Sourcing and styling extremely handmade luxury rugs goes beyond comparing aesthetics and size. It’s an art that requires a discerning eye for exquisite materials, impeccable knotting techniques, and sustainable practices. After all, you’ll want to have peace of mind that your investment piece will stand the test of time.
At Tufenkian, we understand the true essence of luxury and craftsmanship. Learn how we weave quality, comfort, and sophistication into every knot—and discover the details you should consider when sourcing and styling hand-knotted rugs.
What to Look for in Luxury Area Rugs
When investing in a luxury rug, your search typically begins with finding a design and color scheme you love—and that works in your space. Once you've found a few options you think would complement and elevate your room's style, deciding on a winner should come down to three main factors: the quality of materials used, the craftsmanship behind the hand-knotting process, and the sustainable efforts woven in.
Premium Materials: Elevating Comfort and Style
Tufenkian is dedicated to using premium materials—whether silk, wool, or other premium fibers—to craft our luxury rugs by hand. Our goal is to ensure each of our rugs not only appears visually stunning, but feels magnificent, and will last for years to come.
So when it comes to our luxury rugs, It's about understanding and appreciating the rarity, durability, and labor-intensive processes behind every material we carefully select and weave into each knot. To compare Tufenkian’s top materials used:
- Wool: Provides a sumptuous feel and quality, while adding durability and resilience—ideal for high-traffic areas.
- Silk: Provides a soft feel and a decadent sense of luxury with its lustrous sheen and delicate texture.
- Bamboo Silk: Offers a unique blend of luxury, sustainability, and softness.
- Hemp: Brings a blend of durability, eco-friendliness, and hypoallergenic properties to our handmade rugs.
- Linen: Renowned for its natural elegance and breathability, linen promises durability while adding sophistication.
Each material is precisely chosen to enhance the beauty and longevity of our rugs, ensuring they remain cherished pieces in your home.
Quality Craftsmanship: Care in Every Knot
What sets Tufenkian rugs apart is our commitment to exceptional craftsmanship. Each rug is meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans who specialize in traditional hand-knotting and hand-weaving techniques, bringing centuries-old traditions to life. Discover the details of Tufenkian's extremely handmade process:
- Yarn Preparation: The art of hand-carding and hand-spinning yarn demands exceptional skill, time, and dedication. Our skilled artisans meticulously complete each step in the process by hand to create the highest quality yarns so we can use them to craft the highest quality rugs.
- Dyeing: Our artisans then carefully hand-dye the yarn in small batches. Hand-dying offers unique color variations and stunning individuality that cannot be replicated by mass-produced yarn. This manual approach also allows for more control over color variations and nuances, resulting in a more consistent, vibrant and rich final product.
- Weaving: Each Tufenkian rug is composed of millions of individually hand-tied knots, requiring exceptional patience, skill, and attention to detail. Though incredibly time consuming and labor intensive, our hand-knotting process yields unparalleled quality and beauty.
- Getting the Designs Right: In order to recreate the stunning patterns and motifs featured in our rug collections, our skilled artisans follow a design map, called a cartoon, that is created with innovative computer technology.
- Washing: Next, our rugs undergo a thorough washing process to ensure utter perfection. This is done by pouring fresh water, mixed with specific cleaning materials for the rug’s needs, over the rug – then forcing the water through the pile with a wooden board. After this, the washed rug is dried in the sun for optimal freshness and color setting.
- Shearing & Detailing: Once washed and dried, our rugs are hand-sheared to achieve uniform pile height. Some rug designs are created or accentuated post-weave, which requires a careful carving process. This is done by hand, as well, to subtly clarify the design.
Altogether, more than 1500 hours of artisanal workmanship are required to produce each luxury rug at Tufenkian. While demanding and time consuming, this process results in rugs that are charmingly individual pieces of exceptional quality that reflect the touch of the artist’s hand.
Enhanced Sustainability: Making a Difference
Tufenkian prioritizes environmental responsibility throughout our production process, from sourcing materials to crafting each rug by hand. By using natural fibers, we minimize our ecological footprint and reduce reliance on synthetic materials.
We also embrace the concept of circular design by sourcing and selling collectible and antique rugs to give older pieces new life. This practice not only preserves cultural heritage but also reduces the need for new rug production, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Shop Antique Finds from James’ Vault
Furthermore, Tufenkian is committed to giving back to the community. A portion of every purchase supports the Tufenkian Foundation, which funds education and development initiatives in Armenia and beyond. By choosing a Tufenkian rug, you are not only investing in quality and beauty but also in positive social impact and environmental stewardship.
