Choosing a Rug and Interior Decoration
Formal vs. Informal
Interior décor falls into essentially two categories - the formal and the informal. Rugs and carpets that convey formality are generally those produced in sophisticated urban settings. In the Orient this means Persian, Indian, and Turkish city rugs with sinuous, finely detailed arabesque designs. In the west this means the classical elegance of Aubusson, Savonnerie, Axminster, and Spanish carpets, but also Art Deco rugs with a modernist emphasis. Oriental rugs that lend themselves to informal settings are primarily tribal and village rugs with simpler geometric designs, whether from Persia, the Caucasus, and Turkey, or nomadic Central Asian rugs. Turkoman or "Bokara" rugs, with precise, geometric patterns, however, straddle this divide.
In a high-powered business space, formality is appropriate to rooms where one meets clients, board rooms etc. In residential space, foyers, living, and dining rooms may require formality, and perhaps libraries as well. Informal rugs work well in more relaxed business environments. For home décor informal pieces are generally appropriate to dens, family rooms, bedrooms. But once again, personal taste is the bottom line. Some clients want formality virtually everywhere, while others prefer informality throughout their residence.
