When you’re exploring heritage rugs for your living room, you may find yourself choosing between two different traditions: Persian carpet vs Arabic carpet. Each of these vintage carpets brings its own history, symbolism and design style – so how can you find the right aesthetic for your home?
Let’s break down the differences between these two cultural carpet styles to help you decide.
Emirati vs Persian Carpets Comparison
Traditional carpet designs in Emirati homes come in all shapes and sizes, from large carpets for open-plan areas to small runner rugs. Here’s how to decode the designs.
History
Emirati carpets are influenced by the Bedouin Al Sadu weaving tradition, a technique that translates as “horizontal weaving”. Persian carpets evolved from nomadic designs to ornate styles produced in city workshops, with a golden age during the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736).
Design Style
Emirati carpets feature bold, geometric shapes and stripes, as well as symbols relating to the desert and Bedouin culture. Inspired by nature and storytelling, Persian carpet design is altogether more ornate: think floral motifs and medallions with fine details and complex borders.
Colour Palette
The colours of the desert can be seen in Emirati carpets, which are defined by earthy tones of brown, beige and black. They also feature bright accents, originally created using natural dyes from desert plants and flowers. Persian carpets too were traditionally dyed using natural materials. Common colours include red, blue, ivory, beige and gold. Overall, Persian carpets have a more harmonious colour palette with softer transitions between colours.
Conclusion
How to choose a carpet for your living room? Both Emirati and Persian carpets can look wonderful in UAE homes; the one you choose ultimately depends on your own style and personal taste. At Carpet Centre, we’re proud to be one of the leading carpet suppliers in the region, with a wide range of traditional carpets that will make any interior feel special. You can even take advantage of our free carpet trial to explore the two different styles in your own home. Explore the collection today.
FAQs
What’s the main difference between Emirati and Persian carpet designs?
One of the main differences is their motifs: geometric symbols for Emirati carpets and intricate and floral designs for Persian carpets.
Are Emirati carpets handmade?
Some Emirati carpets are made by hand, others by machine.
Which carpet type is easier to maintain in UAE climate?
The right materials can help you maintain your carpets in the UAE’s dusty weather. In general, carpets made from polyester fibres are easy to clean, while wool fibres don’t retain moisture and are therefore resistant to dust mites.