There’s just something about vintage rugs that make me want to drop down and… roll around on them. (Did you think I was going to say “Get your eagle on?” I don’t even know what that means! ?) While they’re great for rolling, taking selfies, and cuddling on, they aren’t so great for the wallet. Authentic, vintage rugs of any origin can cost THOUSANDS of dollars. After acquiring a few of my own, I’m a firm believer that everybody needs at least one. Why? Because they’re bold, unique, and well-made. The quality of rugs now-a-days are seriously lacking in comparison. (Womp, womp ??) The good news is, I scoured the internet for affordable, vintage rug vendors and uncovered three hidden gems to share with you!
Vintage Rug 101
(Remember Georgette? The vintage rug I found at the thrift store.)
Before I introduce you to my sources, lets start off with a little Vintage Rug 101. Searching for the perfect rug can be hard! It involves a lot of unpronounceable words from exotic places around the world. I’ve scrolled through hundreds upon hundreds of pages to the point where my vision went blurry and they all start looking the same. So here’s a hint: Use Keywords. When you find a rug that you absolutely love (but it may not be the right size or price), pinpoint a few words from the description and then use them in your next search.
When I first started looking for vintage rugs I did what any normal person would do, I hit up eBay. The problem is, there are 52,114 results when you type in “vintage rug.” (153,399 results on Etsy!) Thankfully, on the first page I found one that I loved and borrowed some words from the title to help narrow down my search. Here are some of my favorite search terms:
- Turkish
- Persian
- Moroccan
- Heriz
- Serapi
- Hamedan
- Sarouk
- Boucherouite
- Beni Ourain
- Kilim
- Kazak
- Oushak
Don’t forget to filter by color and size, especially if you already know what you’re looking for! Why scroll through an infinite amount of red rugs if all you want is pink? And if you find a good pink one – I’ll take it off your hands. ? Keep in mind that vintage rugs are so expensive because a number of things goes into them:
- Sourcing
- Cleaning
- Shipping
A markup is expected for all the hard work put into curating a shop full of quality products. However, I’ve found three shops that don’t gorge our eyeballs or our wallets out with their prices! Ready to meet them?
eSaleRugs
Who They Are: An online retailer that not only offers one-of-a-kind Persian and Oriental rugs but also traditional ones as well.
Why They’re Great: eSaleRugs have curated over 25,000 rugs in every design and color imaginable. (Yes, this is where I got my PUCE rug!) Their site is easy to navigate with options to filter based on size, color, style, pile height, and price. They write in-depth descriptions for each of their rugs and have detailed pictures from every angle. 90% of their product ships in the same business day. Oh and did I mention FREE SHIPPING AND FREE RETURNS! That’s unheard of.
Some Of My Faves:
WovenInVintage
Who They Are: A small shop that sources vintage rugs and textiles from around the world.
Why They’re Great: Not only does Woveninvintage have an etsy shop where they sell their amazing hand-selected rugs and pillow covers but they also sell straight from their on a first come/first comment basis. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Message them for help! Working with Lance is like having your own personal rug shopper! He is full of knowledge, willing to find you the best affordable rugs, and patient as a saint.
Some Of My Faves:
Urban Rug
Who They Are: A vintage rug dealer that sells both retail and wholesale.
Why They’re Great: You just can’t beat the prices or selection of rugs at ! They offer free worldwide shipping and 20% off your purchase when you buy four or more rugs. Why would you need more than four? One for every room in your house of course! And when you see the gorgeous runners that they have to offer… you’re going to be wishing you had more rooms.
Some Of My Faves:
Congratulations – you officially know all my secrets to sourcing affordable, vintage rugs. Now off you go! Begin your search. May the rug odds forever be in your favor. Oh and when they arrive, don’t forget to drop down and… roll around on them. ?
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6 Comments
OMG THANK YOU for finding Urban Rug for me. Free worldwide shipping, can you believe that? I’m in Switzerland and there is nothing here, absolutely nothing, that doesn’t carry a ridiculous price tag. And so many stores abroad don’t ship internationally. So current number of rugs in my apartment – one. From IKEA. I hate it with every fiber of my being. But maybe there’s hope for my place after all! Gorgeous selection of rugs too 🙂
Hahah oh Michelle.. I’m so sorry that it’s such a burden for you to get rugs! Urban rugs has some amazing options. Yay for worldwide shipping! Now you can get rid of that ikea one. ?
[…] Rug can actually serve as a rug to place on the bottom or the top! We have seen bloggers like Emily Everyday place a Shag Rug as a base and place a Hamedan Rug on the […]
I love the rug layering idea, real skillz! I have a love hate relationship with the rug in my living room, I love it but it hates me and constantly goes out of shape and tries to trip me up!
You can totally do it! Most of mine are out of proportion when it comes to sizing but idc.. they aren’t big enough to fill the room on their own. 😉
[…] it is hand’s down my FAVORITE piece from the collection! By now you know that I’m a rug person, I have at least one in every room of the house. And the struggle is real when it comes to finding […]