Two kinds of tiger rug

When people search for a tiger rug, they usually mean one of two things. The first is the stylized tiger carpet of the Tibetan tradition, a rug shaped like a flattened tiger, or covered in its stripes, drawn in a bold, almost graphic way. The second is a tiger print: the orange, black and cream stripes of a tiger's coat, used as a pattern. We make both, printed edge to edge on soft velvet rather than knotted from wool or cut from a hide, so no animal is involved, the colors can be anything you like, and the whole rug goes in the washing machine.

The Tibetan tiger rug

For centuries, Tibetan weavers have made tiger rugs, hand-knotted wool carpets showing a tiger, either as a whole flattened animal with its head, paws and tail, or as an abstract field of stripes. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the tiger is associated with strength and protection, and tiger rugs were traditionally used as sitting and meditation rugs, including by monks and lamas. Antique examples are now prized by collectors, and the style has become a favorite of interior designers for its mix of history, wit and bold graphic shapes.

Our Tibetan-style tiger rugs are inspired by that tradition rather than copies of any particular antique: stylized tigers in orange and black on cream, deep blue or rust, with the flattened, symmetrical pose and the stripes drawn as sweeping, calligraphic shapes. Because they're printed, they're far lighter and easier to care for than a knotted wool carpet, and they go in the washing machine. If you're looking for a handmade antique, this isn't that; if you love the look in a practical rug for a real home, this is.

Tiger stripe prints

A tiger print rug uses the stripes alone: dark, uneven stripes across an orange, cream or gold ground. Like a fingerprint, every real tiger's stripe pattern is unique, and its skin is striped as well as its fur. On a rug, tiger stripes feel bolder and warmer than zebra stripes, with a little more drama. Orange and black is the classic; cream and black is softer; gold and black is glamorous; pastel pink and rust is playful.

Designs

Design	The mood	Best in
Tibetan-style tiger on cream	Collected, worldly, a little witty	Living rooms, studies, reading corners
Tibetan-style tiger on deep blue	Rich, traditional, dramatic	Libraries, dens, dining rooms
Orange and black stripes	Bold, energetic, classic	Living rooms, game rooms, entryways
Cream and black stripes	Soft, modern, understated	Bedrooms, neutral living rooms
White tiger	Cool, striking, calm	Monochrome rooms, bedrooms
Tiger in jungle leaves	Lush, exotic, painterly	Rooms with plants, maximalist interiors

A Tibetan-style tiger on cream suits a living room or study, while orange and black stripes bring more energy to a game room.

Tiger-pelt shaped rugs

The classic Tibetan tiger rug has the outline of a flattened tiger: head at one end, paws spread at the sides, tail curling behind. Our shaped rugs are cut to that kind of silhouette, in sizes from 2.6×2.6 up to 5.2×5.9 ft (80×80 to 160×180 cm), printed rather than made from a hide. A shaped tiger rug in front of a fireplace, beside a reading chair or at the foot of a bed is the most characterful way to use the design.

A meditation or sitting rug

In keeping with the tradition, a tiger rug makes a lovely rug for sitting: a meditation corner, a yoga space or a quiet spot by a window. A 3.3×5 ft or 2.6×3.9 ft rug, or a 3.9 ft (120 cm) round rug, is a comfortable size for one person. Choose Premium for this, 7 mm plush velvet on a bamboo and cotton back, about 700 g/m², soft enough to sit on for a long time. Our meditation rugs and zen and spiritual rugs have more designs for a calm space.

In the living room

A Tibetan-style tiger rug under a coffee table, or a striped tiger area rug in front of a sofa, gives a living room a confident, collected look. It pairs well with velvet sofas, brass lamps, dark wood, books and plants. A 5×7 ft rug is our largest standard size and suits most coffee table areas; a custom size up to 5′11″ × 10′ covers a longer seating area. Keep the rest of the room calm, and let the tiger be the star. Our living room rugs page has more layouts.

In the bedroom and study

At the foot of a bed, a shaped tiger rug feels playful and luxurious at once. In a study or a library, a Tibetan-style tiger on deep blue or rust brings warmth and a sense of history to a desk area. Under a desk chair, choose Standard: 5 mm crushed velvet on a non-slip faux leather back, about 500 g/m², which stays put and lets wheels roll freely.

