A close-up of a living room featuring a plush grey rug, a large ottoman, two modern side tables with marble tops, a geometric coffee table, and two cozy, curved armchairs.

How To Choose A Rug

A beautiful rug is a versatile item that can perform a variety of functions in the home. As a purely aesthetic piece, a rug can create a striking visual statement, either in its own right or as a means of drawing attention to or marking out a particular area in the room. A colourful woven rug softens the feel of an interior, enlivens an otherwise monochrome interior palette, and adds a touch of luxury to a bare wooden floor.

A black chair with wooden armrests is placed on a white rug with a blue geometric pattern.

Layout

The first thing to do before purchasing a rug takes some measurements. You’ll want to know the size of the space available, if your rug is to be a decorative addition to your home or, if it’s going underneath a dining table, coffee table or other furniture, you’ll want to make sure that the perimeter of the rug exceeds those of the items in question in such a way that it does not get lost.

You’ll also want to consider the shape of the rug you’re going to buy. Does a rectilinear rug suit your space? Or perhaps the room would better suit a circular piece?

A black chair with wooden armrests is placed on a blue and white geometric patterned rug.

Practical Considerations

A good quality rug should have underlay if it is going on bare boards.

Choose durable, hard-wearing rugs for placement in hallways and landings, as they are going to get a lot of wear.

Once you have ordered your rug, someone will contact you regarding delivery. Waiting times will be longer for custom-made rugs than for vintage pieces.

A wooden chair with a black seat cushion on a dark blue rug with white geometric lines.

Style

We offer a range of vintage and contemporary styles, which changes regularly.

Vintage

Our vintage collection usually includes Moroccan and Persian rugs, and Kilims from various regions across Iran, each with its own unique style and characteristics. The benefit of buying a vintage rug with the Conran Shop is that you know you are purchasing an authentic piece that has been hand-selected from the best available sources.

Contemporary

With contemporary rugs, you have more variation in shape, colour, and material. Jute rugs, contemporary kilims, dhurries and a selection of animal hide pieces are usually found in our contemporary collection. Many of these pieces are sourced with the help of knowledgeable designers.

A collection of rugs featuring different geometric patterns in blue and white. One rug has a zigzag design, another displays a grid pattern, and a third has linear stripes, all arranged in an overlapping fashion.

Caring For Your Rug

If you see a loose thread, cut it with scissors right at the base. Never pull a loose thread, as this can cause the rug to unravel.

Loose fibres are to be expected, especially with a new woollen run. These can be addressed with an occasional vacuum, but avoid excessive vacuuming as this can promote shedding.

Turn your rugs to prevent damage from exposure to natural sunlight.

Protect the fibres of your rug from being crushed by furniture by placing protective casters beneath the legs.

Loop piled rugs should be gently beaten instead of vacuumed,

Rugs Glossary

Close-up of a hand wielding a traditional wooden mallet, striking a loom to adjust or secure the weave of a white and black patterned rug.

Berber

Named after the tribe who invented the carpet-weaving technique, Berber handmade rugs are durable and feature a distinctive knot technique. These rugs can be vintage and hand-made, or contemporary and made on industrial looms.

Close-up view of a Gotland sheepskin throw, showcasing its soft, curly, white wool texture. The image highlights the intricate details of the fleece, emphasizing its fluffiness and warmth.

Dhurrie

A flat, woven rug, originating in India, dhurries are usually made of cotton or wool.

A close-up view of a Moroccan Kaarol rug, showcasing its soft, textured surface and fringe detail.

Hand-knotted

Wool is attached to the rug base with a knot, in a labour-intensive process that creates a strong and durable rug. The more knots, the more durable the rug.

Two people hold a large woven rug while a third person, seated, works on it with bundles of yarn beside them. The rug has a patchwork design in shades of beige and brown, with fringed edges.

Hand-loomed

The rug is produced on a loom that is operated by hand.

Hands of a craftsman stitching together pieces of a grey wool rug with intricate detail.

Hand-tufted

This is a technique for producing rugs by hand, using a small special gun that punches a pattern into a canvas. Hand-tufted rugs are soft under the feet, and their smooth texture provides a good surface for complex patterns.

A rustic weaving loom setup featuring natural fiber yarns hanging vertically from a wooden beam. The loom, crafted from weathered wood, is partially covered with woven fabric displaying a coarse texture.

Jute

A jute rug is made of a natural, blonde-coloured fibre that has a rustic, natural feel and a rugged texture. Jute rugs are durable and thickly woven.

Two artisans in traditional clothing are weaving a striped rug on a loom outdoors, highlighting the craftsmanship involved in creating handmade textiles.

Kilim

A kilim is a tapestry woven from fairly harsh, thick wool, made in Turkey, Iran, and elsewhere, usually featuring striking geometric designs. The Kurdish versions are brighter, more varied, and usually cheaper.

A close-up of a rug with long, curly fibers in a gradient of browns and creams.

Pile

This refers to the depth of a rug, or how far the fibres protrude from the floor. A deeper pile will have a more luxurious feel.

A detailed view of a natural jute braided rug, showing the intricate weave and rich texture. The rug's fibers are closely intertwined in a spiral pattern, demonstrating skilled craftsmanship.

Warp & Weft

These terms refer to the directions that threads are placed to weave the rug. The warp yarns are held in place, with tension, on the loom, and the weft yarns are drawn through them, over and under, using a shuttle.

A craftsman is sitting cross-legged on the floor, weaving a white rug with black abstract lines. He is wearing a white shirt and a beige cloth wrapped around his waist, meticulously working with the thread and loom.

Woven

Woven rugs can be either hand-made or made on a loom, and usually, feature geometric patterns in a mix of colours.

“I have never been keen on wall-to-wall carpet in my homes: I prefer to show beautiful old floorboards where they exist with lots of rugs or Indian dhurries.”

Sir Terence Conran, The House Book, 1974