Post the start of the Iranian Revolution of 1979, I did a lot of my growing up in a small-ish condo in the Midwest. Not knowing the economic impact of the Revolution, money was pretty tight so we made do with shared bedrooms & second hand furnishings. No biggie; my younger sister & I even shared a bed for a short time. So, a mish-mash of styles was what I was used to. Think vintage, modern, antique, a little rough around the edges kind of hodgepodge, & I loved it; it was, after all, home. Our mother had an eye for quality handmade solid rich wood furniture that she knew not only looked great, but would withstand the shenanigans of a family of seven. Putting it all together made for an inviting & cozy home. 

The subsequent decor that we were able to bring from Iran to round out the coziness of our home over the early years (pre-embargo), included our Persian rugs. Not too surprisingly, the rugs were either vintage or antique. However, at a time when I was trying desperately to assimilate to a new culture & way of life, the last thing I thought about or appreciated were those handmade Persian rugs; if I could help it, I never gave them a thought, not in the least. I only behaved badly when others said nice things about them. I remember one of the first Halloweens I experienced, my younger sister & I had our newest friends over for a pre-Trick-or-Treating pizza dinner. The “oohs” & “aahs” from their mothers & subsequent gushing from my own very proud mother about our rugs felt mortifying. Ugh; in retrospect, I’m embarrassed that I internalized it & behaved so awfully (I’m sparing you the details). Today, after I’ve done some growing up, of course, I see the value in utilizing what we already have around us. Second-hand, antique, & vintage shops & heirlooms that have been handed down help keep our landfills less full, & in my opinion add the character, uniqueness, & durability that’s lacking from a lot of furnishings today.

When it comes to creating a cozy & welcoming home, there are few elements that can make as big an impact as rugs, more specifically handmade rugs. There’s something really special that sets them apart; the personal touches, the stories they potentially tell, & for me, (as I’m sure is the case for many others who enjoy these beauties!), a sense of connection to the people who made them. 

Who doesn’t love the feel of a cozy home? With so many different options available, it can be somewhat overwhelming to know where to start when it comes to selecting the right handmade rug for your home. 

Placement of the rug.

Placement of the rug will not only add an element of interest to your space, but will also add the coziness you’re going for.

Circling back to growing up here in the States, our mom managed with the furniture we had & cozied up the house with rugs from our first home in Iran. I think the finishing touches were the rugs, which played a pretty big part in making our new home feel cozy but also played a part in reminding us of Iran. Whatever your own reasons may be, there are a lot of options for you to choose from when shopping for a handmade rug. Keep the sizing, placement, & style in mind and have some fun creating your version of coziness. 

📸 @jmwcollective , @mad_about_the_house