How Vintage Kilims Can Work With Modern Interiors

Modern style is known for its barebones approach; clean, crisp lines, the use of natural materials, a simple color palette comprised of earthy tones, uncluttered spaces, and plenty of natural light. However, when furnishing a modern home, it’s essential to add bursts of color wherever you can bring more liveliness to the room. Often, decorators will err on the side of caution in selecting a rug, choosing one that follows the modern theme of monochromatic colors or simplified designs. However, selecting the right rug can completely change the room and add a sense of artistic flair and welcoming charm when it comes to modern style.

 
Taking Us Back
 
Kilim rugs are hand-woven antique rugs that originated from Turkey and are widespread throughout Central Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. Created using a flat weaving technique, these no-pile rugs are as much art pieces as they are floor covers. Found hanging on walls, covering tables, decorating beds, draped across furniture, and even used for upholstery and bags, they are easy to roll up and store and make for the perfect multi-use addition to any home.
 
Because Kilim rugs have no pile, they require less labor and materials to produce and are made from interlocking strands of wool, animal hair, silk, and cotton fibers. Since they are hand-woven, no two pieces are the same and reflect the artist who created them. With subtle nuances that amplify their vintage charm, the material is dyed using natural resources, such as plants and minerals, in the artist's specific region.
 
The vivid color and distinctive patterns separate a Kilim rug from any others. The artist often uses traditional motifs, such as animals, plants, and geometric patterns, to tell a story. Traditionally created by tribal women, each rug would represent a prayer for good fortune, good health, prosperity, and protection. Since Kilim rugs are not machine-made, they hold a specific artistic influence over a room.
 
Use in the Modern World
 
Using a Kilim rug in a modern interior, with its unique pattern and bright colors, will create a focal point in your room that will be the topic of conversation. Since they do not have any pile, they do not catch dirt and dust, which keep their vibrant colors glowing. With patterns geometric in shape, as that is the result of the flat weave, this style fits in perfectly with a modern aesthetic and its rules of crisp lines. The natural dyes are bright and soft and will shimmer as the sunlight hits, showcasing the subtle shifts in color. As natural dyes do not wear out, the colors of your Kilim rug will instead gently fade and take on a vintage patina, evolving over the years.
 
Due to their versatility, Kilims are a wise investment. It is easy to move them from room to room, as you redecorate over time. Hung on walls, they become an attractive piece of art, and it is not uncommon to see them layered atop one another, each pattern and color palette interacting with the others. Because they have no pile, they lay flat and do not create any obstructions. This takes some of the pressure off when deciding on the perfect rug size for a room, as you can collect multiple Kilims in smaller dimensions and layer them as needed.
 
Plenty of Options
 
A rug brings many elements to a room. The texture, color, design, and size will play an essential role in the overall aesthetic. Whether you choose one large rug or incorporate several rugs layered atop one another, the gentle colors of a Kilim allow for greater creativity, as even contrasting shades and patterns will still work together well. Kilims add worldliness to your space and take the edge off a modern interior, bringing in some warmth and life.
 
For those with bare wooden floors, adding a Kilim that features red and tan colors will bring out the warm tones in the wood and add some liveliness to your room. This can be amplified by using furniture in the same color palette and will help tie the room together. For rooms that need a pop of color, choosing multiple kilims in contrasting patterns will create a more dynamic space. As kilims are naturally dyed, it is common to find shades of red, gold, tan, and blue, and with their repeating geometric patterns, will keep the coordinated effort of the modern style intact.