Nourison is known for its premium, high-quality area rugs that emphasize artisan craftsmanship and luxurious materials like wool and silk, often targeting a higher-end market. In contrast, Safavieh offers a broader, more stylistically diverse range of rugs and home furnishings at a more accessible price point, with a strong focus on durable synthetic fibers and trendy designs.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right rug brand for your home.
Nourison: The Premium & Artisan Rug Choice
Nourison has built a strong reputation in the home textiles industry for its extensive collection of high-quality rugs that blend traditional, detailed craftsmanship with modern sensibilities. The brand appeals to homeowners seeking longevity and aesthetic appeal, offering everything from luxurious, hand-knotted wool rugs to durable, stylish synthetic options. Nourison is a go-to for those who view a rug as a long-term investment in their home's decor.
- Product mix: Primarily focused on area rugs and other home textiles like accent pillows and throws.
- Style/vibe: Tends toward classic sophistication with intricate traditional patterns, Persian motifs, and rich color palettes, along with some contemporary lines featuring minimalist or abstract designs.
- Price point: Mid-range to luxury. Small synthetic rugs may start around $100, while larger, high-end wool or silk designs can exceed $2,000. Many popular options fall in the $300–$800 range.
- Quality & Materials: Known for using premium materials including 100% wool, silk, and durable wool blends. Their hand-knotted and hand-tufted collections demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship meant to last for years.
- Sustainability: The brand emphasizes eco-friendly practices, using sustainable dyes and renewable natural fibers. Many products carry a Green Label Plus certification for low VOC emissions, promoting healthier indoor air quality.
- Sales: Major sales events typically happen during holiday seasons, making their premium collections more accessible.
- Where to buy: Available through specialty flooring shops, high-end department stores, and select online retailers.
Nourison is the ideal choice for shoppers willing to invest in superior craftsmanship, luxurious natural materials, and timeless design.
Shop Nourison: nourison.com
Safavieh: The Stylish & Affordable Choice
Safavieh is a global home furnishings brand celebrated for its vast and accessible collection of rugs, furniture, lighting, and decor accessories. The company excels at blending traditional Persian and Oriental designs with on-trend contemporary styles, making their products highly versatile. Safavieh is a favorite among budget-conscious consumers, renters, and anyone looking for a stylish decor update without a significant financial commitment, especially due to its wide availability at major retailers.
- Product mix: An extensive selection of area rugs, as well as a full line of furniture, lighting, and home decor accessories.
- Style/vibe: Extremely diverse, covering everything from traditional Persian designs to modern, bohemian, coastal, and transitional styles. Their collections cater to nearly every interior decor theme imaginable.
- Price point: Very budget-friendly. Most rugs are priced between $50 and $600, with machine-made synthetic fiber rugs offering exceptional value. Cost-effective and frequently on sale.
- Quality & Materials: Specializes in durable and stain-resistant synthetic fibers like polypropylene, polyester, and nylon, making their rugs practical for everyday life. They also offer natural fiber options like wool and jute in a more affordable category.
- Customization: While not offering true custom pieces, their massive catalog of sizes, shapes, and styles provides an almost custom-like range of options to fit any space.
- Sales: Frequently runs discounts and promotions, particularly through major online retail partners.
- Where to buy: Widely available at most major online retailers like Wayfair, as well as big-box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's.
Safavieh is perfect for shoppers who want a wide variety of trendy, durable, and affordable options for decorating their home.
Shop Safavieh: safavieh.com
Nourison vs. Safavieh Comparison
Price Comparison
Price is one of the most significant differentiators between the two brands. Safavieh is engineered for affordability, with a huge selection of stylish rugs available for under $300, and many excellent options in the $50-$600 range. Their focus on machine-made construction and synthetic fibers allows them to keep costs low, making them a popular choice for budget decorating.
Nourison, while offering some entry-level options, generally occupies a mid-range to premium price tier. Their pieces, particularly those made from wool or silk blends or featuring handcrafted details, range from $300 to well over $2,000. You're paying for superior materials, intricate craftsmanship, and designs that are considered long-term investments.
Style & Aesthetic
Safavieh casts a much wider net in terms of style. Their catalog is a reflection of current home decor trends, offering everything from modern farmhouse and vibrant bohemian to minimalist Scandinavian and classic Oriental patterns. If you have a specific, trending look in mind, you are almost certain to find a Safavieh rug to match.
Nourison’s aesthetic is more focused, leaning toward timeless elegance and classic sophistication. Their strengths lie in beautifully detailed traditional patterns, luxurious contemporary textures, and abstract designs that feel more like "art for the floor." While they have modern offerings, the overall vibe is more refined and less trend-driven than Safavieh.
