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A Guide to Buying Living Room Rugs
Plus: five expert buying tips from the founder of Piglet in Bed.
By | 2 years ago
Criminally underrated of all furnishings, beautiful rugs are the masters of making subtle statements; here are 10 of the best living room rugs.
10 Beautiful Rugs for Your Living Room
Feather Marble Maroon Rug, £4,912, by Mary Katrantzou The Rug Company, therugcompany.com
If we’re honest with ourselves when we think of our perfect living room — a rug rarely is front of mind. Or sometimes it barely even makes a footnote. We tend to magpie for the bold aesthetic statements: be it the eye catching headboard, the knockout painting or trendy vase. And then we don’t leave much budget at the end for the actual important stocky stuff.
But this is a woeful mistake: because investing in a beautiful rug is like buying socks for your wardrobe. Make the investment once, and you’ll have it and cherish it forever in ultimate comfort and joy.
Ruggable
What’s the Look? Routinely tooted as the rug brand that you can chuck their rugs in the washing machine without thinking about (perfect for dog parents, or actual parents). There’s not a distinct style; but more a wide plethora of designs on their website to choose from whether that’s more design led (check out their Art Nouveau-esque collaboration with Anna Sui), spins on Persian print classics.
Our Pick: Anna Sui Lady Shallott Cream Rug, starting from £90, ruggable.co.uk
Piglet in Bed
What’s the Look? Think chic, earthy cocooning with Piglet in Bed; best for those into biophilia and natural colour palettes. It’s also made from 100% jute.
Our Pick: Cream-striped Jute Rug, £249, Piglet in Bed, pigletinbedcom
The Rug Company
What’s the Look? This one’s for those looking for the ultimate jaw-dropping aesthetic statement for their room. Often collaborating with artists (their latest collaboration with Mary Katrantzou is our favourite, as well as Alexander McQueen), The Rug Company is your go to for designer rug browsing.
Our Pick: Feather Marble Maroon Rug, £4,912, by Mary Katrantzou The Rug Company, therugcompany.com
Loaf
What’s the Look? That farmhouse creamy cosy textural kind of minimalism. Perfect for those moments when you just need to lie on the floor (we don’t blame you) — because you deserve to lie on a rug that feels like a cloud.
Our Pick: Teddy Floor Rug in Natural, £345, Loaf, loaf.com
Matilda Goad
What’s the Look? A scallop finish with whimsical, joyful colours are a signature look for Matilda Goad‘s rugs. Certainly making a statement for any living room, check out her recent collaboration with Anthropologie for a more affordable price point.
Our Pick Matilda Goad & Co Tufted Plaid Rug, £78 – £998, Anthropologie, anthropologie.com
Natalia Violet Antiques
What’s the Look? One to follow if you adore snapping up bargains and buying second hand. If you’re after something a little bit bold, folkloric, and highly-patterned, add Natalia Violet Antiques @nataliavioletantiques to your follow list on Instagram. But be quick: her rugs get scooped up quickly.
Soho Home
What’s the Look? Think sleek, swish, contemporary twists on classics but still doesn’t skimp on giving that softness to a living room.
Our Pick: Mallaig Rug, Natural, £650, Soho Home, sohohome.com
Vinterior
What’s the Look? For the second-hand sleuthers, Vinterior has a vast array of antique, second hand rugs that will stand the test of time.
Our Pick: 20th Century Azilal Moroccan Rug Berber, £480, Vinterior, vinterior.com
Graham & Green
What’s the Look? If you’re after more of a boho aesthetic and a little zing of joyful colour: Graham & Green could be for you.
Our Pick: Agra Large Diamond Hemp Rug, £125, Graham & Green, grahamandgreen.co.uk
Oka
What’s the Look? Perfect for investing in a timeless Persian classic rug you’ll be taking with you on every house move no matter how much the faff.
Our Pick: Hooghly Rug – Ecru/Charcoal, £1,595, Oka, oka.com
Lou & Pickle
What’s the Look? Another under the radar second hand seller that interior editors keep under their sleeve, Lou & Pickle (@louandpickle), you’ll be able to get brilliantly bold and idiosyncratic rugs at a really good price point. You just need to not dilly around when a rug is posted because they get snapped up quick.
If your after a second hand rug. You’ll want to follow @nataliavioletantiques and @louandpickle on Instagram for affordable gems, and Vinterior and Ourika for investment pieces. If you’re buying new, Piglet in Bed have just launched a new range of rugs which we’re loving if you’re inclined for a more earthy chic look. Head to Loaf for cosy cream farm house minimalism, Soho Home for more contemporary design-led pieces at a higher price range, then The Rug Company for the ultimate statement piece that’ll pack more of a punch than any artwork could compete with.
Image courtesy of Anna Sui x Ruggable
5 Living Room Rug Tips, From Piglet in Bed Founder
We speak to founder of Piglet in Bed, Jessica Hanley, who shares her best buying practices for sourcing beautiful rugs.
1. Eyes on Size
Measure up your space. It sounds obvious but it’s easy to end up choosing the wrong size. Consider whether you want to rug to go underneath furniture like sofas or tables or whether you want it to sit in the middle of the room. A rug that is slightly too big or small could make the space look cramped or smaller than it really is.
2. Texture is King
Consider texture. A rug is just an important as any other item of décor in your room, from wall colour, to art or furniture. Are you looking for warmth, for colour or for texture?
Image courtesy of Piglet in Bed
3. Know Your Materials
Materials and care are important. We are more and more considered when it comes to our homeware purchases, so it’s good to know as much as you can about sourcing and the eco-credentials of your rug. Is your rug made out of natural materials? Is it sustainably sourced? Choose a supplier that provides that information as they are more likely to have taken time and care over their products.
4. Get Practical
Think practically. Your personal circumstances are going to affect your rug-buying options. If you have pets or small children, a delicate white rug might not be the most practical option. If the rug is intended for the kitchen, you might want to look as how easy it is to wash or spot clean. If your looking for a rug for a high-footfall area like a hallway, you will want a hard-wearing material that will last. It’s good to bear all this in mind when considering your choices.
Image courtesy of Piglet in Bed
5. Do you Actually like it?
Do you like it?! Ultimately, you want to buy something you love, regardless of the above! If a particular colour, design or style catches your eye, then go with your instinct. The most successful homeware purchases are the ones you love and have personal meaning to you, so with that in mind, it’s hard to go wrong.
You can check out Piglet in Bed’s new line of Jute rugs here: pigletinbed.com
SEE MORE
How to Buy an Antique Rug / 7 of the Best Moroccan Rugs
Main Image: Feather Marble Maroon Rug, £4,912, by Mary Katrantzou The Rug Company, therugcompany.com
