Hand-Woven vs Machine-Made Rugs: Which Option is Better?
By: Shaun Matthews
Tags: Rugs Online, Smart Home, Area Rugs, Designer Rugs, Home Decor

Rugs have always been popular but recently they have made their mark in modern-day home decor. Why? Maybe because they are a perfect example of how globalization works in spreading a popular idea in a specific region across so many different countries. However, we are not here to talk about why rugs have become such a sensation. Instead, we will discuss the two commonly available variants of area rugs: handwoven rugs and machine-made rugs.

If you’re new to the world of rugs, it is difficult to tell the difference between the two variants. Don’t worry, we are here to help you with the advantage of making an informed buying decision when you’re shopping for rugs online. It’s already clear from their names how these two types of rugs differ from one another. However, for an untrained eye, they all appear to be the same at first impression.

The only way an amateur rug buyer could possibly tell if the rugs that they’re planning to buy is a hand-woven type or a machine-made one is by looking at the price tag. Again, it’s pretty clear that the former type is going to be more expensive than the latter. But pricing isn’t always a reliable factor to judge the authenticity of, well, anything!

In this article, we’ll be discussing each of these two types of rugs in detail so that you can understand your rugs better. Ready? Let’s begin!

Hand-Woven Rugs

We know everybody is fully aware of what ‘hand-woven’ means, but still, we feel the need to elaborate on this. In the simplest of words, a hand-woven rug is a rug that is made by hand on a specialized loom.

While the process of hand-knotting may not seem too difficult, it requires an immense amount of patience and skilled craftsmanship to be able to carry it out. Contemporary area rugs inserts the knots into the foundation of the rug, which are then are tied by hand.

Hand-knotted rugs are made out of wool, cotton, silk, jute and other natural materials. In general, a fine-quality handmade rug takes about a year (or more) to make. Unreal! Yes, a single rug takes that long, hence it’s over the top price.

Machine-Made Rugs

Machine-made rugs are mass-produced through giant machines, which are known power looms. Being low-effort rugs, they are obviously much cheaper than their hand-woven counterparts.

But the manufacturing process isn’t the only key difference here. Machine-made rugs are made with a cheaper and a lower quality synthetic material as the natural fibers can’t withstand all the force from heavy machinery.

Which one to go forward with?

Even if there’s a gun to our head, we would still say, ‘It depends’. There’s no clear winner here, and depending on what you’re looking to get out of your rug, your ideal choice is most likely going to vary. If you want an extremely durable rug that will last generations, lying around your space, the hand-woven rugs should be your go-to option. On the contrary, a machine-made rug will usually last only about 20 years, tops. However, they are cheaper and easily replaced. So, for those of you who have flexible choices and don’t want to spend too much on rugs, your ideal answer is machine-made rugs.

No matter which one you choose, rugs could truly be an amazing addition to your home decor. If you manage to select the right one for your place, it will certainly make your guests’ heads turn!