Need help with getting vintage/used oriental rug for mudroom

5 years ago

I am so hoping that someone here can help me with this. I have a mudroom and laundry room that I have decided to put vintage, slightly worn oriental rugs in. These two areas are not very big. In fact I will only need about a 4 ft. width because of floor vents, etc.

My flooring in these areas is a peachy beige and after much consideration have decided not to replace it both because of cost and the fact that it butts up to my reclaimed heart pine and it's just not something we want to do. So here is my question. With putting a rug over tHe peach tile, what would be a good background color to be looking for? I use warm colors in my home such as creams and tans. Most of the rugs I'm finding are red and I'm not thinking that it will do the peach tile any favors. Can I get some direction, especially from those who are familiar with oriental/ Persian rug, as to what to look for? Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

My3dogs ME zone 5A

5 years ago

Just be sure that if you get the larger one, that you'll be able to open the door without it catching on the rug.

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Comments (42)

mom2sulu
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
You might want to take a picture and post it here of your mudroom so people can suggest rugs.

I purchased a rug from this shop on etsy.com for my mudroom; it was very true to the color in the picture and we love it! Good luck!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AntikaArt?ref=listing-shop-header-item-count#items
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
mom2sulu- Thanks so much for the link! I'll definitely take a look!
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I went out one last time today, and found another rug. Now I have 2 "finalists", neither being without faults! The new choice has a mostly very light golden oak background a little lighter than the floor for both the main field and the main border--in other words, it seems to be a bit too much of the same thing. It has a black edge, black in the background of the two 1-1/2" borders on each side of the main border, and black scattered about in small doses throughout some of the rest of the design, including part of the medallion. Most of the medallion is a rust color that is close enough to the henna in my other rug that it looks ok. There's very little green in this rug. It's a beautiful densely knotted rug. Negatives-- this rug doesn't look good with the paint (we're not repainting!) or the furniture, and when the sun shines, watch out!-- it really looks like a bright gold, and it costs more. Other than the intensity of the light colored background, this rug seems to balance with the other two rugs as far as the overall look, and it looks better at night. So if we never had the money to replace the 9x12, I wouldn't feel like the room is out of whack. The "black" rug--the other colors in it look good with the paint, the coverings on the chairs that go around the table on it, the present sofa, the other rug in the same room, and the floor. The only negative is that it makes that part of the room so dark, especially at night, that I can almost feel the floor tilting down over there! Also, it seems to be too much for the blue (which looks gorgeous in the daytime, and dark at night) in the DR. If I choose this rug, it seems like my only choice to balance all three rugs would be to get a dark rug to replace the 9x12, and I really don't like the idea of 3 dark rugs. annz, the design of all of the rugs is somewhat related. The experienced daughter of the owner of the decades old place where I got the one rug has been very helpful, given the various constraints I have in choosing this rug. If you could see the color this floor makes the rugs appear, you'd probably understand why I'm giving it the importance I am. Your email did not show up on the screen, BTW. sujafr, thanks for the explanation for posting pictures. DH said he'd try to help me get some pictures loaded some time tomorrow. ideefixe, I'm not looking for antique tribal rugs, just handmade ones with traditional designs. Your suggestion to have a carpet company make a rug for the time being is a good one, except that I need the rug by Sunday! Thank you all for your posts. I hope I'll have the pictures up tomorrow. Anne
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Hi all sorry for the delay in my reply! Thank you all very much for your input, sure made me think lots! We decided on Option 1. Keeping the door swing the way it is to promote natural flow from entrance to mudroom with coats, will also have some hooks by the door. Will likely add a small bulkhead between the entrance and dining room to create a feel of separation. The door is blocked nicely from our prevailing west wind by the garage (if the plan were a map, it would be upside down - north is at the bottom). I've also had some mixed feelings about not having the mudroom joined to my pantry and kitchen on the same side of the house, the concern being distance with groceries. For anyone who was curious, this is the full plan, the driveway comes up around the left side where the yellow line is, so this is why we've opted to have the 'public' rooms on this side of the house and the 'private' bedroom side on the back. That, and the views to the top and left of the page are quite nice so we've tried to orient our living spaces to face them. Thank you all for your input.
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User
5 years ago
mom2sulu - That seller has some absolutely GORGEOUS rugs, and the prices don't seem too outlandish to me.
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mom2sulu
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I agree, IdaClaire! Now I am doubtful that they are really "vintage", I think more "vintage style" but they have lovely colors. Also, I made a best offer to the owner of the shop and he accepted it so that helped with the price!

