Why Russians Love Carpets (And What to Do If You Live With One)

Looking at carpet myths and memes with a critical eye, we recall the true history and discuss carpets in modern interiors.

Encyclopedia of Misconceptions

1. The homeland of carpets is in the East, and Russia has nothing to do with it.

In fact, the oldest wool carpet discovered by the world was Russia, found during excavations of burial mounds in the Altai Mountains in 1949. The carpet was well preserved, having lain in ice for about 2500 years and is now kept at the Hermitage.

2. A carpet on the wall is a Soviet invention, a sign of bad taste.

Carpets adorned homes of Europeans for centuries — particularly pile carpets with familiar ornamental patterns. Tapestries, produced in Europe for over 11 centuries, were made precisely for walls.

3. Russian carpets are worthless and not appreciated by anyone.

Then why did the first emigrants after the October Revolution take carpets from Russia to Europe as the most valuable? In the 1920s, the Soviet government exchanged hundreds of pounds of carpets for light bulbs and medicines abroad. In 1928 alone, exporting carpets abroad brought the state ten million rubles.

5. A "grandmother's carpet" from the USSR should just be thrown away.

The most expensive carpet in the world was sold at a Sotheby's auction for 34 million dollars: its image is below. Therefore, it's better to have your grandmother's treasures appraised by a specialist.

Masterpiece, referred to in the auction catalog as "Clark Carpet with Crescent-Shaped Leaves", was made in early 17th century in Southeast Persia (Kerman).

This is what a senior Moscow woman did: she wanted to get rid of a velvet tablecloth. The Museum of the East explained in time: the woman possessed a rare silk, non-pile carpet from the 17th century, made at the court of the Great Mughals in India. In the whole world, they can now be counted on one's fingers, it is an incredible rarity. The value matches.

6. Carpets are only good for warmth and sound insulation.

Like clothing made from fine wool, a natural carpet retains temperature well, smoothing out sharp fluctuations. It's a thermostat, not a heater. Carpets also absorb noise, yes. But to get rid of unwanted sounds from next door, a carpet in the neighbor's apartment is better than your own. And vice versa: steps and even children running around won't bother those living below if there is a carpet on the floor in your apartment.

Psychologists say: carpets warm the soul, especially for the generation that grew up in the Soviet 1960s-70s. People strive to recreate an environment that surrounded them in childhood.

Art Object or Investment?

Individual modern carpet production in Russia is gaining names and attracting clients with provocative campaigns.

For example, a Samara company producing needle-punched carpets works with private orders based on designs by Moscow designers and made headlines in the media after showing its first pop art piece "Doubling GDP" in St. Petersburg. A scaled-down copy, a test piece displayed in the gallery hall without an alarm system was immediately stolen.

Their provocative red carpet "USSR" with relief hairstyle inspired by the grille of Park Culture and Leisure directly from the Moscow Manege exhibition tried to be bought by a well-known collector with a suitcase full of cash.

Very few buy domestic new carpets, even if they are high-quality and unique. Moreover, so-called European handmade carpets, first of all, cost from 4,500 euros per square meter. Secondly, they are still produced in the East, Near or Far East and shipped from there by resellers with a "made in..." label added.

What remains for carpet connoisseurs? Relying on flea markets, internet bazaars or auctions (which is more reliable) in search of worthy examples with history: their value can grow by up to 30% annually if chosen correctly, but they require professional and expensive care.

Are carpets appropriate in a modern interior?

Why give up a decorative element with a rich history when it can be combined with loft brick, Chesterfield sofa, and ethnic decor? Designers continue to readily use carpets when decorating spaces.

A carpet can be used as a dominant element or local accent, for space zoning or as the central element of its composition, in combination with other carpets or solo.

Balance the proportions of the carpet, its brightness and detailing with other furnishings and room size to achieve the desired atmosphere.

Let the lines of the carpet, its pattern, geometric design or structure echo the general lines of the room's interior, complementing them: the key is to maintain the overall design concept.

Eastern style, ethnic and boho allow the addition of an impressive carpet with footstools and pillows, layering rugs of different sizes on top of each other. Don't forget about low wide windowsills, where the ideal place for woolen, woven or felt carpets is.

Monochrome in general Scandinavian: here it's appropriate to have a restrained "grandmother's carpet" quoting eastern motifs, and neutral graphic items in authentic northern technique.

Minimalism and hi-tech require the carpet to slightly break out of context, contrast with its surroundings according to the principle: minimalist furniture and restrained overall palette — vibrant colors and expressive texture.

Avant-garde and contemporary, on the contrary, need organic integration, balance all elements of the interior, including carpets.

Loft, industrial and rustic styles with their abundance of stone, wood, and metal do not dictate subdued tones; on the contrary, here the carpet is the main character, a bright color spot intended to balance brutality.

Richly patterned carpets fit perfectly into eclecticism and add energy to it — just as in cottage style, Provence or Art Deco.

Classical style, perhaps, requires particular attention. When choosing carpets and their use, it's better to rely on experts' advice.

The method of attachment can be displayed rather than masked: wooden strips, forged brackets, decorative eyelets, massive chains.

How to properly lay a carpet

Proudly owning a truly valuable piece, owners build the entire interior around it. But you don't have to be a snob and just choose a carpet for comfort, and find an appropriate place for the carpet.

In rooms larger than 20 sq. m, it's acceptable to have two carpets on the floor; they can be different: this highlights the purpose of different zones. In medium-sized rooms (from 15 to 20 sq. m), choose a carpet so that it doesn't have to accommodate heavy furniture, pressing down the sofa or cabinet. Placement is not necessarily in the center: more often in the comfort zone where household members spend most of their time. In small rooms, where it's hard to cover more than 6 sq. m with a carpet, smaller carpets not in standard proportions two to three, but more elongated look better.

The optimal size of a floor carpet is one that allows furniture to be arranged, creating the feeling of spaciousness. If the carpet serves as a meaningful accent, it should unite items: for example, armchairs and a coffee table placed fully on the carpet, and a sofa at least one-third on it. If it's a subtle stroke underlining the composition, a smaller carpet is placed in front of the sofa or armchair, bed or mirror, so that the entire pattern can be read.

Highlighting a dining area with a carpet? The legs of chairs pulled out from the table should not lift the edges of the carpet. When choosing a carpet and placing furniture on it, add extra space from each edge.