Every designer has experienced the moment when a rug arrives on site and something is not right. The color reads differently in the room's natural light. The pile height does not work with the door clearance. The backing is wrong for the substrate. These problems are preventable, and the solution is systematic specification.
This rug specification checklist for interior designers covers every variable you need to address before placing a custom rug order. Use it as a working document for every project. The goal is to eliminate surprises between approval and installation.
1. Project Context
Before specifying the rug itself, document the project context. This information shapes every subsequent decision.
- Space type: Residential living area, bedroom, dining room, hospitality lobby, restaurant, office, or other. Traffic level classification (high, medium, low).
- Existing flooring: Hardwood, tile, concrete, carpet. This affects rug pad selection and backing requirements.
- Room dimensions: Full room measurements, not just the desired rug size. Include furniture layout and traffic paths.
- Door clearance: Measure the gap between the bottom of all doors that swing over the rug area. This sets your maximum total height (rug plus pad).
- Radiant floor heating: If present, specify rug materials and backing that are compatible. Some fibers and backings trap heat or degrade under sustained warmth.
- Natural light exposure: South and west facing rooms receive direct sunlight that can fade certain dyes over time. Document sun exposure patterns.
2. Material and Fiber
Fiber selection is the single most consequential decision in rug specification. It determines durability, feel, appearance, maintenance requirements, and price.
- Primary fiber: New Zealand wool, silk, cashmere, jute, cotton, viscose, linen, or blends. Kapetto's Custom Fine Fibers program offers 15 fiber types with physical swatch samples.
- Fiber grade: Within each fiber category, quality varies significantly. New Zealand wool, for example, is preferred over generic wool for its whiteness, consistency, and staple length. Specify the grade, not just the type.
- Blend ratios: If specifying a blend (e.g., wool and silk, wool and viscose), document the exact percentage of each fiber. A rug described as "wool and silk" could be 90/10 or 50/50, and the difference is enormous in terms of both performance and price.
- Allergen considerations: Document any client allergies. Wool is hypoallergenic for most people, but some clients are sensitive. Jute and other plant fibers can shed particulates.
3. Construction Type
Construction determines durability, texture, and price. Each type has distinct characteristics.
- Hand knotted: The highest quality and longest lasting construction. Specify knot density in KPSI (knots per square inch). Higher density means finer detail and greater durability. Typical range: 60 KPSI for bold designs to 200+ KPSI for intricate patterns. Kapetto's Kiri hand knotted rug exemplifies this construction.
- Loom knotted: A specialized technique used for certain fiber types, particularly cashmere. Kapetto's Studio Collection uses loom knotting to achieve a specific texture and pile quality.
- Hand tufted: Faster to produce than hand knotted, with a different texture profile. Good for large format installations where budget or lead time are constraints.
- Flat weave: No pile, which makes these rugs thinner, lighter, and easier to maintain. Appropriate for high traffic areas and layering.
4. Dimensions and Shape
- Length and width: Specify in feet and inches. For metric markets, include centimeter equivalents. Always measure the actual space rather than estimating.
- Shape: Rectangular, square, round, oval, or custom shape. Non rectangular shapes may add to production time and cost.
- Tolerance: Hand made rugs have inherent dimensional variation. Standard tolerance is plus or minus 2% to 3%. If tighter tolerance is needed (e.g., a rug that must fit precisely between built in furniture), specify this upfront.
5. Pile Height and Density
- Pile height: Measured in millimeters from the backing to the tip of the fiber. Low pile (under 10mm) is practical for high traffic. Medium pile (10 to 15mm) balances comfort and durability. High pile (over 15mm) is luxurious but requires more maintenance. Cashmere pile height is typically 15mm.
- Pile density: How closely packed the fibers are. Higher density increases durability and resistance to crushing. This is related to but distinct from knot density in hand knotted rugs.
- Pile direction: In cut pile rugs, the direction of the pile affects how the rug catches light (known as "abrash" or shading). Specify the orientation relative to the room's primary viewing angle.
6. Color and Pattern
- Color specification: Provide Pantone or NCS color references whenever possible. Natural dyeing introduces variation, which is part of the character of handmade rugs, but a reference color ensures the general direction is correct.
- Pattern: Provide a scaled drawing or digital rendering. For geometric patterns, specify repeat dimensions. For abstract or painterly designs, provide high resolution source artwork.
- Color approval process: Request a dyed fiber sample (pom pom) before production begins. Evaluate it in the actual room under both natural and artificial lighting.
7. Backing and Edge Treatment
- Backing type: Cotton, canvas, or latex. The backing affects the rug's lay, weight, and compatibility with rug pads and radiant heating.
- Edge treatment: Serged, bound, fringed, or raw edge. Match the edge treatment to the room's formality and the rug's position (against walls vs. floating in the room).
- Rug pad: Specify pad type, thickness, and material. Felt, rubber, or combination pads serve different purposes. The pad should be cut 1 inch smaller than the rug on all sides.
8. Performance and Compliance
- Fire rating: Required for commercial and hospitality projects. Specify ASTM E648 (Critical Radiant Flux) and ASTM D2859 (Pill Test) compliance. Request certificates from the manufacturer.
- Colorfastness: Request colorfastness ratings for light exposure and wet cleaning. This is particularly important for rugs in sunlit rooms or spaces that will be professionally cleaned.
- VOC emissions: For LEED or WELL certified projects, specify low VOC requirements for the rug and any applied treatments.
- Certifications: GoodWeave (ethical production), GOTS (organic materials), and any other project specific requirements.
9. Budget and Timeline
- Budget range: Document the client approved budget for the rug, including pad and installation. This guides fiber and construction decisions.
- Lead time: Hand knotted custom rugs from Kapetto require 23 to 30 weeks. Build this into your project schedule during schematic design. See our lead time planning guide for detailed timelines by construction type.
- Delivery requirements: Specify delivery address, site access limitations (elevator size, stairway width), and any scheduling constraints (e.g., delivery must coordinate with other trade installations).
Using This Checklist
Save this checklist as a template and complete it for every rug specification in your practice. A thorough specification document protects you, your client, and your manufacturer by ensuring everyone is aligned before production begins. If you need help completing any section, Kapetto's trade team provides specification support for registered designers.
