Turkey’s been at the top of our bucket lists for a while. Beaches, mountains, textiles—sounds like paradise. And while we couldn’t get there this year, we did manage to get a small collection of vintage rugs in stock.

These rugs have universal appeal. They’re low pile, making them easy to care for, and their jewel-toned colors offer versatility, regardless of your design style.

The Story Behind Our Turkish Rugs

In this collection we brought in nearly 20 vintage rugs from Kayseri, a city in central Turkey, part of a region that used to be known as Anatolia. Woven of wool and placed on a cotton foundation, these handspun rugs are estimated to have been made in the 60’s and 70’s by women. The patterns—categorized as kilim or Oushak—are unique and similar to how Moroccan women weave. Weavers expressed their creativity through their designs, which remain popular and recognizable for their geometric or floral patterns.

You’ll notice that the rugs we have in stock purposefully have a distressed look to them. This is achieved through a careful trimming process, which helps these rugs stand out with the juxtaposition of their contemporary appeal and rich traditional character.

When you get your hands on these rugs you’ll notice that there’s often a lighter and a darker side. Through the process of shaving them down, they’re often also sunned, resulting in the top having a more pastel look than the original (often centering on deep red, blue, and brown). One rug vendor told us that his clients will even flip the rug over, depending on their color preference.

A Range employee even joked that when you buy one of these rugs, you’re getting two-for-one—a rug you can change with the seasons.

Where To Place A Vintage Turkish Rug

These rugs, though made with high quality materials, are notoriously easy to care for. As we’ve said before, Range items are not too precious to live with. So if you’ve got a Roomba, you should feel okay setting it free with one of these in your house as long as it’s secured to the ground with a rug pad or grips.

My favorite place for a vintage Turkish mini is a bathroom. We have these scattered throughout our home—two of complementary designs and colors in front of the individual master bath vanities, one in the shared kids bathroom, and one in the guest bath. Their widths are perfect for these spaces and the muted colors make it easy to coordinate other accents such as paint colors, countertops, towels, and shower curtains.

I also love a Turkish runner in the kitchen. Placing a rug here helps to warm up the space and provides a bit of break for your feet.

Other places I’ve used these are entryways, at the foot of a bed, on a stairwell landing, and—with mid to larger sized varieties—in a living room. This is why they’ve become so popular in the U.S., especially with designers. They age beautifully—wear and distress actually looks purposeful—and their femininity softens wood floors and other hard surfaces.

Large Area Turkish Rugs

If you’re a fan of this type of rug, but looking for a larger size it’s important to note that the patterns available differ among sizes. The small rugs—minis as we call them at Range—tend to be more geometric, with a bold color palette and modern feel. As you size up you’ll find many designs center around a medallion or have a repeating floral theme, giving a more traditional look and feel.

Find Your Rug At Range

All of our Turkish rugs are one-of-a-kind and quite a deal at under $500, so if you see one that catches your eye, send us a note or drop in. We’re happy to share dimensions or loan out a rug so you can try it on for size at home.