The 7 Best Outdoor Rugs for a Stylish Backyard
Are you a tribal art lover who always wants some traditional masterpieces around? If so, having ancient-style rugs underfoot is the best option to keep your passion alive. With an artistic old rug in your home, you not only get vibes of that particular tradition but also present your space elegantly. This way, you get both beauty and cultural depth in the same place.
However, the question is which tribal rug to bring, as there are dozens of options out there. For your convenience, we have compiled the top 10 options in this guide so you can make the right choice, taking your interests and home space into account.
So, let’s explore the best available traditional rugs
1. Persian Tribal Rugs
This is the most popular type of rug in Australia, which is known for its detailed patterns and deep colours. The local tribes in the south-west mountain ranges of Iran used to weave these rugs by hand in small villages and nomadic camps. They often feature floral and geometric designs inspired by nature and village life, giving your home a rich heritage feel.
Weaving Style:
Persian tribal rugs are usually hand-knotted, the same method used by the Qashqai people (an Iranian tribe).
Best For:
They are best suited for large living rooms, lounges, and open entry points of your home.
Material Options:
Qashqai rugs are mainly made in wool, but cotton can also be added for extra comfort.
2. Moroccan Vintage Rugs
Moroccan tribes also played an important role in defining the history of handmade rugs. Originating from the tribes of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, these rugs bring a minimalist style with simple geometric shapes. You often get neutral colours in such tribal-style rugs, which clearly hint at the earth surrounding where they were made in ancient times.
Weaving Style:
Moroccan tribal weavers used loose knots to make these rugs, and this same technique is still used today.
Best For:
They usually have thick piles of thread, which makes them great for adding comfort to bedrooms and living areas.
Material Options:
Wool is the most commonly used material for these rugs because they are meant to be soft.
3. Handmade Afghan Rugs
Afghan rugs are one of the most-loved tribal rugs in Australia. As the name itself indicates, they originated from local tribes in Afghanistan, especially in its northern region. Today, they are known for their cultural beauty and are widely used around the world, including many regions of Australia. They often feature repeated motifs that reflect tribal identity and heritage.
Weaving Style:
Afghani rugs are tightly hand-knotted using old tribal methods passed down from generations.
Best For:
These rugs could be the right option for your hallways, family rooms, and dining spaces.
Material Options:
Afghans used to make rugs from sheep wool, and high-quality wool is still used for making these rugs.
4. Hand-Knotted Turkish Rugs
If you love Anatolian tradition, you would certainly want to have a Turkish rug in your home. Each of such rugs is carefully made, knot by knot, which often takes months to complete. It features rich reds and deep indigos with fine symmetrical patterns that were once the best model of craftsmanship. With these rugs in your house, you add a unique historical touch that lasts pretty long.
Weaving Style:
Its weaving style features firm Turkish knots that create a strong, comfortable structure underfoot.
Best For:
You can use Anatolian rugs to add character to your dining area, workspace or formal meeting area at home.
Material Options
Turkish rugs usually come in blends of wool and silk, and you can customise the composition, if needed.
5. Beni Ourain Rugs
Another choice that can make a real difference to how your home feels is a Beni Ourain rug. These rugs also come from Moroccan tribes, but their simple mosaic-like designs give them a distinct identity. They are also known as Boucherouite rugs and are often made using recycled fabrics. For those who love artistic touch with bold colour mixes, these rugs are an ideal choice.
Weaving Style:
Beni Ourain rugs have thick yet simple knots, and each knot is tied by expert artisans who know Moroccan weaving techniques.
Best For:
These rugs are best for nearly every space of modern homes, including bedrooms, living areas, and entryways.
Material Options:
Ourain rugs are often made from pure sheep wool to provide fluffiness underfoot as well as long durability.
6. Soumak Tribal Rug
Soumak is also a well-known tribal style rug that stands out for its unique texture and detailed patterns. Unlike thick-pile rugs, these are typically lightweight yet offer a subtly raised texture, adding comfort to your space. Their base is densely woven and tightly structured, ensuring you can enjoy their cultural charm for years, even decades to come.
Weaving Style:
Soumak rugs have a flat-weave structure with wrapped threads that create tribal motifs and detailed borders.
Best For:
These are best for walls, hallways, and living spaces where decorative texture and visual detail are needed.
Material Options:
In most cases, they are made entirely from hand-spun wool, but artisans can also use cotton with it for added durability.
7. Kilim Traditional Rugs
If you want something that you can move anywhere in your home to add style wherever you want, you should try Kilim rugs. While they are thin and lightweight compared to pile rugs, they are strong and can withstand heavy foot traffic for years. They come in a wide range of patterns, ranging from simple triangles to complex diamond shapes. That means you can choose the style that suits your home the best.
Weaving Style:
Since flat-weave was the most widely used weaving technique in ancient times, the Kilim people also continued this tradition.
Best For:
This is completely up to you, where you want to install Kilim rugs, but they often suit dining rooms and hallways well.
Material Options:
These rugs can be made from wool, cotton, or a blend of both, giving you softness and longevity.
8. Rugs from Baluch Tribes
Baluch rugs have a unique charm and can instantly grab attention, despite being smaller than other rugs. They are like a mini pack of cultural significance, carrying deep tribal history and rich symbolism. Like other rugs mentioned above, they are also handwoven and reflect the nomadic lifestyle of Balauchi tribes in a truly meaningful way.
Weaving Style:
These rugs are made on traditional wooden looms by expert artisans with compact tribal patterns.
Best For:
They work well when layered with large rugs in rooms and living areas. However, you can also place them in corners and under coffee tables.
Material Options:
Baluch people used to weave these rugs in pure wool with an occasional touch of camel hair for additional elegance.
9. Bakhtiar Heritage Rugs
Another type of Persian tribal rug that showcases a true sense of ancient craftsmanship is the Bakhtiari Heritage Rugs. You can expect them to have old floral patterns and symbolic designs. These rugs are durable and bring a classic Persian garden feel into your home. These work best for indoor spaces where you have already created a natural or earthy vibe.
Weaving Style:
In these rugs, a structural garden panel or animal symbols are woven using dense hand knots.
Best For:
Bakhtiar rugs bring life to hallways, entryways, living areas, and other large spaces you walk through daily.
Material Options:
These rugs are built on a cotton base, with the rest of the design often crafted from pure wool, combining durability and softness for a timeless appearance.
10. Gabbeh Cultural Rugs
The last type of tribal rug on our list for Australian homes is Gabbeh rugs. This name is also associated with Iranian tribes, especially nomadic weavers from the Zagros Mountains. In these rugs, you can find abstract shapes woven with bold colours that clearly depict the art preferences of tribal weavers. When woven with traditional techniques, each piece of such rugs feels like a hand-drawn story on fabric.
Weaving Style:
They are mostly hand-knotted with thick pile and loose tribal knots, just like other Persian rugs.
Best For:
Gabbeh-style rugs are more suitable for creative spaces in your home where you want to playfully showcase creativity.
Material Options:
Since most Iranian rugs are made to last for many years, artisans often use 100% wool to make them strong and durable, including Gabbeh rugs.
The Final Words
Having explored the various tribal rug options, you can easily select the one according to your style preference to complement the space. Once you decide on the type of rug to go for, Handmade Rugs To Order can help you bring your chosen style to life with expert craftsmanship. Our artisans have years of experience in weaving traditional rugs, whether it’s Persian, Moroccan, Afghan, or Kilim style. See our rug collections to choose from a wide variety, or let us know how we can help you with the unique traditional design you have in mind.