The Right Ways to Pick an Antique Soumak Rug for Your Home
If you're looking to decorate your home with an antique rug, you'll likely want to choose a soumak rug. But how do you pick the perfect antique soumak rug for your home? If you're an interior decorator, that might be a bit of a no-brainer since you know exactly what makes one rug better than another. But if you're just someone who loves antiques and is interested in this beautiful handmade rug, then finding the perfect one to add to your home might seem like quite the challenge. Well, worry not! Read on to learn how to pick a soumak rug for your home.
1) Decor Principles
To choose a perfect soumak rug, you must learn some decor principles and basic colors. The deep colors of classic red and blue Turkish silk will create a strong foundation in your home decor with the sun palace soumak rug. With rustic elements like bohemian, earthy tones, and tribal designs, oriental rugs and accessories, including North African rugs, have been increasingly sought after over more traditional western patterns, which you can use in any style of home as they are versatile. It is also vital that you always plan what you will do with your flooring before actually buying one. If it's just a small room where only one type of furniture needs to be placed, or there is no traffic, then pile carpets should be a great option.
2) Appropriate Sizes for Different Spaces
You can find antique soumak rugs and modern soumak rugs, each of which comes in different sizes. The most common size is 8' x 10', but you may also come across 4' x 6' or 5' x 7'. When choosing a rug, you must ensure it will fit properly. If your home has high ceilings, then a large rug will work fine in some rooms. However, if your ceilings are low, remember that a large rug might end up looking awkward. Measure first so you can have an idea of what size fits best.
If you're planning on placing your rug on top of wood floors, measure both areas and any other area where you plan on placing furniture. Ideally, there should be about 2 inches between all these surfaces. You won't trip over your rug or stub your toes on hardwood flooring. To avoid tripping hazards, don't place anything taller than 3 inches (for example, table legs) under the center of your rug.
3) Maintenance Requirements
Getting a soumak handmade rug is only part of your home decorating puzzle. You will also need to ensure that you take care of it properly to enjoy its beauty and craftsmanship. Therefore, follow easy tips when choosing a soumak rug: Keep it out of direct light - A great place to keep your soumak is in front of a window. Natural light will give off a warm glow, but ensure it isn't right in front of direct sunlight so as not to fade or damage it. Keep It Away from Heat Sources - Although you want your rug close enough to feel warm air from heat sources, do not let them touch because they can cause burns.
Avoid placing furniture on top of your soumak - This includes coffee tables, end tables, chairs, and other pieces of furniture. If you have children or pets at home, be especially careful where you place them since small hands and paws may easily pull up on rugs and unravel them. Avoid placing heavy objects on top of your soumak - you should place heavy objects such as bookshelves away from your handcrafted rug to avoid indentations being made into its surface. Avoiding these maintenance issues will help extend the life span of your beautiful new antique soumak handmade rug!
4) Underlayment Considerations
To ensure that a soumak rug feels soft and comfortable underfoot, you will want to invest in a high-quality underlayment. A hardwood floor is ideal for larger soumak weave rugs, but in most cases, it will be far too rigid when you use it with a smaller piece like those in your living room or den. Instead, consider investing in an underlayment made from resilient foam or cork. Also, ensure your jute soumak rug is placed on top of a clean floor; carpeting can muffle the comfy feel of a soft rug and spoil your investment. And lastly, if you are considering a silk rug over an antique one, remember that silk often feels more slippery than wool. This is especially true if you have wood floors or tile! If possible, try to get your hands on both types before making your final decision.
5) Material Choices
There are a few primary materials that are used in making soumak rugs. Wool, cotton, and silk are some of the most common fibers that you'll see in soumak rugs. Persian carpets have traditionally been handmade out of wool. Although it is not uncommon to find them knotted out of cotton or silk. Keep your eye out for both wool and silk blends when shopping around.
Silk tends to be more durable than wool. So if you want something that will last for decades, then silk might be a good choice. However, Turkish soumak rugs are also many beautiful designs made from pure wool. If you want something with a warm feel, then wool might be better suited for your needs than silk. Silk is also more expensive than wool. So if cost is an issue, stick with pure wool instead of mixed fiber options like those found in silk-wool blend rugs.
6) Placement Options
The first consideration when picking out a new soumak rug is where it will go. The last thing you want is a beautiful antique rug taking up space in your attic because it doesn't work in any of your rooms. Before shopping, do some interior design research to determine which rooms will best complement your soumak rugs. Make sure that whatever room or rooms you pick, they can hold their own with your ornate antique treasures.
If you live in a small apartment and have no place to put a large antique rug, consider buying several smaller pieces instead. You'll be able to decorate more areas and keep your home looking elegant. A high-traffic area like your living room might not be ideal for an antique soumak rug. Since these rugs are delicate and can damage by heavy furniture or people walking on them too often. If you need something big enough to cover most of your floor but don't have much wall space available.Then try using two or three smaller pieces instead of one large.
7) Geometric Shapes & Carpets
Start by considering geometric shapes and carpets that incorporate these elements. Geometric designs of soumak weave rugs are versatile; they can be bold or subtle depending on your Use. The patterns you choose should complement your existing furniture, but don't forget their effect on other design elements. You can place them in any room of your home, but remember that bold colors and complex patterns will make your space seem smaller than it is. If you're planning to have more than one rug in a room, go with one large carpet and a few runners instead. They'll allow your eye to move freely while maintaining a cohesive style. Large rugs require extra care as they need daily vacuuming, so consider that when selecting yours.
8) Decide by Mood & Intended Use
There is a big difference between buying a soumak rug. This can be just as much of an artistic statement piece as a functional object and buying a more traditional carpet that you may have on your floor. Regarding picking out rugs, two main factors play into choosing one over another. The first factor is how you want something to feel in your home. For example, if you're living in a sunny area and want something beautiful for your space. Then going with some form of ornate rug made from rich fabrics would be a wise choice.
On the other hand, a simple woolen mat might be best if you live somewhere cold or rainy and want something warm underfoot when you walk around your house. The second major factor in choosing what kind of rug to buy is what you will use it for. If you plan on using your new purchase mostly as decoration, go ahead and buy the best rug from Alrug! If you plan on using it for practical purposes like sitting or walking around on. Then make sure that whatever you choose will hold up well over time.