Quality & Construction
Nourison's reputation is built on quality construction and premium materials. Their commitment to 100% G.A.B.B.E.H.-certified wool, silk-like synthetics, and detailed hand-tufted or hand-knotted techniques results in rugs that feel plush, durable, and luxurious underfoot. These rugs are made to be a centerpiece of a room for many years.
Safavieh prioritizes practical durability for everyday life. The majority of their rugs are machine-made from synthetic fibers like polypropylene and polyester. These materials are highly resistant to stains, shedding, and fading, making them an excellent choice for high-traffic areas, dining rooms, and homes with children or pets. While they may not have the same luxurious feel as a high-end wool rug, their construction is solid and designed to handle daily wear and tear with ease.
Product Selection
Both brands offer a massive variety of rug sizes, from small accent rugs and runners to oversized room-anchoring pieces as large as 9x12 and beyond. However, their broader product catalogs differ. Nourison is largely specialized in rugs and floor coverings, with some expansion into coordinated home textiles like pillows.
Safavieh is a complete home furnishings brand. In addition to their extensive rug collection, they sell sofas, chairs, beds, dining tables, lighting, and a wide array of decor. This makes Safavieh a convenient one-stop-shop for furnishing an entire room or home cohesively.
Sustainability & Ethics
Nourison places a stronger public emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly practices. They are known for using renewable natural fibers like wool, sourcing materials responsibly, and utilizing eco-friendly dyes. Many of their products achieve the Green Label Plus certification, which signifies low VOC emissions and contributes to healthier indoor air quality.
Safavieh's sustainability efforts are more focused on the longevity and durability of their synthetic products, which reduces the need for frequent replacements. While they also offer natural fiber rugs and are incorporating more eco-conscious practices, their primary focus remains on providing stylish and affordable options to a mass market.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your budget, style, and priorities for material and durability. Both brands offer excellent products, but they cater to different shoppers.
Choose Nourison if:
- You are looking for a long-term investment piece and prioritize craftsmanship.
- You prefer the luxurious feel and natural durability of materials like wool and silk.
- Your home decor style leans toward classic, traditional, or sophisticated contemporary.
- You value eco-friendly manufacturing and certified low-VOC products.
Choose Safavieh if:
- You are redecorating on a budget or need a stylish but affordable solution.
- You need a highly durable, stain-resistant rug for a high-traffic area, or for a home with kids or pets.
- You love keeping up with the latest trends, from bohemian and coastal to modern farmhouse.
- You want to furnish an entire room and appreciate one-stop shopping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nourison or Safavieh cheaper?
Safavieh is significantly cheaper on average. The majority of their popular rugs are priced between $50 and $600, focusing on affordability. Nourison occupies a higher price point, with most of their rugs costing between $300 and $2,000+ due to more premium materials and handcrafted techniques.
Which brand has better quality rugs?
This depends on your definition of "quality." Nourison offers higher-quality materials (wool, silk) and craftsmanship (hand-knotting), which provides a luxurious feel and long-term durability. Safavieh offers excellent practical quality, their synthetic rugs are extremely durable, stain-resistant, and easy to clean, making them high-quality for withstanding everyday life.
Which brand is better for a home with kids and pets?
For most families with kids or pets, a Safavieh rug is the more practical choice. Their synthetic fiber rugs (especially polypropylene) are built to resist stains, moisture, and heavy foot traffic, and they are much more affordable to replace if a permanent accident occurs.
What styles does each brand offer?
Nourison focuses primarily on timeless styles like traditional, Persian, and transitional, alongside some elegant contemporary and abstract designs. Safavieh offers a much broader array, excelling at trendy looks like modern, bohemian, coastal, rustic, and glam, in addition to carrying classic designs.
Where can I buy Nourison and Safavieh rugs?
You can find Nourison rugs at specialty flooring stores, high-end retailers, and some online platforms. Safavieh has wider distribution and is available at nearly every major online home goods retailer, including Wayfair, Amazon, and Overstock, as well as big-box stores like Home Depot.
Which brand is more sustainable?
Nourison has a stronger focus on sustainability, using natural, renewable fibers and boasting certifications like Green Label Plus for low VOCs. Safavieh's approach to sustainability is more about the long lifespan of their durable synthetic products, reducing waste from replacement.
What are Safavieh rugs typically made of?
The majority of Safavieh's best-selling rugs are machine-made from synthetic fibers like polypropylene, polyester, and nylon. These power-loomed rugs are valued for their durability, softness, and resistance to shedding and staining.
Are Nourison rugs worth the investment?
If you value high-end materials, detailed craftsmanship, and a classic design that will not go out of style, a Nourison rug is generally considered a worthy investment. Their well-made wool rugs can last for decades with proper care.
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