The History and Cultural Significance of Round Rugs

Round rugs are as much a part of the overall history of rugs as any other category. At the same time, there is some evidence that round rugs were made before 1900; much of what we think of as the modern round rug began in more recent years. They also have a unique place in our culture, as modernism began to take hold throughout various societies across the globe. Join us today on a journey through time as we look at round rugs‘ history and cultural significance.

However, let’s first recap some of the history of the overall rug industry.

A Brief History of Rug Weaving

We’ve broken down the history of various categories of rugs in recent months. Some of those include abstract, Persian, and Tabriz. Rug weaving dates back to antiquity, with many of the same techniques still used today. The Silk Road gets its name from the world’s “Rug Belt,” a region spanning Eastern Africa westward to India and China while including many countries in between, such as Iran and Turkey.

Even today, many rugs are handmade, with an artisan taking upwards of a year to hand-knot a rug from start to finish. These techniques were passed down from generation to generation and continue to impress with incredible quality and craftsmanship!

The History of Round Rugs

The advent of the Modernism movement brought round rugs to the forefront of room design during the early decades of the 20th century. As round rugs are more challenging to create on standard looms, they require a higher skill level. Not to mention, weaving a round rug will take a certain degree of patience to bring to perfection. As more consumers shifted toward this new lifestyle, they began to look for different ways to decorate their homes.

Enter the round rug. Its unique shape was different from traditional rectangular rugs and perfectly fit the ethos of Modernism. 

The Cultural Significance of Round Rugs

So, what’s the cultural significance of round rugs? As it turns out, rounded edges create balance in an otherwise linear space. In the early 20th century, arts and crafts movements like Art Deco and Cubism took the country by storm. Round rugs with basic geometric designs in various bold colors allowed homeowners to break out of their previous societal norms and embrace a more modern theme.

How to Use Round Rugs in Your Home

Of course, there are obvious differences between a rectangular and a round rug. The most common of those is the shape, but what about its use case? Often, rectangular rugs can be found in spaces such as living rooms and great rooms, while round rugs are seen more in dining rooms and bedrooms. Keeping this in mind, the curved edge of a round rug will affect how we perceive the space it is in. The soft lines in an otherwise linear area can invoke calm and warmth.

Use Rug Source to find beautiful round rugs for any room!

Our inventory contains several hundred round rugs, most of which are classified as vintage. In a few cases, they’ll be antique once they cross the 100-year age mark. In any case, whether you’re looking for a new round rug or one with some history behind it, we can help. Please browse our inventory of round rugs here or visit our showroom at 7215 Smith Corners Boulevard in Charlotte!