Added to note: These rugs are quite distressed(rough)and are not plush Persian rugs--perfect for a mudroom, maybe not so much in other applications.
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User
5 years ago
I recently purchased a small rug from a Turkish Etsy seller who claimed that the piece was "vintage", but by that, he meant 1980s-era. Heck, by that standard, I'm a flippin' antique. ;-)
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for those of you who are weighing in. My mudroom is going to be repainted as well. I want to get a rug first that will work with the peach tile. I will try to get a couple of pictures to show of the tile close up. Thanks!
jmm1837
5 years ago
What about a rug with a deep blue base color? Indigo is a classic color in orientals.
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
I have actually been looking at a couple with the blue base and some rust to at least tie in with the floor. That helps me to hear that from you as it lets me know maybe I'm on the right track. Thanks for taking the time to weigh in!
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JudyG Designs
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Choose an Oushak.
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Anglophilia
5 years ago
An Oushak in a MUD ROOM? These are very pricey, very beautiful rugs that are quite light in color. It would be destroyed after the first heavy rain with mud. An oriental of any kind does not belong in a mud room!

I would get a rug made from WaterHog's Berber roll mats <https://afm.waterhogfloormats.com/waterhog-berber-roll-mats/>; You have a huge selection of sizes, and a large range of colors. Your rug needs to be able to take water, mud, snow and be unfazed. It's a MUD ROOM!
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
I have had those water hog floor mats and while they are tough, I am looking for something a litter better looking since it is the entrance by which everyone enters our home. And I'd like to distract from the horrid peach floor tile. That's one of the reasons I want a used one. Not near as expensive.
jmm1837
5 years ago
I'd suggest hitting an oriental carpet shop or two. The one in our town has tons of small, cheap rugs (Afghan, Pakistani and Indian, mostly) that would do the trick, and aren't terribly expensive.

I'm not sure on the point about older carpets being cheaper: like the song says, "It ain't necessarily so." You might well find a new Afghan or Indian rug that would meet your needs. Nor are all oriental carpets the expensive, high end ones you see in designer magazines - a lot of them were (and are) used by nomadic people as floors for their tents ;) I've got a couple of those myself.
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm looking for about a 4' x 5' rug. I've come across a couple that are cheaper than some new rugs that I've seen. Not newer oriental rugs but just everyday rugs. I really like the look of them. I don't know of a rug shop near me that carries them but I can look around. The largest town nearest me is Charlottesville, but I imagine they would be pretty expensive there.
mle0782
5 years ago
The market for orientals has been pretty soft in the last few years. I would suggest going to your local consignment store/antique mall because you will likely find several, especially in a smaller size like you are looking for that will be reasonably priced. I would also head to the library and find a book or two on Persian rugs—there are many, many different types and it will help you develop an eye for what to look for: authenticity of design, vegetable dyed wools (none of which look like the Etsy rugs), knot count, etc. The most important factor is really if you like whatever-you just shouldn’t pay a premium for something that isn’t authentic.
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
That is a good idea mie0782. Is vegetable dye how they are normally dyed or is that not a good thing? Thanks.
mle0782
5 years ago
Yes, a good quality and true vintage rug will have silk/wool with vegetable dyes. Look at a few books or good rugs and you’ll see the difference.
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jmm1837
5 years ago
In the good old days, the wool was dyed with things like walnut, indigo, woad and beetle shells. Artificial dyes disrupted that a century and a half ago, so it's not easy to find a modern day rug that uses only natural dyes. The best carpets use them, but for the purposes you're looking at, I wouldn't insist. A natural dye silk rug would be wasted in a mud room. On the other hand, a rustic or tribal wool rug or kilim might be just the ticket.

Anyway, even if the dyes are artificial, I would still regard a rug "genuine" if it is hand knotted and uses traditional motifs (and those motifs vary a lot according to region, tribe, etc). I'm a bit of a sucker for tribal rugs, I must admit - the Persian court carpets, though beautiful, don't appeal to me as much as more rustic Turkoman or Central Asian rugs. Welcome to the world of rugs!
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JudyG Designs
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Oriental rugs are meant to be used…as in laying them on the streets.

Finding a good color, fairly priced vintage rug for the area is easy enough. The one I posted above is from a vendor on etsy.com and affordable.

Why shouldn’t your mud room look as attractive as the other rooms in your home? How many homes have you been in where the living room is “off-limits”? All this money spent and no one uses the room because it is too precious.

As for this rug recommended above…it is just too commercial looking, IMO, but fine for the outdoor steps. I have a a huge one in the garage to catch the rain/snow/ice which drips off the cars. Perfect solution.
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DLM2000-GW
5 years ago
I would not hesitate to use a 'not precious' Persian rug in a mud room - after all, camels walk on them! If you live in an area with lots of mud/snow issues maybe a compromise of a step in mat like above right at the door then a Persian further into the space for beauty.

