I don’t take credit for these descriptions, since I’ve taken them from an article I came across recently. Perhaps you would like to download this article and add it to your decor file.

True oriental rugs are hand made using patterns that are hundreds of years old. They come mainly from Iran, China, Turkey, Morocco, Afghanistan, India and the Caucasus. They are extremely hard wearing and many people buy them not only for their beauty but as an investment.

The craft of rug making was practiced by Nomadic Tribes as well as in the Imperial factories where the carpets and wall hangings of Emperors were made. The Nomadic Tribes wove their rugs, those made in the towns were knotted carpets with a dense pile. Chinese rugs are of a very fine wool with an embossed traditional design.

Persian Rugs: The basic designs of Persian Rugs have not varied for hundreds of years. These carpets are among some of the very finest now made, having an extremely high density of knots to the square inch. The carpets are made of silk and wool knotted by hand onto a firmly woven base.

Berber Rugs: Originally a woven rug in which the designs for the most part adhered to stripes, Berber now come from many countries. The wool used in the berber rug lacks the high gloss of the Persian rug.

Mexican Serape: A coarsely woven rug with fringed ends. Traditionally this kind of fabric was made for wearing in the form of a poncho.

Dhurry: The ubiquitous, hand made Indian cotton rug woven in bright stripes or colours, often used as wall hangings, bed and sofa covers, as well as floor rugs.

Beni Menel: A flat woven rug made in Morocco, originally by the Bedouin nomads. These rugs were designed as wall hangings and floor coverings for the Nomad tents and made useful camel blankets when the tribe was on the move. The outstanding features are the highly stylized geometric patterns in sharp, contrasting colours.

The Afghanistan Kelim (prayer rug): A tapestry woven rug traditionally used for wall hangings or bed covers. They are sturdy enough to use as floor coverings. The Kurdish Kelim is more brightly coloured than the Afghan version, the wool used is softer and glossier and the designs are embroidered.

Hutchli Bokhara: A finely knotted carpet of wool and goat hair made in Bokhara region of U.S.S.R. The Hutchli (cross) pattern is one used throughout the Orient. The background colour is traditionally red, signifying happiness.

Rya: A shaggy pile finish carpet, now machine made.