Persian rugs are available in many distinctive styles, each recognised for its own colours, motifs and design character. Some feature bold geometric medallions and expressive tribal details, while others display intricate floral vines, elegant borders and carefully balanced layouts.
This guide introduces popular Persian rug styles available at Nile Rugs. It explains the main visual differences between each style and can help you choose a handmade rug that complements your room, furniture and personal taste.
Shop the look Browse Persian rugsA Brief Introduction to Persian Rug Styles
Persian rug weaving developed over centuries through established weaving cities, village workshops and tribal communities. Different weaving traditions created recognisable combinations of medallions, borders, floral forms, geometric shapes and symbolic motifs.
Many Persian rugs are named after a city, village, weaving area or cultural tradition. However, handmade rugs do not always follow one fixed design. Colours, patterns and proportions can vary between individual pieces, giving every rug its own distinctive character.
Persian Rug Styles
Tabriz Persian Rugs
Tabriz Persian rugs are known for intricate medallions, flowing floral vines, repeating patterns and carefully detailed borders. Their designs often combine red, navy, blue, ivory, beige and warm neutral tones.
Their refined appearance suits formal living rooms, dining spaces, bedrooms and interiors where the rug will act as an elegant decorative centrepiece.
Bukhara Persian Rugs
Bukhara Persian rugs are recognised for repeating rows of gul-style medallions, compact geometric borders and strong symmetrical layouts. Deep red, burgundy, rust, navy and ivory tones often give these rugs a rich and traditional appearance.
Their repeating patterns create a balanced look that works well in living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas, studies and spaces where a structured geometric rug can add warmth and character.
Shiraz Persian Rugs
Shiraz Persian rugs are known for bold tribal patterns, diamond-shaped medallions and expressive geometric motifs. Rich shades of red, burgundy, navy and warm earthy colours give them a welcoming and character-filled appearance.
Some Shiraz designs also include stylised animals, birds, plants and symbolic details. Their relaxed character makes them suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, dining spaces, hallways and home offices.
Mashad Persian Rugs
Mashad Persian rugs, also written as Mashhad rugs, often feature prominent central medallions surrounded by dense floral patterns and detailed borders. Deep red and burgundy fields are commonly balanced with navy, blue and ivory details.
Their formal designs work particularly well in spacious living rooms, dining rooms and traditional interiors.
Baluchi Persian Rugs
Baluchi Persian rugs often display repeating diamonds, gul-inspired motifs and detailed tribal borders. Burgundy, rust, navy, brown, camel and ivory create a darker and richly layered appearance.
Their intricate patterns and deeper colours work particularly well in bedrooms, studies, hallways, entrances and smaller living areas.
Gabbeh Persian Rugs
Gabbeh Persian rugs are recognised for thick wool piles, open fields of colour and simple geometric or symbolic motifs. Some designs include small animals, trees or human figures.
Their uncluttered patterns and inviting textures work especially well in relaxed living rooms, bedrooms and contemporary interiors.
Hamadan Persian Rugs
Hamadan Persian rugs commonly feature prominent central medallions, detailed geometric borders and balanced village-style patterns. Deep red, navy, ivory, rust and blue tones frequently appear throughout their designs.
Hamadan rugs are available in many shapes and sizes, including runners, making them versatile choices for living rooms, bedrooms, entrances, hallways and other frequently used areas.
Kashan Persian Rugs
Kashan Persian rugs commonly feature ornate central medallions surrounded by floral vines, curved leaves and decorative corner details. Rich red, navy, blue and ivory tones create a balanced traditional appearance.
Their symmetrical layouts make them suitable for classic living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and formal interior spaces.
Lori Persian Rugs
Lori Persian rugs often feature bold geometric medallions, stepped diamonds, hooked motifs and expressive tribal details. Warm reds, rust, brown, navy, ivory and earthy tones commonly create a strong and inviting palette.
