One of the things Oriental rugs are famous for is their vibrant colors and beautiful designs. There are geometric patterns, religious symbols, pictures of animals or landscapes, colored panels, and any number of other patterns woven straight into the rug in the class hand tied and knotted weave that defines an Oriental rug.

Colors in Oriental rugs differ depending on where the Oriental rugs are woven. Oriental rugs made in Tibet, for example, might differ slightly from those made in China, and even more from those made in Morocco or Pakistan. Patterns and colors also vary based on where in those countries the rug was made – Oriental rugs weaved in the countryside will often be simpler and looser in design than the exquisite patterns of the cities.

Colors are infused into rugs through the use of dyes. There is a common belief among rug buyers that the vegetable or “natural” rug dyes are far superior to more modern synthetic designs. After all, that’s the way rugs have always been dyed, and is therefore better. The truth is not quite so simple.

Many vegetable dyes are more corrosive than synthetic dyes – black tannin dye, for example, is present in many older rugs; where it is used, the black nap is partially corroded while other colors remain untouched. So while the use of “natural” dyes may sound better, keep in mind that they don’t look different and may lend a hand to a far shorter lifespan to what is really a rather substantial investment on your part.