Turkish Rug vs. Persian Rug (Costs, Design, Durability, Pros & Cons)

Many hand-woven rugs are made from different parts of the world like South Asia and North Africa. The Turkish carpet and Persian rug stand out due to their incredibly decorated motifs, historical reflections, and impressive aesthetics. They are indeed a luxurious piece to have in your home.

The main difference between the Turkish rug and the Persian rug is the knotting style. These two rugs use a different knotting style when knotting them. The Turkish rug uses a double knotting technique, while the Persian rug uses a single knotting technique.

It is rare to find a Turkish rug with a single knot technique (Persian knot), but most Persian rugs have a double knot technique (Turkish knot). They are two different approaches to rug-making.

Contents

Turkish Rug

The Turkish rugs date back to ancient Persia, where they originated alongside the Persian rug. They were designed to decorate mosques and homes of the elite and were the first rugs exported to Europe back in the day. Rug-making was seen more as a way of life than a means of making money.

Initially, these rugs were made specifically to protect the floors and parts of the tents people lived in. It was used to shield them from cold, insects, dirt while serving as comfort. The rugs can be photosensitive, meaning the colors will change when exposed to light.

Apart from its double knotting technique, the Turkish rugs have bold geometric patterns that always contain symbolic motifs. They say that these symbols always tell a story. This is why there are historical reflections on these rugs.

They also say that the weavers use different motifs to symbolize wealth, love, health, or other emotions. For example, the wheel of Fortune signifies wealth. The knotting style is also a reason for the geometric patterns.

It is harder to knot a round pattern when using a double knotting technique. Lastly, these rugs are made of high quality. The number of knots in a carpet determines the quality. A high number of knots is equal to top-notch quality. A rug with less than 500 knots is not considered quality.

Persian Rug

The Persian rugs also date back to Ancient Persia, modern-day Iran, and they are also called Oriental rugs. These rugs are known for being unique with every piece created. They were also used to protect from the cold by covering the floors. These rugs were made 2,500 years ago and passed from generation to generation.

The best way to identify an authentic Persian rug is through the label; there is always a label indicating it is made in Iran. These rugs are widely used in palaces and museums. They are your best choice for any elegant setting or upscale home.

The design is entirely different from that of the Turkish rug. Instead of a geometric pattern, the Persian rugs have a rounded design which gives a variety of patterns and beautiful colors, making it more exquisite.

The rugs have a rounded pattern because it is easier to do so with a single knot technique, apart from their culture’s influence. This knotting technique makes it easier for the weaver to create an elegant design.

An added advantage is the durability of these rugs and how long they last once taken care of properly.

The significant difference between the Turkish Rug and the Persian Rug

As stated earlier, the major difference between these two rugs is the knotting technique alongside their different designs. Turkish rugs make use of the Turkish knot, which can also be called double knotting or symmetrical knotting. This technique involves wrapping the yarn around two warps and pulling it down through those warps so that the ends come out from between each warp.

Persian rugs use the Persian knot, which can also be called single knotting or Senneh. It is the opposite of the Turkish knot as it is asymmetrical. It involves wrapping the yarn around two warps, but only one goes all the way.

The yarn is then pulled through the joined warp to divide both ends by a single warp. The knotting style of Turkish rugs makes these rugs durable and secure, while that of the Persian rugs gives it a very stylish detailing.

	Turkish rugs	Persian rugs
Cost	These rugs are high in demand just like the Persian rug hence the smallest size range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.	The Persian rugs are costly, maybe because of their exquisite looks. It is the most expensive rug ever sold as the Antique Persian Carpet was sold for $33 million. They range from about $10,000 to $1 million.
Material	Turkish rugs are made using wool, silk, and cotton, some of the finest materials.	These rugs are also made with the finest materials such as wool, silk, etc.
Design	Geometric patternswith symbolic motifs.	Rounded patternswith rich colors.
Dyes	All dyes obtained from natural sources such as vegetables, flowers, insects, etc.	Persian rugs also usenatural and not synthetic materials such as vegetable dyes.
Durability	A Turkish rug will last you for decades because of its quality. Remember, the more the knots, the higher the quality.	Quality Persian rugs will last for more than 100 years due to the construction methods.

Pros and cons of Turkish rugs

Pros

You can use them for different settings and events as they are versatile.
They have high quality due to the natural materials used.
The durability of Turkish rugs is something to boast about.
They can hold out against the wear and tear of your floors.

Cons

These rugs are costly.

Pros and cons of Persian rugs