Discover the vibrant world of kilim rugs and how they can bring color, texture, and cultural flair to your home decor. This traditional woven carpet is making a major comeback, offering an artistic and affordable way to decorate.
An Introduction to Kilim Rugs
Kilims are flatwoven, tapestry-style carpets made from wool and sometimes cotton or silk. They originate from countries like Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and are full of bright colors and geometric patterns.
Unlike pile rugs with tufted surfaces, kilims have a flat, tightly woven surface. While pile rugs are primarily decorative, kilims served functional household purposes like floor coverings, blankets, saddlebags, and more. Their tight weave made them durable and long-lasting.
Traditionally woven by nomadic tribes and village women, each kilim carried symbols and motifs unique to the weaver’s tribe or region. Colors, symbols, and patterns woven into these textiles conveyed meaning about their community and culture.
In modern times, the vivid colors and graphical designs of antique and new kilim rugs have made them sought-after decor items around the world. Their artisanal origins and cultural symbols add depth and liveliness wherever they are used.
The Signature Style of Kilim Rugs
The most identifiable trait of kilim rugs is their bright, saturated palette. Traditional kilims use visibly flat, unblended color blocks rather than shaded dyes. This creates bold outlines and contrast between pattern elements.
Red, blue, green, yellow, black, and white are the most common shades seen on old kilims. Some also have accents of purple, orange, pink, or brown. Modern weavers may use a broader color palette.
Patterns on these rugs tend to be geometric, tribal motifs rather than the curving botanical shapes seen on Persian rugs. Repeating shapes like diamonds, stripes, triangles, stepped shapes, and symbolic motifs create rhythm. The patterns mirror the arts, architecture, and textiles of the cultures where kilims originated.
Kilims are woven on vertical looms, with weft threads tightly packed across warp threads. This creates a flat, durable surface well-suited for daily use. Their thinner pile and tight weave causes them to lie flat without curling edges.
Antique kilims develop a subtle sheen, softness, and color blending over decades of use. New kilims have a more pronounced texture and color separation that relaxes gradually.
Regional Styles of Traditional Kilim Rugs
Kilim rugs come from various cultures, each imparting their own spin through weaving techniques, materials, and designs. Learning about their origins gives deeper insight into kilim rug styles.
Turkish Kilims
Turkey produces the most well-known and widely available kilim rugs. Turkish tribal groups like the Anatolian, Kurdish, and Turkmen people have woven kilims for thousands of years.
Features that distinguish Turkish kilim patterns:
- Turkish kilims often have three to five colors in their design scheme.
- Geometric motifs like hooks, diamonds, triangles, and zigzags frequently appear.
- Common symbols like the Hands-on-Hips and Eye motifs connect to ancient folklore.
- Turkish kilims are woven using the symmetrical Turkish double knot.
- Wool from sheep native to Turkey gives a glossy look with high lanolin content.
Persian Kilims
Persian kilims come from the western provinces of Iran near the Turkish border. As a result, they share some similarities with Turkish kilim designs. However, a few key differences include:
- Persian kilims use a more intricate curvilinear design scheme.
- Persian weavers use the asymmetric Persian knot rather than the Turkish double knot.
- Lamb’s wool has a soft matte texture unlike the high-lanolin wool in Turkish kilims.
- Colors like red, blue, peach, green, and navy commonly appear.
- Local tribal symbols and Persian imagery like birds, trees, and paisley patterns occur.
Afghan Kilims
Afghan kilims hold an important significance in Afghan nomadic culture. Their designs reflect cultural symbols and traditions. Distinct traits of Afghan kilims:
- Deep red is the predominant color, followed by blue and orange shades.
- Stylized floral motifs and geometric patterns like the Boteh are common.
- Natural wool shades like brown, grey, cream, and white often accent the brighter colors.
- Afghan kilims use a Persian Senneh knot.
- Contemporary Afghan kilims may show influence from Indian, Persian, and Western motifs.
Pakistani Kilims
Pakistani kilims demonstrate the country’s textile heritage through symbolic tribal motifs, Mughal patterns, and bold colors. Typical features include:
- A color palette with earthy shades of red, brown, indigo blue, ivory white and green.
- Repeating geometric patterns like diamonds, hexagons, stars, and chevrons.
- Stylized floral motifs, trees, and rural life scenes.
- Typical Pakistani asymmetrical knot.
- Inclusion of folklore symbols like the elephant footprint, scorpion, fish, and ram’s horns.
How Are Kilim Rugs Made?
Kilims require great skill to weave. Making them involves hundreds of thousands of individual knots and perfectly straight weft rows.
Weavers traditionally use vertical looms where the warp threads hang vertically. They knot individual strands of colored weft across the warps to create the patterns. After finishing a row, they tightly pack the wefts together using a comb beater.
The wefts form the rug’s flat “pile”, so they must be thin enough to create a smooth surface. Typical materials for traditional kilims are sheep’s wool or goat hair for the pile, and cotton for the warp and weft foundation. Silk threads may be used to accent patterns.
Steps to weave a traditional kilim rug:
- Set up the loom with cotton warp threads.