Or..... have you looked at cotton woven rugs? I have bought several from this company and love them. They are washable (depending on size of rug and your washer of course) and tough as nails. Maybe a washable one just inside the door and a Persian further in the room? I have a 9' runner in my kitchen that I washed every couple of months and it looks like new.

https://hookandloom.com/
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks to you all for all the info! I have always loved the look of oriental rugs but obviously have a lot to learn about them. We do not get that much snow here so that shouldn't be an issue. And also thanks for the links! I've had the best time looking on Etsy and EBay looking at rugs. Thanks so much!
My3dogs ME zone 5A
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
There are rugs that LOOK 'Oriental' or 'tribal' that are made from 100% polyester. This one is available in a 4' x 6' size, for $81.00 on sale.

https://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-tribal-medallion/Rust/200KHMC04A-P.html
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
my3dogs- that's really pretty and those are the colors Im thinking for that area. Thanks for the link!
User
5 years ago
My3dogs, now I have my eye on a couple of similarly-styled polypro rugs from that site that would be perfect in my bedroom. You little ol' enabler, you!
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
What would y'all say are the advantages of the vintage oriental vs. the polyester other than price? Thanks!
User
5 years ago
Well, a vintage oriental is just going to have a look of authenticity about it that the polypropylene rugs can't duplicate. That said, price can be a big determining factor and if you don't spend a lot on a polypro rug, you can use it for a few seasons then move on to something else if you tire of it. They're relatively low commitment, I guess you could say. I just ordered these two for our master bedroom from the site my3dogs shared. They are polypropylene and while I don't expect them to look like handmade rugs, I believe they'll adequately convey the look I'm going for.
sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
I have found a rug on Etsy that is a vintage Turkish Kilim rug. Do you know if a kilim rug would be durable for a mudroom? Thanks!
jmm1837
5 years ago
A kilim is a flat weave, so not as thick as a knotted rug. I have some that are pretty substantial, but they are tough tribal rugs. A slit weave kilim might be a bit flimsy. Hard to tell without actually getting hands on with the rug (which is part of the fun)
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
My concern with the kilim is that it might be a little too thin for the traffic in that area. I purchased a 4 x5 vintage Persian rug off of EBay and it came. I really like it except it is obviously more narrow on one end. I guess it’s because it’s handmade but it was so noticeable that I’m hesitant to use it. I may use it elsewhere though. It’s rust and blue. Thinking a 3 x 5 will actually fit the space better because I’m putting a bench in the area as well. Not a large area but I really want a pretty rug there that’s also very durable. Thanks to you all for offering feedback!
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JudyG Designs
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
3 x 5 $199.00 etsy.com.

Is this tile close to your color?
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
Here are pictures of the flooring
sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
Here is a rug that I am considering
sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
To be honest, I'm not sure whether that will work or not because of the red? It states that it is a Vintage Handwoven Turkish Kilim rug.
DLM2000-GW
5 years ago
I think that would work and would not find the red offensive with your tile. Part of the beauty of rugs like that is the variation in color from one part of the design to another and you'll see that all the time in vintage/antique rugs. It's part of what makes them so interesting (to me) and differentiates from more modern versions where colors are true throughout the rug. Here's a side by side
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JudyG Designs
5 years ago
That looks good…is the rug the correct size?
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I do like the rug. I use mostly earth tones in my home and I'm thinking of painting the walls Indian White by Benjamin Moore. I so appreciate y'all taking time to weigh in. If I purchase this one, I would like a coordinating rug for my laundry room right off of my mudroom. And the rug is 3x5 which works better for the space. I think the same size will work for the laundry area as well. Both rooms are small and narrow.
sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
I also want to add that if anybody comes across a rug that may work better, please do not hesitate to post it. I really am appreciate of any and all feedback! Thanks!
einportlandor
5 years ago
Another option . . . Craig's List. In my area there are many rugs offered for sale on CL, you just have to be patient to find what you want. I scored a good-looking vintage rug, indigo blue and terra-cotta, for the area leading from my living room to the backyard. The dog is in and out a dozen times a day and the rug hides the dirt. It's not in perfect condition but it's adds some style and class to the space. I paid $180, plus the cost of a pad. Now I'm looking for a smaller rug for my tiny entryway.
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sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
Craigslist is a great resource! I've sold several things on there myself. And I am definitely looking for something that hides dirt. We are empty nesters so don't have as much in and out traffic as before. However, I know a light colored background is not going to work.
sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
The other option that I'm considering is getting a larger rug ( maybe 54"" wide by 8 1/2 feet long) to cover most all of the floor in the mudroom area leaving just a small border of floor. Reason being is I really would like to cover the peachy/orange tile as much as possible. Any thoughts about going that route. I was going the 3x5 route because that's what I'm accustomed to. But maybe bigger would work better? Thanks!
sis2two
Original Author
5 years ago
That may actually be a problem with the larger one as I have three doors in that area. The door which opens to the outside, a closet door and a door that opens to back stairway. Hmmm... may not work.
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JudyG Designs
5 years ago
My3dogs…good advice. I forgot about the doors.