Flooring Traditions Middle East Flooring And Carpet
While Middle Eastern flooring comes in many forms, there are some common threads across countries in the region. Wool and other natural fibers have long been popular flooring materials due to the dry climate and Bedouin influences. Rugs, carpets, and kilims became both functional and works of decorative art.
Turkish and Middle East Flooring And Carpet
Turkey and Persia, now Iran, had enormous impacts on flooring traditions throughout the Middle East. Turkey was a major producer and exporter of carpets and kilims for centuries. The ornate patterns and brilliant colors of Turkish carpets can still be found decorating homes and businesses across Western Asia and North Africa today. Meanwhile, Persian carpets evolved as a way for nomadic tribes to transport their movable homes. Distinctive geometric and floral motifs symbolized tribes and marked territories.
Saudi Arabian Floor Coverings
In Saudi Arabia, Middle East Flooring And Carpet animal wool was commonly employed in traditional floor coverings. Goat and camel hair created durable runners, rugs, and kilims well-suited to the arid climate. Coloration tended toward earth tones that blended into the desert landscape for practical purposes. However, some woven pieces contained intricate patterns drawing from Islamic calligraphy, plants, and geometry as an artistic expression. These pieces often decorated homes, mosques, and palaces of importance.
Levantine and Egyptian Textiles
The Levant region encompassing modern Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine developed rich textile traditions influenced by neighboring cultures. Wool and cotton were dyed and spun then woven into flat-weave kilims, basket-weave mats, and tufted gabbeh rugs. Floral and vegetal patterns predominated. Meanwhile, Egyptians favored felted mats, woven rugs, and granite tile mosaics for household flooring. Coptic Christians introduced carpet-weaving techniques from Asia Minor in the medieval period.
Berber Carpets of North Africa
The Berber peoples of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya crafted geometric, knotted wool rugs in vivid primary colors. Distinct regional styles emerged based on material availability, nomadic versus sedentary lifestyles, and cultural exchange. The Atlas and Rif mountain Berbers wove symmetrical, medallion-style kilims for tent dwellings. Coastal Berbers adapted Turkish and Middle Eastern techniques to create elaborate, oriental-style carpets for homes. Their rugs remain a celebrated art form today.
Contemporary Trends and Innovations
While tradition remains important in the Middle East, modern lifestyles and intercultural influences have shaped new directions in flooring as well. Marble, polished concrete, laminate, and tile find increasing popularity for their easy maintenance compared to textiles. Contemporary carpets borrow from historical designs yet introduce untraditional palettes and arrangements.
In sustainable materials like coir earn attention for their practical durability. And startups fuse digital printing with traditional weaving methods to create one-of-a-kind carpets for the design-savvy global market. Creative innovations ensure the enduring legacy of Middle Eastern flooring well into the future.
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Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163)
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