Many rug designs are rooted in mystical and religious symbolism and will grace your floor with amazing geometric designs or simple basic one such as a circle, which is the symbol of eternity. Whether it's cheap area rugs or oriental rugs, you'll find that there are many designs to choose from. The tree of life design, which represents the River of life, rising from the throne of God and flowing down a city street is filled with timeless tradition. This tree of life design bears 12 crops of truth, one for each month of the year and the leaves on the trees symbolize the cure for nonbelievers. If you like floral patterns, you'll also find braided rugs that are designed and drawn from a wide range of plant and animal life that develop into the beautiful garden patterns and floral designs often depicting hunting scenes. There are many skilled craftsmen who will make custom braided rugs to your specifications. When it comes to religious designs, you'll find many take the form of architecture such as mosques or churches and signify an historical context. A medallion for example is frequently used in custom floor mat design and is either a circular or oval decorative device, which bears a relief or sculpture.

Over the ages, various cultures, as well as many architects and designers of classical buildings, have drawn inspiration from a number of traditional decorative art designs contained within oriental rugs and the rug making industry. Creative mastery abounds with a quality rug. Quality oriental rugs can offer sheer beauty, quality, creative artistry, diversity of rug designs and many decorative and ancient inscriptions. You'll find that braided rugs are also custom-made by hand, and offer more contemporary or traditional home-spun designs instead.

One of the best things about decorative oriental rugs is their ability to offer a diverse influence of mythology, history, and folklore, along with a huge spectrum of decorative, timeless art incorporated into every mat. These unique mats, because of their incredible diversity and high quality, are highly respected and will be admired until the end of time! Many rugs have varying styles and designs of pattern running around the outside, which is commonly referred to as the border. A center strip is usually wider than the other parts of the rug. You'll find that the vast majority of oriental rugs will incorporate some single design or form that may consist of repeated flower motifs facing alternately outward or inward and joined by a diagonal lines that also alternate. The main motifs usually have alternating colors as well. Even cheap area rugs are available for much less cost than an oriental rug, and you'll be amazed at some of the imitation designs available. A lot of border patterns introduce classical decorative ideas employed in the Islamic world and the 15th century. The first border patterns were illustrated in the early manuscripts of the Koran made by the Persians back in the 13th century. Over the years, it's absolutely amazing to see how these ancient motifs change from one basic idea into an amazing variety of weaves incorporated by many craftsmen.

Unless you are experienced in reading the significance of individual rugs and the great mysteries that motifs hold, you may find them confusing and meaningless. The word motif is always known by its Persian name called "boteh", which refers to a cluster of leaves or a shrub. There are many variations of the terms such as mir-I-boteh or commonly referred to as "princely plant". The word mir in this context refers to one of the most commonly found rugs using boteh designs. In the Western world, boteh is usually referred to as a pinecone. Cheap area rugs, oriental rugs, braided rugs or a custom floor mat can transform your home into just about any theme you can possibly imagine!