The best place to buy antique rugs in New York is a specialist gallery where you can see rugs in person, ask about condition, and take a rug home on trial. Rugs On Net, a family-owned gallery founded in 1979, has a Manhattan showroom at 36 East 31st Street and more than 4,800 antique rugs online.
What should I expect when visiting an antique rug gallery in Manhattan?
Expect to see rugs laid out, turned over and discussed one by one, rather than hung in rows like a retail store. Antique rugs are one of a kind, so a gallery visit is a conversation: you describe the room, and the gallery shows you rugs that fit. Some Manhattan rug galleries, including ours, are on an upper floor rather than at street level, so check the address and floor before you go.
A good visit usually includes:
- Seeing several rugs side by side, so you can compare color and scale.
- Looking at the back of each rug you like.
- Hearing the origin, approximate age and materials of each piece.
- Talking about condition, including any wear or repairs.
How should I prepare before visiting a rug gallery?
Prepare by measuring the room and taking photographs of it, so the gallery can narrow thousands of rugs to a handful. Bring:
- Room measurements. Length and width of the room, and the space the rug should cover, for example under a dining table or within a seating group.
- Photos of the room in daylight, showing the floor, walls and main furniture.
- Fabric or paint samples if you are matching a palette.
- A budget range, so you only see rugs that make sense for you.
- Traffic notes. A hallway or family room calls for a different rug than a quiet bedroom.
Our rug size guide lists standard sizes in feet, inches, centimeters and meters, which helps you arrive with the right size in mind.
What questions should I ask an antique rug dealer in New York?
Ask questions that produce specific answers you can check later:
- Where and roughly when was this rug made, and how do you know?
- What is it made of?
- What is the measured size?
- Has it been repaired, restored or rewoven? Where?
- Can I see the back?
- Can I take it home on trial, and what is the return policy in writing?
- Can you provide a condition report or an appraisal?
Our guide on how to choose an antique rug dealer explains why each of these matters, and red flags when buying an antique rug covers the warning signs.
Where is the Rugs On Net showroom?
Our showroom is at 36 East 31st Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10016. Rugs On Net is a family-owned gallery founded in 1979 by Kevin Rahmanan.
| Detail | Rugs On Net |
|---|---|
| Address | 36 East 31st Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10016 |
| Phone | (212) 683-0167 |
| [email protected] | |
| Book a visit | Contact page (email, WhatsApp or book a visit) |
| Founded | 1979, family-owned |
Before you come, tell us which rugs on the site you want to see, and share your room measurements and photos.
What can I see at Rugs On Net?
Our collection includes more than 4,800 antique rugs, about 380 vintage rugs and about 1,000 new hand-knotted rugs. Highlights include:
- Chinese rugs: more than 2,200, of which more than 1,850 are antique, one of the largest collections of antique Chinese rugs in the United States, including Peking rugs and Walter Nichols rugs.
- Persian rugs: more than 1,200 of all ages, including Heriz Serapi and Tabriz.
- American rugs: more than 650.
- Turkish rugs and Oushak rugs, plus Caucasian rugs and kilims.
Should I buy an antique rug online or in person?
Both work well when the dealer gives you enough information and a way to return the rug. The difference is mainly in what you can check before the rug reaches your home.
| In person at the showroom | Online at rugsonnet.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Seeing color and texture | Directly, in gallery light | Photos, plus more on request |
| Checking the back | Turn the rug over together | Ask for close-ups of the back |
| Condition | Discuss it rug by rug | Ask for a condition report |
| Size | Measured size on every listing | Measured size on every listing |
| Choice | Rugs shown during your visit | The full collection, searchable by size, origin and style |
| Delivery | Free shipping within the continental United States | Free shipping within the continental United States |
| Trying it at home | 4-day in-home trial starting the day the rug is delivered | |
A practical approach is to combine the two: shortlist rugs online through our rug search, then come in to see your finalists. Either way, every rug is inspected before it is listed. Read our buying with confidence guide for the details.
Do you work with New York interior designers?
Yes. Our trade program gives interior designers trade pricing and sourcing help, and you can apply online. See antique rugs for interior designers for how designers source through us.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Rugs On Net located in New York?
Our showroom is at 36 East 31st Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10016. Phone (212) 683-0167.
Can I visit the showroom?
Yes. You can book a visit through our contact page, or reach us by email or WhatsApp to tell us which rugs you want to see.
What should I bring to a rug gallery?
Bring room measurements, daylight photos of the room, any fabric or paint samples, and a budget range.
Is it safe to buy an antique rug online instead of in person?
It can be, if the dealer inspects every rug, gives measured sizes, sends more photos on request and has a return policy. Rugs On Net offers a 4-day in-home trial starting the day the rug is delivered.
Do you deliver within New York?
Yes. We offer free shipping within the continental United States, including New York.