A handmade rug can make any space look amazing. But with so many choices out there, how can you be sure you’re buying a real one?
This guide will help you learn how to pick a genuine handmade rug that you’ll love for years. We’ll show you what to look for and what to avoid, so you can shop for rugs like an expert.
Keep reading to learn more.
Understanding the Weave
The first thing to know about authentic handmade rugs is how they’re made. There are two main ways: hand-knotting and hand-tufting.
Hand-knotted rugs are the best kind. Skilled workers tie thousands of tiny knots to make detailed patterns. This takes a long time, sometimes months or years, but it makes a very high-quality, long-lasting rug.
To check if a rug is hand-knotted, look at the back. You should see the same pattern as the front, but with small differences. The knots should be visible and not perfectly even, which shows they were tied by hand.
Hand-tufted rugs are also handmade, but in a different way. Workers use a special tool to push wool or other fibers through a backing material to make the rug’s surface. These rugs are faster to make and usually cost less than hand-knotted ones.
The back of a hand-tufted rug looks different. It usually has a canvas or fabric glued to it to hold the tufts in place. The pattern isn’t as clear on the back as it is with a hand-knotted rug.
What They’re Made Of
The materials used in a handmade rug can tell you a lot about how good it is and if it’s real. Good handmade rugs often use natural materials like wool, silk, or cotton.
Wool is used a lot because it lasts a long time and doesn’t stain easily. Feel the rug with your hand. Wool should feel soft and bouncy, and it should spring back when you press it. It also feels a bit oily, which helps keep dirt and water away.
Silk rugs are very fancy. They shine and can have very detailed patterns. They’re often mixed with wool to add bright spots and fine designs. Real silk feels cool and very smooth when you touch it.
Be careful of rugs that say they’re “silk” but feel warm or a bit rough. These might be fake silk or treated cotton, which look similar but aren’t as good or valuable as real silk.
Cotton is sometimes used for the base of handmade rugs. It’s not used as much for the surface, but you can find it in some flat rugs. Cotton feels soft and soaks up water, but it’s not springy like wool.
Checking the Colors
Good handmade rugs use natural dyes. These make rich, slightly changing colors that fake dyes can’t copy. To test the dyes, wet a white cloth and gently rub it on the rug. If a lot of color comes off on the cloth, the rug probably uses cheap fake dyes that will fade quickly.
Natural dyes might leave a tiny bit of color, but not much. Some places traditionally use dyes that bleed more, so this test isn’t perfect. It’s just one thing to check.
Natural dye colors change a bit throughout the rug. This is called “abrash.” It happens when different batches of dye are used. This makes the rug look handmade in a way that machines can’t copy.
Knot Count: A Sign of Quality
For hand-knotted rugs, the number of knots in a small area shows how good the rug is. More knots usually mean finer details and a stronger rug. To check this, look at the back of the rug and count the knots in a one-inch square.
A very fine rug might have 300 or more knots per square inch. A less fine rug might have 30-80. But knot count isn’t everything. Some traditional designs use fewer knots, and a well-made rug with fewer knots can still be valuable and real.
About the Fringe
The fringe on a handmade rug isn’t just for looks. It’s actually part of the rug’s base. On a real hand-knotted rug, the fringe should be part of the rug itself, not sewn on later.
Gently pull on the fringe. If it’s real, it won’t come loose. You should be able to see how the fringe threads go into the rug. Be careful of rugs where the fringe looks too perfect or even, as this might mean it was made by a machine.
Age and Wear
Real handmade rugs often look better as they get older. This aging makes the colors and fibers look richer. An older rug might show signs of gentle wear, with slightly lower pile in areas where people walk a lot.
Don’t worry about a bit of wear on an old rug. It often shows the rug is real. But be careful of rugs that look artificially old. Some makers try to make new rugs look old using chemicals or rough treatment, which can hurt the rug.
The Smell Check
Your nose can help you spot real handmade rugs. Natural fibers and dyes have an earthy smell. If a rug smells strongly of chemicals, it might be made with fake materials.
New rugs might smell a bit like the factory, but this should go away. If the chemical smell is very strong or doesn’t fade, that’s a warning sign.
Price Matters
Be careful of handmade rugs that seem too cheap. Making these rugs takes a lot of work, so they usually cost a lot.
A good, big handmade rug can easily cost thousands of dollars. If you see a large “handmade” rug selling for just a few hundred dollars, it’s probably machine-made or very low quality.
But price alone doesn’t prove a rug is real. Some machine-made rugs can be expensive, and you might find a real handmade rug at a good price if a good dealer is having a sale.
Choose a Good Seller
One of the best ways to make sure you’re getting a real handmade rug is to buy from a good seller. Look for sellers who focus on handmade rugs and have a good reputation. They should be able to tell you a lot about where each rug comes from, what it’s made of, and how it was made.
Don’t be shy about asking questions. A knowledgeable seller will be happy to share what they know and might even show you the differences between handmade and machine-made rugs.
Papers That Prove It’s Real
Many good handmade rugs come with a certificate that says they’re real. This paper should tell you where the rug is from, what it’s made of, how many knots it has, and other important details. A certificate can be helpful, but don’t trust it completely. Some dishonest sellers might give fake certificates.
Use the certificate as a starting point, but always check the rug yourself or get another expert to look at it too.
The Human Touch
Maybe the clearest sign of a handmade rug is small mistakes. Unlike rugs made by machines, which are perfectly even, handmade rugs often have small differences in color, pattern, or knot size. These little “flaws” actually show the rug is real and make it unique.
Look for patterns that aren’t perfectly symmetrical or small changes in the border designs. These little differences show that people, not machines, made the rug.
Cultural Styles
Knowing about the culture behind handmade rugs can help you spot real ones. Different places have their own styles, patterns, and ways of making rugs. For example, Persian rugs often have detailed flower designs, while Navajo rugs usually have bold geometric shapes.
Learning about these traditions can help you notice things that don’t fit, which might mean a rug is fake. If a rug is said to be from one place but doesn’t look like rugs usually do from that area, it might not be real.
Cleaning and Care Signs
How a rug reacts to cleaning can also show if it’s real. Handmade rugs with natural dyes often look better after proper cleaning because it brings out the natural shine of the fibers.
If you’re looking at a rug that the seller says is old, ask about how it’s been cleaned. A well-kept handmade rug should have been cleaned by professionals every few years. Be careful of old rugs that look too perfect, as they might be new rugs made to look old.
Trust Your Instinct
After learning all these things to check, don’t forget to trust your gut feeling. If something feels wrong about a rug, even if you can’t say exactly what, it’s okay to walk away.
There are lots of real handmade rugs out there, and with what you’ve learned, you’re ready to find the perfect one for your home.
Wrapping Up
Buying a handmade rug is more than just shopping. It’s buying something that took great skill to make.
By learning what makes these rugs special, you’re not just making sure you get a real one. You’re also learning to appreciate the skill and tradition in every knot and fiber. With this knowledge, you can confidently choose a rug that will make your home more beautiful for many years.