- Sketch out the desired pattern on graph paper to plan the colorwork.
- String the colored weft threads across sections of warps to form patterns and shapes.
- Pack down each weft row tightly with a comb beater.
- Repeat knotting and packing each row until the rug is complete.
- Bind and trim the warps at the ends to finish.
- Wash, shear, and finish the rug to strengthen and refine it.
Kilims require great mathematic skill and concentration to translate designs onto the loom. Only highly skilled artisans can flawlessly render patterns across thousands of individual knots.
Modern kilim workshops use faster techniques like jacquard looms. But traditional handcrafting ensures the unique artistic touch of human hands.
How Are Kilims Used Around the World?
Traditional Uses
Nomadic tribes and agrarian communities prized kilims for their versatility and durability. Their lightweight, tightly woven construction made them extremely useful.
Some of the common purposes kilims historically served in daily life:
- Floor coverings and mattresses
- Storage bags, saddlebags, pouches
- Wall hangings and room dividers
- Blankets, bedspreads, and sleeping mats
- Wraps and cloaks
- Decorative covers for stools, cushions, and camels
- Carpets and curtains
- Mosque and tomb decorations
- Gifts signifying social status
A family’s kilim collection directly connected to their livelihood and social standing. The designs and colors woven into each rug tied it to their community’s identity.
Wealthier families would own multiple large decorative kilims along with smaller functional ones. The quilted layers of different blankets and bags offered warmth and comfort.
Modern Decor
Today, the aesthetic and cultural draw of handmade kilims has ignited a decorating trend. Their bold hues, tactile textures, and graphical motifs make them ideal for decorating contemporary homes.
Kilims bring a playful, laidback look to bohemian and eclectic rooms. Their handcrafted origins and cultural roots lend meaningful depth to minimalist spaces.
Accent walls, furniture upholstery, pillows, and other surfaces covered in kilim patches add an artistic DIY vibe. Here are some popular ways to decorate with kilim rugs:
Floors
Kilims make excellent rug choices for high-traffic areas due to their durable flatweave construction. Use large kilims as area rugs in living rooms or bedside. Runners suit hallways.
Walls
Make a textured kilim wall art display by hanging rug segments on the wall. Or create an accent wall using cotton rug backing material.
Furniture
Toss kilim blankets over chairs, sofas, daybeds, and ottomans to add boho flair. Use pieces of rug as upholstery fabric for a custom look.
Table Tops
Lay kilim placemats, runners or overlays on dining tables for visual interest. Toss them over coffee tables, side tables, and kitchen islands too.
Pillows
Sew kilim rug pieces into coverings for throw pillows and bolsters. Trim into shapes or leave an ethnic fringe.
Shelving
Cut kilim samples into coasters or use as shelf liners in bookcases, display units, and storage cabinets.
Wall Hangings
Turn rug segments into unique wall hangings. Add rods, hanging pockets or mount on boards.
Beds
Use kilims as bedspreads for a bohemian bedroom vibe. Or cover headboards and footboards in rug patches.
Tips for Decorating With Kilims
Decorating with vibrant kilim rugs takes a creative eye. Here are handy tips for working them into home interiors:
Pick a Color Scheme
Browse rug patterns and pull 2-3 colors to form a palette for the space. This creates harmony.
Layer Textures
Pair with natural linens, distressed woods, suede and knits for cozy contrast.
Repeat Motifs
Echo shapes and symbols from kilims in furniture and accessories.
Keep It Simple
Let kilim patterns stand out by keeping surrounding surfaces plain.
Mix Old and New
Blend antique and modern kilims for visual depth and color variation.
Show the Origin
Hang kilims traditionally by their top corners or roll up rug ends.
Frame It
Add floating wood frames around wall-mounted rugs for an art look.
Add Culture
Include regional artifacts and handicrafts that relate to kilim origins.
Pick Palette Colors
Choose paint, furniture, pillows, and decor pieces that complement kilim hues.
Change It Up
Swap out kilims seasonally or for holidays to refresh their vibrancy.
Caring for Handwoven Kilim Rugs
Regular Maintenance
- Vacuum regularly using a brush head to lift embedded dirt. Avoid vacuums with beater bars.
- Rotate occasionally to minimize uneven wear in high traffic areas.
- Shake outdoors yearly to remove excess dust.
- Spot clean spills quickly by blotting with a towel. Avoid excessive moisture.
Deep Cleaning
- Wash in cool water if rug needs heavy cleaning. Allow to air dry.
- Take to a specialist rug cleaner for deeper cleansing every 2-3 years. Request a flatweave cleaning process without excessive agitation.
Storage
- Roll up loosely and store flat if rug can’t be left out. Avoid folding.
- Use cloth sheets or old cotton blankets between rugs if stacking for storage.
- Keep kilims away from direct heat and sunlight to prevent fading.
With proper care, a quality handwoven kilim rug will deliver beauty for years or even generations! Their vibrant artistic flair easily enlivens modern decor.
Popular Questions About Kilim Rugs
What is the difference between a kilim rug and a pile carpet?
