Home Home Design & Decor 10 Rug Types to Know Before You Start Shopping From flatweaves to handknotted, understand what makes each type of rug unique. By Blythe Copeland Blythe Copeland Blythe Copeland is a contributing writer with more than a decade of experience as a freelance lifestyle writer. Editorial Guidelines Published on July 13, 2023 Trending Videos Photo: in4mal / GETTY IMAGES Humans have been weaving rugs to keep cold floors warm for thousands of years, from the grass-and-fur techniques of ancient humans to the oldest known pile carpet, credited to the 5th century B.C. Pazyryk Culture. Every type of rug has its own unique history, weaving technique, and attributes. With help from experts Kyra Schulhof, founder of Fayette Studio, and Kristen Zeldin, senior rugs buyer for Lulu and Georgia, understand the differences and choose style that's best for your home. 25 Beautiful Living Room Rugs for Every Home Style 01 of 10 Flatweave bbbrrn / GETTY IMAGES Whether on a loom or by hand, a flatweave technique consists of interlacing vertical and horizontal threads together. It's one of the simplest ways to create a piece of fabric, and cultures all over the world have developed their own patterns and styles throughout history. Today, flatweave rugs are a durable, practical, and easy-to-clean option, and come in a variety of patterns, from geometrics inspired by tradition to houndstooth, stripes, and chevrons. "These rugs have zero pile, and if made with a material like wool, they can be placed in any room—dining, living, entry and even a playroom," says Zeldin. 02 of 10 Kilim foto-ianniello / GETTY IMAGES Kilims, native to Turkey's Anatolia region, are zero-pile, flatweave rugs in wool, cotton, or silk. Since they are produced without knotting, they're often reversible, says Schulhof. These rugs typically feature geometric designs in striped layouts and bold colors. "This rug can be used in any room and can be placed in high-traffic areas—dining, bedroom, living, or entry—with minimal shedding," says Zeldin. Our Favorite Washable Area Rugs 03 of 10 Dhurries hadynyah / GETTY IMAGES Dhurries, another type of flatwoven, reversible rug ideal for high-traffic areas, are made in India, says Zeldin. Expect to see intricate geometric designs in a tight weave of cotton, wool, jute, or a blend of those materials, says Schulhof. 04 of 10 Braided Elena Zaretskaya / GETTY IMAGES Many civilizations developed the concept of braiding pieces of fabric together to make round or oval rugs. "Long strips of fabric or yarn are braided together to form a sturdy rug," says Schulhof. "[Fabrics include] cotton, wool, jute, or synthetic materials, like nylon or polyester." 05 of 10 Jute Alla Simacheva / GETTY IMAGES A jute rug can show off basic designs, like stripes or chevrons, or display one solid color, says Shulhof. Whether the rug is braided or handwoven, though, it's always made from jute, a soft, durable natural fiber that lends a subtle, organic element to any space. "We prefer to place these in the living room, entry, or hallways," says Zeldin. 06 of 10 Sisal MirageC / GETTY IMAGES Like jute, sisal is a natural fiber that can be woven into a flat rug. However, sisal, which comes from agave plants, is sturdier, so it holds up better to busy spaces. Choose a chunkier weave to allow the sisal to feel softer on your feet, and look for dyed fibers to add color and pattern to your room. What to Look For in a Jute or Sisal Rug 07 of 10 Ikat www.victoriawlaka.com / GETTY IMAGES Ikat rugs are defined by the dye process used to add color to the yarns. Before weaving, the yarn is bundled and tie-dyed; the ties that create the bundle prevent color from adhering to those sections of yarn, creating the finished look of the rug. More-detailed designs require more complex tying patterns. This creates "a unique, blurred effect" and "abstract or geometric designs with blurred or feathered edges," says Schulhof. 08 of 10 Hand-Knotted Frank Armstrong / GETTY IMAGES Intricate hand-knotted rugs require makers to tie every individual fiber onto a rug, cutting it to create the pile depth. These time-intensive works of art include Persian rugs, and are often made from natural wool or silk, says Zeldin. The detailed process allows for endless creativity; the maker can create abstract, floral, geometric, or traditional designs. The Best Outdoor Rugs 09 of 10 Hand-Tufted herkisi / GETTY IMAGES Modernization of the hand-knotted technique led to hand-tufting, which incorporates tools and rug backings to slightly simplify the process, says Zeldin. "The weaver starts with a rug design mapped on a canvas or sheet similar to the rug's material and pulls the yarns through with a tufting tool—this is a quicker way to weave yarns through to complete rug designs," she says. "Any design can be created without limitations to curves or artwork. Due to the backing, these rugs are very durable and typically thicker than a normal handmade rug." 10 of 10 Soumak Sebastian Condrea / GETTY IMAGES Soumak rugs are recognizable by their brocading, which creates a design that's raised above the face of the fabric. Remnants of rugs made with this flat-weave technique have been traced as far back as the 7th century B.C. Threads are left loose on the back side of the rug, while the specific weaving technique creates a rug that's thicker and sturdier than most other flat-weaves. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Martha Stewart is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Pile Carpet. State Hermitage Museum. Soumak. Britannica.