Hand-Knotted Rugs
We believe home design should be stylish and distinctive. From the plush pile of a Moroccan handmade rug to the intricate motif of an authentic Persian carpet, hand-knotted rugs elevate your home design with a timeless masterpiece. At Lulu and Georgia, our thoughtfully-curated collection has everything from one-of-a-kind vintage finds to modern hand-knotted rugs made with age-old techniques.
Hand-knotted rugs bring a bespoke touch to the room. Each rug takes months to make by skilled weavers who are masters at their craft. Every knot in these rugs is intricately tied by hand, making the rugs incredibly durable. This time-intensive construction results in an heirloom-quality rug you can use as an anchor for any room. With such a rich history of styles and techniques leading to a wide variety of hand-knotted styles, we're here to break down these rugs and what makes them so prized.
Not sure what style or design best fits your space when shopping for hand-knotted rugs? Don't worry; we have got you covered. Check out the tips below for ideas and inspiration as you choose the best piece to buy for your space.
Discover the World of Traditional Hand-Knotted Rugs
When shopping for hand-knotted rugs online, you may see them categorized as traditional or oriental rugs or carpets. The term of oriental rugs historically has been used to describe a broad group of hand-knotted and flatweave rugs originating from all over Asia to Eastern Europe and Northern Africa. These storied masterpieces offer some of the best quality rugs available. Still, they also vary significantly in design and style depending on the methods and techniques employed by the artisans of a specific region. Learning about the intricacies and nuances of these styles helps you more accurately seek out a piece you love and opens up a world of artisan tradition so you can enrich your home with design that tells a story.
Traditional Persian and Turkish rugs are two of the most popular hand-knotted styles for setting a timeless foundation in your home. Though both these styles share a similar construction and celebrated reputation, the processes and techniques involved in making them result in two quite distinctive styles. Hand-knotted Turkish rugs traditionally employ a double-loop knot that lends itself to more angular, geometric designs. Our Evet Rug features an Oushak-influenced motif that showcases the large-scale patterns often found in Turkish-style rugs.
Hand-knotted Persian rugs typically feature a single-loop knot creating intricate, often rounded designs—think an ornate central medallion with border scrolling. Generally, the higher the knot count, the more expensive the rug. The single-loop knot of Persian rugs is smaller, so it takes a weaver more knots and time to complete a piece. This allows for complex motifs but can also mean authentic Persian rugs come with a higher price point.
Of course, these are broad terms that break into even more styles distinctive to the regions, artisans, and techniques at work in their creation, but this is a great starting point when searching for that classic, heirloom-quality rug to buy.
Hand-Knotted Moroccan Rugs and Modern Statement Rugs
Looking for timeless style with an extra luxurious touch underfoot? Traditional Moroccan rugs are celebrated for their supple pile with designs ranging from muted and tonal to vibrant and bold. A hand-knotted Moroccan rug can be the perfect way to refine a space with a bespoke anchor piece. For an example of a gently elevating Moroccan shag, check out the Amir Rug. This hand-knotted wool rug offers a soft look and feel that can fold in with effortless elegance from the bedroom to the lounge.
Modern hand-knotted rugs come in an endless array of styles and patterns—from chic tone-setters like our exclusive Checkerboard Rug by Sarah Sherman Samuel to solid hand-knotted wool rugs that offer a natural fiber ground of unparalleled quality. Rugmakers and designers inherit and borrow from all the techniques above to make modern heirlooms with eye-catching designs. These rugs are a great way to lay a fresh foundation you can love for years to come.
Handmade Styles for Dynamic Home Design
While hand-knotted wool rugs have long been the gold standard for these designs, weavers today use everything from natural fiber blends to versatile synthetic rug materials—updating classic styles with a dynamic appeal. Something like this Risa Indoor / Outdoor Rug brings a hand-knotted construction to a timeless Moroccan look using synthetic PET fibers so you can lay a show stopping feature rug indoors or out.
If you are evolving your aesthetic or looking for an option that offers artisan quality at a lower price point, you might explore hand-tufted area rugs. Weavers make these rugs by punching yarn into a canvas with a tufting gun. Since the process is assisted by machines, it is less time intensive than hand-knotting but still offers that classic look and feel. Hand-tufted rugs are not as durable as their hand-knotted counterparts, but they hold up well with proper care and can be an ideal option for a den, bedroom, or sitting room at a price that suits.
However you style it, a hand-knotted rug allows you the flexibility to showcase the nuances of your design aesthetic. Rugs are essential for creating a beautiful and inviting space, and hand-knotted designs offer some of the best quality rugs you can buy. Loved ones and visitors can immediately get a sense of who you are by seeing how you have utilized this bespoke feature to build on your home's look.