4 questions to ask before buying any rug

4 questions to ask before buying any rug

Most people buying a rug are asking the wrong questions.
Not their fault. Nobody taught them.

Here’s what to ask before you buy any rug – luxury or otherwise.

1.⁠ ⁠What is it made of?
Wool, silk, cotton – natural fibres last longer, age better, and biodegrade.

Polypropylene, polyester – they look good for 2 years and then look nothing.
If the brand can’t tell you exactly, that’s your answer.

2.⁠ ⁠How long is it meant to last?
Not how long it can last under perfect conditions.
How long is it designed to last with normal use?

If it can’t answer a decade, it’s furniture, not a rug.

3.⁠ ⁠Can it be repaired?
A hand-knotted rug can be rewoven, patched, cleaned, restored.
Most machine-made rugs can’t.

Repairability is one of the most underrated markers of quality.

4.⁠ ⁠Who made it and under what conditions?
This question is uncomfortable. Ask it anyway.

A rug made by a skilled weaver earning a fair wage is a different product from one that isn’t.
Your money either supports that or doesn’t.

Conscious buying doesn’t require more money.

It requires better questions.
These four are a good place to start.