A lattice design (sometimes called a trellis pattern or diamond lattice) is a rug field composition in which the entire field is organized by interlocking diagonal lines forming a continuous grid of diamond or rhombus-shaped cells. Each cell typically contains a small motif, a flower, palmette, boteh, or geometric figure, repeated rhythmically across the entire field.

What distinguishes the lattice design:

  • Geometric structure underlying the surface, the diagonal lattice provides organization, but the surface motifs may be floral or geometric
  • No central focal element, like the Herati and Mina Khani patterns, the lattice is an "all-over" design without a dominant central medallion
  • Visual rhythm and movement, the diagonal grid creates a sense of motion across the field that's distinct from the more static rectilinear medallion compositions

The lattice design appears in numerous regional traditions:

  • Persian Tabriz, particularly in fine workshop pieces with detailed floral cells
  • Persian Bakhtiari, sometimes used as an alternative to the kheshti (garden) panel grid
  • Caucasian Daghestan prayer rugs, characteristically use lattice fields filled with small floral motifs inside the mihrab niche
  • Indian Mughal carpets, the Millefleurs (literally "thousand flowers") Mughal designs often use a lattice structure to organize the dense floral content
  • Turkish (Anatolian) workshop pieces from various periods
  • Chinese rugs, variation appears in some Chinese export carpets

The lattice has a strong relationship to architectural geometric pattern, the same diagonal grid structure underlies many tile patterns in Islamic architecture, particularly in tilework from Iran, Andalusian Spain, and Mughal India. The cross-pollination between architectural ornament and textile pattern is one of the most consistent features of Islamic decorative art.

For interior designers, lattice-pattern rugs have particular appeal because the regular geometric structure tends to work well with modern furniture, the underlying order of the lattice complements clean architectural lines in ways that more elaborate medallion compositions sometimes don't.