Why Invest in a Vintage Rug?

About a year ago, my husband and I renovated our kitchen. We absolutely love the end result but the number one question we receive when showing the space is “where did you get that rug?” It’s a total show stopper that pulled the space together but it’s also a one-of-a-kind, vintage Turkish rug. Vintage rugs are a bit of a financial investment so today I’m talking about why I think they’re worth it! Plus at the end of the article, I’ll give you links to some vintage runners on the market right now.

1. Vintage rugs last a long time

So why pay for a vintage rug when they cost so much more? Well, the short answer is they last much longer. Vintage Turkish rugs are made of 100% wool, which is the highest quality rug you can buy. The quality is so much higher not only because of the look achieved but because they are more durable and can be professionally treated. I like to think of vintage rugs in the same way I think about clothing — I can buy a pair of jeans from H&M and wear them for a season, or buy a pair of Levi jeans that only get better with time. Today you can buy a brand new rug that looks “worn in” but when you look closely the wear is created by white stitching that looks slightly off. In my opinion, design goes to the next level when there is an authenticity to the room. While you will end up paying more for a vintage rug, it’s also a rug that you can pass down to the next generation as long as you take care of it.

2. Vintage rugs are one-of-a-kind

When I say each vintage rug is one-of-a-kind, it’s not because they discontinued the pattern but attributed to the fact that they are hand-knotted. Each rug is unique because they are made by hand and not a machine. This once again gives the rug an authenticity and character that machines simply can’t replicate. Hand-knotting also means that the rugs won’t unravel or have fur balls that come up when you vacuum.

In addition to the beauty of the production, I also love that there’s a story behind each vintage rug. No one else will have the same rug in their home and every rug has a past life since they’re being resold. You always could go buy a brand new rug thats wool and hand-knotted but buying vintage means you’ll save about 80% of the cost and you also get that naturally worn too. The only down side to buying vintage is when it is first received, you may need to air it out! Depending on the shipper, there may be some smells initially but within 24 hours all the old scents will dissipate.

3. Vintage rugs hold their value

This last point is really a by-product of the first two, but it’s worth mentioning that the rugs will hold their value. If you buy a new, machine made rug it will quickly lose its value despite how well you take care of it. This is because there are multiple on the market and the life-span is more limited. When investing in a vintage rug you could most likely get 90% of your money back after a couple years.

Vintage Rug Runners for Kitchen

So now you may be convinced you’re ready to make the investment in your first vintage rug runner but where can you get one? My favorite place to shop is Etsy! I typically will type in “Turkish runner” and the options are limitless. To help you on the hunt, I’ve linked some fun options on the market right now — from bright and vibrant to subtle and muted. Just make sure to note that all of these have different dimensions and levels of wear — they truly are one-of-a-kind!

1. 2’8×11’2 feet ($365)
2. 34×124 inches ($196)
3. 2’9×12’9 feet ($300)
4. 9’8” x 3’0” ($339)
5. 8.9 x 2.6 feet ($373)
6. 3×7 ($222)
7. 2’7”x14’3” ($623)
8. 3 x 15.5 feet ($540)

I feel like these images don’t do the rugs justice so definitely check out their hyperlink! Design should be fun and unique. Don’t just settle for something ordinary when you can bring things you love into your home!