Until the middle of the 19th century, creating the rich colours of oriental rugs was difficult because only plant- and animal-based dyes were available before 1857. Simpler colours came from natural sources: yellow from saffron or vine leaves, red from sour cherry juice or insects, black from tea or tobacco leaves, and blue from indigo.

More complex natural dyes, capable of producing distinctive shades, were developed through individual experience and specialised knowledge. Their exact recipes were often kept as closely guarded secrets. After synthetic dyes appeared, they quickly replaced natural colourants because they were cheaper and easier to produce.
As artificial dyes improved, virtually every colour and shade became possible. Today, however, growing environmental awareness has renewed interest in oriental rugs coloured entirely with plant- and insect-based natural dyes.