Custom Rugs and Carpets: 8 Tips Before You Buy

by: Russell Webb

Buying a custom ordered product always has a small amount of risk involved. After all, most custom products require the buyer to take a leap of faith because they are going to buy something sight unseen. This does apply to custom rug making as well. You can minimize the risks by educating yourself and prepare yourself with proper planning.

Here are 8 important tips before you commit to buying:

Tip #1: Research the available custom rug fabricators in your local area or go online. Look for quality and professionalism. Do they have experience? Do they have designs to choose from? Do they have a portfolio that you can look at?

Tip #2: Identify a budget for your rug project. If your budget is tight, then maybe ordering a custom rug isn't realistic at this time. If you can afford to spend extra for something unique and custom then you may be looking at $500-1000 for smaller size rugs, $1000-5,000 for larger sizes - depending on size and complexity, costs can escalate even further as rugs get larger. If you're ordering multiple rugs then politely demand a package price discount!

Tip#3: Get design ideas online by visiting area rug sites. If you find a design that you like, then try and capture the largest image that you can. You can 'right click' the image with your mouse and 'save image as' into a folder on your desktop. Start a collection of inspiring ideas.

Tip#4: Consider how the rug will integrate into your interior. Do you have a fabric or theme that you can play from? Do you have a style that appeals to you; some current styles might be Old World, Modern, Tropical, Southwestern, Abstract, or even Whimsical.

Tip #5: Several rugs can tie-in together from room to room. They don't have to be all the same design. Consider reversing some of the colors or changing the design elements slightly. This is a great method for integrating multiple custom rugs within the home.

Tip #6: Stay clear of overly complex designs. If you want to match that busy Persian rug design in your living room, then you're better off looking for a Persian rug supplier, not a custom rug fabricator.

Tip #7: Share your favorite designs with your rug fabricator. Discuss options for integrating your ideas into your own custom rug. Ask for an estimate in writing on your proposed design. Expect to pay extra for any additional artwork that may be required.

Tip #8: Choose your colors direct from carpet swatches. It's fine to see the final artwork on your screen monitor, however, screen monitors and printouts vary. Your final decision should be based on exact materials that will be used in your rug. Have swatches shipped to you for final approval if you are ordering from a merchant online.

General rug production times should be around 4-6 weeks, depending on complexity and quantities ordered. This is an average turn around time for custom rug fabricators.

As you can see, custom rug fabrication has some interesting benefits to consider. It's not for everybody, yet the creative possibilities are endless and the interest in customizing our home interiors is more popular than ever.

Here's a quick summary of the tips: Determine a budget for your rug purchase. Integrate the designs with your existing interior. Find designs and themes that attract you. Stay clear of overly complex designs. Get an estimate of the proposed design. Choose colors from physical swatch samples.

You can be creative and you can have fun with the whole process. The key is to have a clear picture of the proposed design before buying, which is not that hard to do. The end result should be a beautiful addition to your home interior in the exact size and colors that you need.