Pile carpets have a tufted upper surface formed by cut or looped yarn, while kilims have a flat, tapestry-like woven appearance. Kilims lack the plush feel and cushioning pile of knotted carpets.
How long do kilim rugs last?
Authentic hand-woven kilims can potentially last 100 years or more with proper care and maintenance. Rugs woven of quality wool and cotton age beautifully over time.
How much does a real kilim rug cost?
Kilim prices range widely based on factors like age, origin, size, design complexity and materials. Smaller new Turkish kilims can cost $100-$500 while antique collector’s pieces run into the thousands.
How can you tell a real antique kilim?
Signs of an authentic vintage kilim include design irregularities, variable dye lot colors, telltale signs of repair, knot inconsistencies, natural dyes, and high-lanolin wool sheen. Chemical washes, artificial distressing and perfectly matched colors suggest a newer rug.
What are kilim rugs used for?
Traditionally, kilim rugs served as bedding, flooring, storage, decor and more for nomadic peoples across Central Asia and the Middle East. Today they are widely used as wall hangings, pillows, upholstery and area rugs in modern homes.
How do you clean a kilim rug?
Gently vacuum kilims regularly. For deeper cleaning, wash flat woven rugs by hand or in the washing machine on a cold gentle cycle. Allow kilims to air dry completely to prevent moisture damage to the wool and dyes.
Can you walk on kilim rugs?
Yes, kilims make durable floor coverings thanks to their tightly woven pile-less construction. Their flat surface causes them to lie smoothly without curling or gathering underfoot. But be sure to use carpet underlay for shock absorption and slip protection.
Are kilim rugs comfortable?
Kilims have a thin flat pile over a sturdy cotton base. They provide modest comfort for short-term floor seating. Adding cushioned pads enhances softness underfoot. For beds and upholstery, use a quality underlay or linen backing.
What colors make a room look bigger?
Use lighter colors like off-white, light blue, light grey or muted pastels. Monochromatic color schemes also expand space visually by avoiding bold color contrasts. Add drama with brightly colored rugs and accents against neutral backdrops.
What are the most popular area rug sizes?
Common standard area rug sizes:
- 3′ x 5′ rugs for beside a bed or hallway
- 5′ x 7′ rugs for dining areas or large bathrooms
- 8′ x 10′ for living rooms and large bedrooms
- 9′ x 12′ rugs for spacious family rooms
Runners work well for hallways and range from 2′ x 7′ to 2′ x 12′ sizes. Avoid undersized rugs that look out of proportion.
What size area rug for living room?
When choosing a living room area rug size, make sure all your main furniture pieces fit on the rug. Leave 12-18 inches border around the edges. Standard living room rug sizes:
- 8′ x 10′ for apartments or small spaces
- 9′ x 12′ rugs for average rooms
- 10′ x 14′ rugs for larger spaces
Position the front legs of couches, chairs and other seating on the area rug. The rug will define and unify the seating area.
What size rug for dining room table?
For proper proportion, your rug size should be wide enough for all chair legs to fit without slipping off. Add a minimum of 24″ clearance around the table sides.
Standard dining area rug sizes:
- 6′ round rug for 4 person table
- 8′ round rug for 6 person table
- 9′ x 12′ rectangular rug for 8 person table
A rug pad prevents the rug from shifting while pulling out chairs. Rounded corners on rectangular rugs prevent tripping hazards.
What size area rug for king size bed?
King size beds measure 76″ wide x 80″ long. For full king bed coverage, choose at least an 8′ x 10′ rug.
Ideal area rug sizes for king beds:
- 8′ x 10′ rug
- 9′ x 12′ rug
- 10′ x 13′ rug
Place the area rug centrally under the bed so that the bed posts sit on the rug. Allow 24″ clearance at the foot and sides for walking area.
What size area rug for queen bed?
Standard queen size beds are 60″ wide x 80″ long. Optimal area rug sizes for queen beds:
- 8′ x 10′
- 7′ x 9′
- 6′ x 9′
Position the rug with ample footing area around both sides of the bed. An 8′ x 10′ rug lets the bed legs sit on the rug while leaving decent clearance.
What are the typical sizes for bathroom rugs?
For proper coverage, scale bathroom rug sizes to the fixtures they surround.
- 24″ x 40″ rug for in front of toilet
- 20″ x 30″ rug for in front of sink
- 3′ x 5′ rug between toilet and tub
- 4′ x 6′ rug outside shower/tub combo Avoid rugs that are overly skimpy for the space. For high moisture areas like showers, look for bathroom rugs made of machine washable materials. Provide rubber backing to prevent slips.
Conclusion
The vibrant artistic heritage of the world’s tribal cultures comes to life in handwoven kilim rugs. Their enduring beauty transcends generations, cultures, and decor styles.
Whether used as practical flooring or displayed as wall art, kilims bring meaningful depth, comfort, and visual richness wherever they go. Their impressive hard-wearing qualities ensure lifetimes of enjoyment.
For a rug that combines artistry with utility, kilims are the perfect choice. Let kilim patterns and colors kindle your imagination and spark creative decor. Express your personal style and heritage proudly by taking inspiration from the ancient tribal weaving traditions that live on
