The major design components of an oriental rug:

Medallion- Any large central motif used as the focal point of design.

Field- Main area of the rug within the borders

Spandrels- Architectural expression used to describe the space between the curve of the arch and its enclosing moulding. In rug-making it refers to the contoured areas at the four right-angles of the field adjacent to the borders., usually only found in rugs employing a central medallion.

Main border- The largest and usually the central border.

Minor borders- Smaller, supplementary borders, usually arranged in equal numbers on either side of the main borders.

Guard stripes- Narrow stripes within the border arrangement. They can be either plain or patterned, and are often indistinguishable from the minor.

Ground- Sometimes used as an alternative expression for the field, but generally applied to the underlying or background color of any part of the rug.

Motif- Any single form or cohesive group of forms which constitutes part of the overall design.

Open field- Undecorated or monochrome field, usually only found in compositions with a central medallion.

Variegated field- One in which an otherwise uniform allover or repeating design continues over different colored grounds.

Panelled design- The field is divided into panels or compartments.

Repeating design- A single motif or group of motifs is repeated across the entire field.

Endless repeat- Another term for a repeating design, which some experts have suggested is symbolic of eternity and the all pervading presence of Allah.

Dyer’s palette- The range of colors and tones used in a particular rug or group of rugs.

Oriental Rug Buyer’s Guide- Lee Allane