Understanding Rug Motifs

A rug motif is the picture, pattern, or design showcased on the rug. Often times when consumers are looking for rugs or area rugs, the rug motif is misunderstood as to how it can add or detract from a specific decor. It's true that there are many differing types of rug motifs to choose from, but it is important to understand them before making a final selection. However, before one can understand how a particular motif will impact a room, it is necessary to understand the overall rug design.

There are a variety of rug motifs that are available in both area rugs and larger rugs. For instance, an “all-over design” consists of a rug that has a continuous design spread symmetrically across the entire rug and can needed decoration in a room that might otherwise be too repetitive. This type of  rug is great because it adds a new pattern without over-powering the entire room. You can use bold colors to add drama or subtler colors for a softer accent.

A “Border design” rug, in comparison, is one that has a design framing the main field of the rug. Border designs vary in width and design element. This option also can add to a room with a simpler touch of design as opposed to the stronger effect created by the all-over design.

There are “knotted designs” that consist of usually a wool, cotton, or silk yarn that is looped under the structural material of the rug – tied or knotted – and then cut to a desired length. These rugs add texture, or shape, to a space as well as being able to hold the dramatic elements of the design motifs above.

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“Soumak,” on the other hand, gives an embroidered appearance through flat-weaving or weft-wrapping. Weft-wrapping is the result of weaving threads horizontally through the structural material giving a more polished, flat look to the rug.

Considering the design of the rug and how it is constructed brings us to the three basic types of layout. A “medallion” layout consists of a centered motif which is usually surrounded by a border. The medallions are constructed using diamond, octagon, or hexagon shapes.

A “one-sided” layout features a design that has one prominent image or illustration for its design element. When it is placed in a room, it can appear upside down or sideways when it is viewed from a different angle.

Thirdly, an area rug can be laid-out in a “patterned design” which can be one of two types. A “curvilinear” pattern consists of shapes and lines that are smooth and often curved in appearance; whereas a “geometric design” tends to display a pattern that holds shapes with sharp, jagged lines and uses angles (usually right angles), diagonals, and triangles for its overall effect.

Of course, all of these layout designs can be used to portray just about any particular rug motif. Animal prints, modern motifs, floral or garden motifs, and traditional motifs most follow the curvilinear layout or the medallion layout and can add a definite overall dimension to design in a room.

Formal motifs, geometric motifs, southwestern motifs and often kids rugs tend to lean more towards the geometric design or one-sided layouts for a rug.

It is important to consider these design elements of an area rug when choosing what will best work in a room needing a rug. One would not want to consider a curvilinear rug in a space that is basically contemporary, for example, as the lines in the rug would compete with the lines already present in the room.

Thus, when considering a rug motif for a room, don’t only think about color compatibility but also the design of the rug itself and how well its pattern and layout will work in the room as an accent to what already exists.