Their informal geometric character makes Lori rugs well suited to living rooms, bedrooms, studies, hallways and interiors where a distinctive handmade rug can add warmth and personality.
Kashmar Persian Rugs
Kashmar Persian rugs are known for detailed medallions, flowing floral patterns and decorative compositions that may include trees, vases, architectural details or pictorial elements. Red, blue, navy, ivory, beige and warm accent colours often appear throughout the design.
Their detailed layouts make Kashmar rugs attractive statement pieces for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and larger interiors where the pattern can be appreciated across the full rug.
Turkmen Persian Rugs
Turkmen Persian rugs are recognised for repeating gul-style medallions arranged in organised rows, surrounded by geometric borders and smaller decorative motifs. Deep red, burgundy, rust, brown, navy and ivory are commonly used throughout these designs.
Their strong repetition and compact patterning work well in bedrooms, studies, hallways, living spaces and rooms where a richly patterned rug can create a warm traditional foundation.
Ferdos Persian Rugs
Ferdos Persian rugs often combine central medallions with floral, geometric and decorative motifs arranged within clearly defined borders. Red, burgundy, navy, blue, ivory and earthy accent tones can create a layered traditional appearance.
Their balanced designs make them versatile choices for living rooms, bedrooms, dining spaces and home offices where a traditional handmade rug can add colour and visual detail.
Zanjan Persian Rugs
Zanjan Persian rugs often feature angular medallions, diamond motifs, geometric floral forms and structured borders. Deep red, rust, navy, blue and ivory tones commonly create a bold village-style appearance.
Their strong geometric layouts work well in living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and smaller sitting areas where a traditional rug can bring colour and structure to the room.
Sabzevar Persian Rugs
Sabzevar Persian rugs often feature central medallions, curved floral vines, decorative corner details and carefully arranged borders. Red, burgundy, navy, blue, ivory and beige tones may be combined to create a refined traditional palette.
Their balanced floral layouts make Sabzevar rugs suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, dining spaces and interiors where a detailed traditional design can act as an elegant focal point.
Tuyserkan Persian Rugs
Tuyserkan Persian rugs often feature strong central medallions, angular floral forms, geometric village motifs and clearly defined borders. Deep red, rust, navy, blue and ivory tones commonly give these rugs a bold traditional character.
Their structured patterns make Tuyserkan rugs practical decorative choices for living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, entrances and other areas where a compact traditional design works well.
Ardabil Persian Rugs
Ardabil Persian rugs often display geometric medallions, repeating motifs, angular floral details and structured decorative borders. Red, rust, navy, blue, ivory and warm earthy tones frequently appear across their designs.
Their balanced geometric character works well in living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and home offices where a traditional rug can add colour, pattern and a strong visual centre.
Kordi Persian Rugs
Kordi Persian rugs are associated with expressive tribal patterns, diamond medallions, hooked geometric motifs and detailed borders. Deep red, burgundy, rust, navy, brown and ivory commonly create a rich and grounded colour palette.
Their bold tribal character makes Kordi rugs especially suitable for bedrooms, studies, hallways, living rooms and interiors that benefit from a strong handmade geometric design.
Saveh Persian Rugs
Saveh Persian rugs often combine geometric medallions, repeating village motifs and detailed borders with a traditional palette of red, rust, navy, blue, ivory and earthy accent colours.
Their structured patterns make them versatile for living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and smaller spaces where a handmade rug can introduce traditional colour and geometric detail.
Arak Persian Rugs
Arak Persian rugs can feature central medallions, floral vines, geometric details and decorative borders arranged in balanced traditional layouts. Red, navy, blue, ivory, beige and warm earthy tones commonly appear in these designs.
Their versatile patterns make Arak rugs suitable for living rooms, dining spaces, bedrooms and home offices where a classic handmade rug can complement both traditional and mixed interiors.
Nahavand Persian Rugs
Nahavand Persian rugs are known for bold central medallions, geometric floral motifs and clearly defined borders. Deep red, burgundy, navy, blue, ivory and warm earthy tones often create strong contrast throughout the design.