Capturing History and Artistry
Tufenkian luxury rugs aren't just about tying a room together; they're modern treasures that embody deep history and extraordinary artistry. Our collection features contemporary rugs crafted with the same dedication to craftsmanship and cultural significance as their antique counterparts. Each rug weaves a unique narrative, from the designs adorning its surface to the innovative techniques used in its creation.
Choosing a Tufenkian rug means inviting these captivating stories into your home, infusing your space with timeless techniques that will be cherished for generations to come. After all, James Tufenkian founded the company with a vision: To upkeep the quality of centuries-long artistry and combine it with the best traits of modern design.
Styling Your Space with Handmade Luxury Rugs
Whether you draw room design inspiration from your luxury rug or add a rug to an already established space, styling with an extremely handmade rug is an art in itself. Consider these tips to make the most of your investment:
Luxury Rugs for Living Rooms
Enhance the warmth and inviting nature of your living room—and anchor your seating area—with a large area rug. Whether your living room style is traditional, maximalist, or mid-century modern, picking the right Tufenkian area rug will tie together your furniture and decor, reflecting your own personal style.
To successfully style your living room with a luxury rug, consider these tips:
- Define spaces: Use a large rug to delineate the living area from other sections within an open-plan living space.
- Layering: Layering rugs can add depth and visual interest. Consider layering a smaller, intricately patterned rug over a larger, solid-colored rug for an eclectic look.
- Color and pattern: Choose a rug that matches or contrasts with your existing color scheme. A bold patterned rug can become the focal point of the room, while a neutral-toned rug can provide a harmonious backdrop for other decor elements.
Luxury Bedroom Rugs
Opt for a plush wool rug beside the bed to create a cozy retreat that complements your decor. From soft and neutral to bold and contemporary, our range of colors and patterns allows you to find the perfect rug for your bedroom oasis.
In addition to placing a rug beside your bed, here are more ways to style a luxury rug in your bedroom:
- Under the bed: Place a large rug partially under the bed to extend beyond the sides and foot of the bed, creating a soft landing spot.
- Symmetry: Use two smaller rugs on either side of the bed to create a balanced and symmetrical look in a larger bedroom.
- Texture play: Experiment with textures by layering a sheepskin or faux fur rug over a larger area rug to add warmth and comfort.
Luxury Bath Rugs
Turn your bathroom into a spa retreat with a high-absorbency, Tibetan wool luxury bath mat. Wool from Tibet is unscoured and our most durable material, meaning the quality will remain in-tact – even through humid conditions and regular wear. Between function, comfort, style, and design, a luxury bath rug will bring a sense of splendor to your daily routine.
To maximize the style and functionality of your luxury bath rug, consider these tips:
- Placement: Position the bath rug strategically near the shower or bathtub to provide a soft, warm entrance and exit. Consider placing a smaller rug near the sink area for added comfort and style.
- Color coordination: Choose a bath rug that fits your bathroom's color scheme. Opt for calming hues to create a serene atmosphere.
- Don’t forget the rug pad: While we always recommend a rug pad underneath our rugs, in the bathroom it is a must. Layer your luxury bath rug over a non-slip rug pad for added safety, especially in wet areas.
Customize a Luxury Rug
We understand that every space is unique, which is why we offer custom rug services. To customize a luxury rug with Tufenkian, you’ll work with our team of experts to discuss design, size, color palette, and budget. Our skilled artisans then handcraft your personalized rug using premium materials, resulting in a stunning masterpiece tailored to your unique style and space.
Start crafting your personalized rug here.
Elevate Your Home with Tufenkian Rugs
Investing in a Tufenkian luxury rug is more than a decor choice; it's a testament to your appreciation of craftsmanship, beauty, and sustainability. By using only premium materials like silk, bamboo silk, hemp, linen, and 100 percent wool, hand-knotting each rug with care, and offering customized options, we’re sure you'll discover the perfect rug to elevate the sophistication of your space.
Use our Showroom Locator to find a Tufenkian retailer near you, and take advantage of our seven-day trial option, Test Drive, to ensure your luxury rug exceeds all expectations.
Shop our collection of luxury rugs here.
