If you’ve got a couple of inherited oriental rugs stashed in the attic, it’s time to get them out. Persian and oriental rugs were once a staple of traditional interiors, but over the last couple of years they’ve been making an appearance in every type of design.

You may be under the impression that antique rugs are precious and hard to take care of. Actually, oriental rugs are made of natural textiles and dyes that can stand up to generations of wear and tear. Shake your rugs out periodically, or you can turn them over and carefully vacuum the back. Clean spills with water and Woolite, and take your rug to a professional if you have a pet stain or something that’s hard to clean. Otherwise, oriental rugs just get more charming with age.

Here are some our favorite ways we’ve used oriental rugs in recent projects:

We used several oriental rugs in our Cypress Point house. This home has a clean, fresh white and cream color scheme with several black accents. Look at how the persimmon and squash oriental rugs cheer up the space. We love this one.

Our East Cooper Eclectic project is a sweet family home where the unexpected is expected. The kilim runner adds depth and warmth while leading you into the sunroom.

In Margaret’s own home, she uses a mix of new and old rugs. The antique oriental that greets you in the entry helps define the space and holds together the foyer vignette.