Ivory Beige Cream White Rugs

Which rug traditions are known for ivory and cream grounds?

Chinese rugs are the tradition best known for pale grounds, and they make up 675 of the rugs on this page. French, Turkish, Indian and Persian workshops also wove many ivory fields, and American hooked rugs add a large group of cream grounds. Here is how our pale stock breaks down.

• Peking rugs, 362 on pale grounds. Blues on an ivory or champagne field, with a few well spaced symbols and plenty of open space. Most are antique, 300 of them dated 1925 or earlier. See Peking rugs.
• Ningxia rugs, 75. Older Chinese rugs with ivory, camel and gold grounds, soft indigo and a supple handle. Almost all of ours are antique. See Ningxia rugs and our comparison of Peking, Ningxia and Art Deco rugs.
• Chinese Art Deco, 110, including 47 by Walter Nichols. 1920s and 1930s rugs where an ivory or cream field carries floating flowers and vases in clear, strong color. See Chinese Art Deco rugs.
• French Aubusson and other European rugs. We have 67 pale French rugs, including 39 Aubussons with soft floral drawing on cream and ivory. See French rugs.
• Oushak, Agra, Tabriz and Kerman. Turkish Oushaks with silvery ivory fields (42), Indian Agra carpets (68), and Persian Tabriz (43) and Kerman (32) rugs with pale, finely drawn grounds.
• American hooked rugs, 209. Cream and beige grounds with folk florals and geometry, from antique pieces to new ones. See American hooked rugs.

Why is an antique ivory rug not pure white?

Because most ivory in a rug is wool left undyed, and natural wool is never pure white. The fleece itself ranges from off white to cream, beige and light camel, and a century of light and washing mellows it further. That is the soft, warm pale that designers look for in an antique field.

• Undyed wool. Weavers used the natural color of the fleece for grounds, so two ivory rugs from the same region can differ in warmth.
• Cotton whites. Some weavers used cotton for small highlights because it stays brighter than wool. You may see these crisp white accents in otherwise mellow rugs.
• Abrash in pale grounds. Undyed fleece from different batches can give soft bands of lighter and darker ivory. This is natural and expected.
• Washed looks. Some rugs were washed after weaving to soften their colors for Western buyers. A color that looks flat and even across the whole surface, rather than glowing from within the wool, can point to a heavy chemical wash. Our natural vs synthetic dyes guide covers what to look for.

How does an ivory rug look in different light?

Ivory changes with its surroundings more than any other rug color, because a pale surface reflects the light and the colors around it.

• North light makes ivory look cooler and slightly gray.
• Warm bulbs and evening light push ivory toward cream and honey.
• Colored walls tint a pale rug. A sage wall makes it read greener, a blush wall pinker.
• Bright white walls can make an antique ivory look darker than it is. Warm white or off white walls let the rug read as the soft cream it is.

How do you decorate with an ivory rug?

Use a pale rug where you want space and light, or as a quiet ground for strong furniture and art. Ivory pairs with almost any upholstery, which makes it the easiest rug color to plan a room around.

• With dark wood floors. An ivory rug on walnut or ebonized oak gives strong, clean contrast and frames the seating area.
• With pale wood and stone. On light oak, limestone or marble, a pale rug gives a tonal, layered look. Choose one with a defined border or blue drawing, such as a Peking rug, so it does not disappear into the floor.
• With upholstery. Nearly anything works. Navy, rust, olive and cognac leather stand out; ivory and oatmeal linen give a quiet, tonal room.
• With other rugs. In an open plan, repeat the pale ground in two rugs and let the drawing change, for example a Peking in the living area and a Ningxia by the window.
• Large rooms. We hold 191 large oversized pale carpets and 59 at 12 x 18. See large antique rugs, 12 x 18 and bigger, and our rug size guide.

How do you care for an ivory rug?

An ivory rug needs the same care as any fine wool rug, just a little sooner: a good pad, rotation once or twice a year, gentle vacuuming without a beater bar, and professional washing when it starts to look gray.

• Placement. Pale grounds show traffic lanes sooner than dark ones. In a busy hall or entry, a darker rug may suit you better.
• Sun. Direct sun fades the colored drawing on a pale field, which lowers the contrast. Use curtains or UV film in very bright rooms.
• Spills. Blot at once with plain water, never rub, and ask a specialist before trying any home remedy. Many household cleaners leave a ring on a pale ground.
• Professional washing. Our rug cleaning service in Manhattan washes hand-knotted rugs with a pH-balanced process.
• Moths. Moth larvae prefer dark, undisturbed places such as the area under a sofa. Our moth-proofing service washes the rug first and then treats the fibers.

Glossary of ivory rug and color terms

These are the terms you will meet most often in our listings and guides for pale rugs.

Ivory ground

A pale field color, usually undyed wool, warmer than white. Peking rugs are a classic example.

Champagne

A pale, warm gold beige ground common in Chinese rugs.

Camel

A soft tan from natural undyed wool or light dyeing, common in Ningxia rugs.

Undyed wool

Wool used in its natural fleece color, from off white to brown.

Cotton highlights

Small areas knotted in cotton, which stays brighter white than wool.

Abrash

Soft bands of tonal variation within one color, from changes in dye batch or fleece. Natural in antique rugs.

Chemical wash

A treatment used to soften color. Heavy washing leaves color that looks flat rather than glowing.

Tonal room

A scheme where rug, walls and upholstery share one family of pale, warm neutrals.