Buying Area Rugs Online vs In Person: What to Know

Arsh's Rug Library · Buyer Questions

Large ivory hand-knotted rug in a bright, elegant living room — Shown: Istanbul Avelina, 11'9" x 17'9"

You can buy a beautiful handmade rug online with confidence, as long as you know what to look for. Here is how online and in-person shopping compare, and how to get the best of both.

Why buy online

Far more choice: hundreds of one-of-a-kind rugs in every size, not just what fits in one store.
Easy comparison: filter by size, color and price, and compare rugs side by side at home.
See it in your room: the rug arrives where it will live, in your own light, next to your own furniture.

Why visit in person

Touch and feel: you can feel the pile, the weight and the softness of the wool.
True color: no screen settings in the way.
Expert eyes: a specialist can turn a rug over and show you what makes it special.

Full overhead photo of a hand-knotted rug — A good listing shows the whole rug and close-ups of the pattern, wool and edges.

Close-up photo of the same rug's pattern and wool — A good listing shows the whole rug and close-ups of the pattern, wool and edges.

What to check in an online listing

Exact measurements, not just a size category like "8x10". Handmade rugs vary by inches.
Construction and materials: hand-knotted, hand-tufted or machine-made, and wool, silk or synthetic. See our construction guide.
Several photos: the full rug, close-ups, the back and the fringe.
A clear return policy and who pays for return shipping.

Judging color on a screen

Screens shift color, especially reds and blues. Ask for a daylight photo or a live video call. We hold rugs up to the camera so you can see the real color and texture before you buy.

The best of both

Every Arsh's rug ships free, with a 14-day return window; see shipping and returns. You can also visit our showroom at 820 Washington Ave, Suite 2, Carlstadt, NJ, Monday to Friday, 10 to 5, and we offer in-home visits in parts of NJ, NY and PA; see cities we serve.

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