Caucasian rugs feature rich colours and detailed designs. Homeowners who are looking for a unique floor covering that can add a lot of character to a room may want to consider this decorating option.
This type of rug is made by tribal weavers living in the southern part of Russia, located between the Caspian and the Black Sea. The region these artisans call home is located in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Even though there are approximately 350 tribes who produce these types of rugs, there are some common characteristics to all Caucasian rugs. Design styles for these types of rugs include motifs that are similar to ones found in Chinese, Persian, Anatolian and Turkoman styles.
Design Characteristics of Caucasian Rugs
A Caucasian rug will likely feature a design with similar shapes of different sizes placed near each other. This style of rug is quite colourful and commonly features beige, black, yellow and green. Red, purple and navy are also used to fashion these rugs.
Geometric patterns are very common in this type of rug. When looking for a Caucasian rug, look for patterns that include squares, diamonds, crosses and stripes. Hexagons, triangles and "S" shapes are also used by weavers fashioning these types of traditional style rugs.
Some designs feature animals made from these geometric shapes. Look for crabs or tarantulas in the rug patterning. The crab design is usually used in rug borders. Some weavers add human figures to their designs using this geometric style.
Another design feature that is common to Caucasian rugs is a smaller shape placed inside a larger one. The weaver may also choose to make a rug with one large medallion or a series of medallions placed over the rug. The background of the rug may be a solid colour, or contain detailed patterning.
Another distinguishing characteristic of a Caucasian rug is its detailed border. This type of contemporary rug may have a more than one border section, and each one would be filled with detailed patterns.
Caucasian Prayer Rugs
Weavers in this part of the world also produce very detailed prayer rugs. These rugs feature a geometric mihrab in a hexagon shape. The background of this type of Caucasian rug is usually a very busy one, with a lattice or flower pattern.
Caucasian Rugs for Your Home
Since Caucasian rugs are made with rich colours and feature detailed patterns, they will look best in a room with a decorating scheme with complementary tones. One effective strategy is to notice a couple of the tones used in the rug and use it as the basis for choosing the other colours used in the room. Nourison rugs feature some classic Caucasuan designs.
Painting the walls and trim of the room in a light shade will help to open up the room, especially if the Caucasian rug is being placed in a small space. If the rug is going to be used in a large room, a homeowner may want to consider using a darker shade on the walls to set off the rug's beauty in a more dramatic fashion.