Tigers in the jungle

For a lush, painterly look, a tiger prowling through tropical leaves, palms and flowers turns a rug into a piece of art. It suits rooms full of plants, maximalist interiors and bold wallpaper, and it pairs naturally with botanical and chinoiserie designs. See our botanical rugs and chinoiserie rugs for companions.

White tigers

A white tiger, with its black stripes on a pale coat and its icy blue eyes, is one of the most striking designs in our range. It suits a monochrome room, a grey and white bedroom or a modern space where an orange tiger would feel too warm, and it looks especially good against charcoal or navy.

Tigers in the wild

Tigers are the largest of the big cats, and they once ranged across much of Asia, from the forests of India and the mangroves of Bangladesh to the snowy taiga of the Russian Far East, home of the Amur, or Siberian, tiger. Today only a few thousand remain in the wild, and the species is listed as endangered. That's part of why a printed tiger rug feels right: it celebrates one of the most beautiful animals on earth without harming a single one. A Bengal tiger in warm orange or an Amur tiger against snow makes a striking, meaningful design.

The Year of the Tiger

In the Chinese zodiac, the tiger is the third of the twelve animals, associated with courage and confidence. A tiger rug makes a meaningful gift for someone born in a Year of the Tiger, or a thoughtful present for the Lunar New Year.

Tiger and other animal prints

Tiger stripes layer well with other animal prints when the colors are related: tiger with leopard in warm tones, or a cream tiger rug with a brown zebra. For more animal designs, see our leopard rugs, zebra rugs, snake rugs, lion rugs and the full range of animal print rugs.

Printed versus knotted or hide

Antique Tibetan tiger rugs are hand-knotted wool, heavy, expensive and best cleaned by professionals. Real tiger hides belong to an endangered species and are rightly protected. A printed velvet tiger rug gives you the look with none of that: it's soft, light, machine washable, available in any color and any of our sizes, and no animal is involved. The trade-off is a smoother, lower pile than a thick knotted wool carpet. If you love the design and want something practical, printed velvet is the better fit.

About large sizes

We don't make 8×10 rugs. Our largest standard size is 5×7 ft, and custom sizes go up to 5′11″ × 10′. For a large room, layering a shaped tiger rug over a larger plain rug is a classic designer approach that adds drama without covering the whole floor.

Your own design

If you'd like a tiger in your own colors, a tiger on a specific background or a design built around artwork you own, our custom rugs can print it in any size up to 5′11″ × 10′, or cut it to shape. Please only send artwork you're allowed to use; custom rugs are made just for you and can't be returned.

Standard or Premium

Standard is best for entryways, under desk chairs and anywhere with a hard or slippery floor, because its non-slip back stays put. Premium is softer and warmer, best for sitting, meditation and bedrooms. Both are printed the same way, so the oranges stay rich and the stripes stay crisp, and both go in the washing machine.

Sizes

Rectangles come in 2×3, 2.6×3.9, 3.3×5, 4×6 and 5×7 ft. Round rugs come from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across. Tiger-shaped rugs come from 2.6×2.6 up to 5.2×5.9 ft (80×80 to 160×180 cm). Custom sizes go up to 5′11″ × 10′.

Shipping, returns and care

Every rug is printed to order in 1–3 business days and ships from Turkey; US delivery usually takes 2–5 business days after that. Unused rugs can be returned within 30 days on US orders; custom rugs can't be returned. Machine wash on a gentle, cold cycle and let it air dry flat. Vacuum on a low setting between washes, and blot spills with cold water right away. The design is printed into the fibers, so the tiger keeps its stripes, wash after wash, for years.

Tigers of different regions

Tigers vary across their range. The Bengal tiger of India and Bangladesh is the classic orange tiger with bold black stripes. The Siberian or Amur tiger, from Russia's far east, is the largest, with a paler coat and thick winter fur. The Sumatran tiger, from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, is the smallest, darker orange with closely spaced stripes, and the Malayan and Indochinese tigers live in Southeast Asia's forests. The South China tiger is believed to be extinct in the wild.

No two tigers have the same stripes, and the pattern isn't only on the fur: a tiger's skin is striped underneath too.

Those differences inspire more varied tiger rugs. A pale Amur pattern with soft, widely spaced stripes looks elegant and calm in a living room. A dark, dense Sumatran stripe makes a dramatic design for a study, and a classic Bengal orange brings energy to a teen's bedroom or a game room.

A pale Amur suits a calm living room, while a dense Sumatran stripe or a bold Bengal orange suits a study or a teen's room.