How Do I Choose a Kilim Rug?
Kilim rugs are incredibly versatile, fitting into a wide range of interior styles. Their flatwoven nature makes them the perfect floor covering for summer and high-traffic areas like hallways, entryways, and living rooms. Don’t let pets or kids deter you from considering a handmade rug—Kilims are exceptionally durable and easy to clean, making them a great choice for households with sharp claws, accidents, and food spills.
Choosing the perfect Kilim rug for your home depends on several factors, including practicality, design, color, size, and price. Here’s a guide to help you make the best choice.
Practicality
Kilim rugs are perfect for high-traffic areas, summer use, homes with pets, and kids’ playrooms. This is mainly due to their flatwoven construction, which is less time-consuming to weave but also gives the rug greater durability. The tighter a Kilim is woven, the better it can withstand wear and tear.
Kilims are easily washable. A quick wash with a hose and mild soap on a sunny day is all it takes. Knowing this, feel free to take your Kilim rug outdoors as a picnic rug, reviving its nomadic use as an outdoor floor covering.
Design
If you’re aiming for a bohemian, tribal, geometric, or colorful interior vibe, Kilims are an excellent choice. Afghan Boho Kilims and Persian Tribal Kilims are mainly distinguished by color, so read carefully to see which one resonates with your interior:• Afghan Boho Kilims are ideal for adding multicolored, bohemian accents to your space. They are great for kids’ playrooms as they energize the room and aid in sensory development. Their light colors complement a coastal vibe and pair beautifully with rattan or wooden furniture.
• Persian Tribal Kilims, such as Ghalmouri Kilims and Maymana Kilims, are great for adding tribal accents to your home. These are the original nomadic Kilims, woven by tribes from Turkic regions and Central Asia. At Knot n Co., we love to handpick high-quality, well-preserved vintage Persian Tribal Kilims. These pieces hold more history and give you a peek into the craftsmanship of weavers from over 50 years ago. Persian Tribal Kilims are perfect with wooden or tan leather furniture, fitting an antique or vintage style.
Color
Color is an important factor to consider, as Kilims come in a wide variety of hues and tones:
• Afghan Kilims (also known as Boho Kilims) are usually found in earthy tones of cream, beige, blues, oranges, and greens. Sometimes these Kilims are referred to as ‘Chobi’ Kilims, meaning ‘wood,’ because their color palette offers a natural, wooden vibe. These colors are created using plant-derived materials like crushed nut shells, ground roots, dried branches, and bark. The dyes are boiled and developed using methods passed down through generations, originating from the times when nomadic tribes roamed Central Asia, trading their beautiful handmade Kilims and textiles with bustling cities. These pieces often found their way into the palaces of the wealthy.
The colour palette of Afghan Boho Kilim Rugs is derived from vegetable and plant material, boiled for hours to develop vibrant dyes.
• Persian Kilim Rugs are deep red Kilims, also known as tribal Kilims, which revive the authentic nomadic style in which Kilims were originally made. They come in reds, browns, oranges, and grays/blacks. True black is not possible to achieve with plant-derived dyes; instead, the weavers develop the deepest navy blue possible, which is barely distinguishable from black.
If your room has specific colors you want in your Kilim rug, like the colors of your wall or specific decor items, bring in some color swatches so that we can best match them to a Kilim. You can get these swatches for free from paint stores or hardware stores like Bunnings and it makes colour-coordinating that much easier!
Size
Kilims come in various sizes, ranging from small desk mats (30cm x 30cm) to large rugs (300cm x 400cm). It’s important to measure your space to choose the right size.
• For a lounge room, make sure at least the front two legs of your sofa rest on the rug. This prevents the Kilim from moving and adds cohesion to the room.
• In a kids’ room, covering the open floor space is sufficient. Vacuuming is easy—simply vacuum the Kilim, roll it up, and then vacuum the floor underneath without moving furniture.
• For a dining room, any size works as long as the rug extends at least 0.5 meters from the table to allow space for chairs to be pulled in and out. Kilims are extremely durable and easy to wash, making them perfect for dining areas.
Price Range
• Afghan Boho Kilims, Persian Tribal Maymana Kilims, and Barjasta Kilims are all in a similar price range due to their comparable quality, unless the rug is labeled ‘finely handwoven’ or is a vintage Kilim. Older, well-preserved Kilims are highly sought after and rare.
• Persian Tribal Ghalmouri Kilims are very finely handwoven, showcasing the weaver’s skill. These rugs have tighter and smaller knots, creating more intricate patterns. The superior quality of Ghalmouri Kilims increases their value, making them the top tier for Kilim rugs.
Kilim rugs are more expensive than polyester or machine-made alternatives, but they are extremely durable and can last for decades. Made of 100% wool and handwoven, Kilims were originally used by nomadic tribes as tent coverings, saddles, bedding, flooring, and more. Machine-made or polyester alternatives tend to deteriorate in texture and color within 1–2 years despite being cheaper initially and not derived from natural materials.
Find Your Perfect Kilim
Furnishing your home with handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces like Kilim rugs adds so much more meaning to your interior. There is plenty to consider when choosing your Kilim, with many color palettes and patterns available. Enjoy the experience by visiting our showroom to explore the options at your leisure or by browsing our Kilim collections on our website!
If you’d like to see more photos or videos of a specific Kilim from our website, feel free to contact our team. We’re happy to assist you. Happy decorating!