Their combination of floral detail and geometric structure works well in living rooms, bedrooms, dining spaces and areas where the rug will serve as a confident traditional focal point.
Bakhtiari Persian Rugs
Bakhtiari Persian rugs are particularly known for compartmented garden designs. Individual panels may contain flowers, trees, vases, animals and geometric motifs.
Their colourful and structured layouts are ideal for customers who appreciate detailed rugs with many smaller sections of pattern and colour.
Heriz Persian Rugs
Heriz Persian rugs are recognised for large angular medallions, strong geometric floral motifs and bold decorative borders. Brick red, rust, navy, ivory and deep blue commonly create striking contrasts.
Their structured patterns make Heriz rugs excellent statement pieces for living rooms, dining rooms and larger spaces where the rug can become the main decorative feature.
Patchwork Persian Rugs
Patchwork Persian rugs are created by joining carefully selected sections of vintage rugs into a new decorative composition. Different floral patterns, medallions, geometric motifs and colours are combined to give each piece an individual appearance.
Patchwork is a decorative category rather than a regional weaving style. These rugs make distinctive statement pieces for modern living rooms, dining spaces, bedrooms and home offices.
Sarouk Persian Rugs
Sarouk Persian rugs are known for floral sprays, curving vines, medallions and detailed borders arranged in dense and balanced compositions. Red, rose, burgundy, navy, blue, ivory and beige tones often create a rich traditional appearance.
Their decorative floral character makes Sarouk rugs well suited to living rooms, bedrooms, dining spaces and formal interiors where a detailed handmade rug can bring warmth and elegance.
Lilian Persian Rugs
Lilian Persian rugs often feature flowing floral vines, central medallions, curved leaves and decorative borders. Red, rose, burgundy, blue, navy, ivory and warm accent colours can create a softer floral appearance.
Their graceful patterns work well in bedrooms, living rooms, dining spaces and interiors where a traditional floral rug can add warmth without feeling overly geometric.
Nain Persian Rugs
Nain Persian rugs are admired for elegant central medallions, delicate floral details, flowing vines and graceful decorative borders. Ivory, cream, beige, pale blue and navy create a softer and more refined colour palette.
These rugs work beautifully in bedrooms, formal lounges, dining rooms and interiors with light or neutral furnishings.
Najafabad Persian Rugs
Najafabad Persian rugs often feature prominent central medallions surrounded by dense floral vines, curved leaves and carefully organised borders. Red, burgundy, navy, blue and ivory are commonly combined in balanced traditional layouts.
Their formal floral patterns make Najafabad rugs suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas and interiors where a symmetrical traditional rug can create a strong decorative centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular Persian rug styles?
Popular Persian rug styles include Shiraz, Hamadan, Tabriz, Heriz, Nain, Kashan, Mashad, Kerman, Bakhtiari and Baluchi. Each style is recognised for different patterns, colours and design traditions.
Which Persian rug style suits a modern home?
Gabbeh rugs suit simple and minimalist interiors, while Nain rugs complement lighter and more refined spaces. Heriz and Shiraz rugs can create a bold focal point in contemporary rooms with neutral furniture.
What is the difference between floral and geometric Persian rugs?
Floral rugs generally feature flowers, leaves, vines and curved medallions. Geometric rugs use angular medallions, diamonds, repeated shapes and stronger lines. Floral designs often appear refined, while geometric designs tend to feel bolder and more structured.
Are all Persian rug style names regional?
No. Many names refer to cities, villages, weaving areas or cultural traditions. Other names, including Gabbeh and Patchwork, describe a broader design or construction category rather than one exact region.
Shop Persian Rugs in New Zealand
Explore handmade Persian rugs at Nile Rugs in a variety of regional styles, sizes, colours and patterns. View each rug individually to compare its measurements, design and condition before choosing the right piece for your New Zealand home.
