider Lighting
Proper lighting will help reveal that beauty that is inherent in every Turkish rug. It is preferable to use soft and warm lighting since it brings out the real colors of the rug and its details. Floor lamps or table lamps are any other accessories that can help in highlighting the rug without overpowering its presence.
With these tips, it becomes easy to design your room while achieving the comfort of the users. If you will use both the Turkish rug and the Turkish sofa in your home, I am sure you will get a more authentic, warm and inviting kind of look that everyone will surely fall in love with.
Last Words
If you’re just starting out with Turkish rugs and want a good deal, consider working with intermediaries. These people find old and beautiful rugs in villages, fix them up, and sell them to customers. However, remember that these rugs might be more expensive because they pass through many hands before reaching you.
For people who are really serious about Turkish rugs and don’t mind spending a lot, getting an expert to help you find an antique rug might be the best choice. These rugs are very rare and valuable, so it’s important to know what you’re doing before you buy one.
