We all know how crucial carpets and floor coverings are for Iranian homes. The flooring in our homes is typically covered with either moquette or carpets. However, Iranian carpets come in various types, and in this article, we will introduce you to the different kinds of machine-made and handwoven carpets.
Moquette, the Most Affordable Flooring:
One of the most commonly used and cost-effective machine-made floor coverings is moquettes, which come in various types and are available by the meter with customizable dimensions. The market typically has two kinds of moquettes: felt and loop moquettes. Felt moquettes are firmer in texture than the carpet type, making them suitable for walking. However, sitting on them may be less comfortable. Felt moquettes are generally used in bedrooms, while carpet moquettes are ideal for children’s rooms and spaces where sitting comfort is essential.
Felt moquettes are produced by interlocking fibers and creating a felt layer. The fibers used in felt moquettes include polypropylene, nylon, acrylic, or polyester. The second type, carpet moquettes, has a suitable thickness and comes in various designs and colors. Due to its thickness, carpet moquette is preferred for spaces like bedrooms.
Kilim: Traditional and Unique Flooring:
The second type of flooring used in Iranian homes is Kilim. Kilims are used mainly in houses with traditional decor but can sometimes be found in modern designs. Kilim is a traditional handwoven floor covering made from natural silk, wool, and cotton fibers. Kilims offer a wide variety, including needle Kilims, plain Kilims, Sumak Kilims, Kilim carpets, and Pars Kilims. The patterns on Kilims are often simple, but in some cases, needlework is applied to create unique and traditional designs.
Carpet and Rug, Primary Flooring Choices:
The most essential and widely used floor coverings in Iranian homes are carpets and rugs with Iranian patterns. The term “carpet” means “something spread out,” and the term “rug” is a Turkish word derived from “Qalin,” meaning a woven fabric with a pile. The production of machine-made carpets in Iran has a history of half a century. Due to their lower price and high diversity, machine-made carpets are more commonly used than handwoven ones.
In general, there are significant differences between machine-made and handwoven carpets. For example, knotting the carpet’s pile differs between handwoven and machine-made carpets. The pile yarn of machine-made carpets only loops around the weft yarn, resulting in less resistance than handwoven carpets. Due to these differences, the lifespan and price of handwoven carpets are much higher than machine-made ones.
Jajim: Traditional and Elegant:
Jajim is another type of Iranian floor covering. Jajim is a delicate underlay made from wool and other natural fibers, featuring simple patterns such as stripes, squares, and more. In this type of floor covering, the warp threads are finer than the warp threads of a Kilim. Jajim is typically woven horizontally, and its weft threads are made of wool or cotton, with the warp threads visible, unlike a Kilim.
Ziloo: Simple and Distinctive:
Ziloo is another traditional Iranian floor covering resembling Kilim. Ziloo, like other traditional floor coverings, is made of warp and weft threads and is usually produced in six to twelve square meters on a Ziloo loom. Ziloos are typically decorated with geometric patterns in blue, white, red, green, and navy colors, and they are commonly used in mosques, Hosseiniehs, and pilgrimage sites.
Gabbeh:
Gabbeh is one of the types of plush and soft floor coverings produced from wool. Gabbehs are very heavy and have a high density of up to eight piles per knot. One of the main differences between traditional Iranian Gabbehs and handwoven carpets is the increased thickness of the Gabbeh’s pile and longer pile knots. Another difference is that Gabbehs, unlike traditional Iranian carpets, do not have a specific design, and the weaver creates patterns from nature, humans, animals, or geometric shapes based on personal observation.
Felt Carpet: A Modern Option for Modern Homes:
Felt carpets are another type of traditional floor covering that has gained popularity in modern decor. “Felt” refers to a thick fabric made of felted wool or matted fur. The production process of felt carpets in traditional felting workshops involves interlocking wool fibers using warm water and soap and various actions such as rolling, rubbing, moistening, and heating. After hours and days of work, a felted texture is created. Feeling underlays can be used independently or spread over a carpet or Kilim. The colors used in felt are primarily natural, aiming to develop mental and simple colorful patterns.
Choosing the right flooring is crucial in interior design. When purchasing, consider factors such as foot traffic and the area where you intend to use the floor covering. This article covered various fabric and fiber floor coverings to help you choose the most suitable one for your space.
