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This is one of the things I get asked about a lot. Everything from what type, how big, should I go patterned or plain, or even which rugs are best for cats (a client did actually ask me this due to the clawing they inevitably do on certain textures).

So here’s a quick guide on what to think about when choosing rugs:

Type

The type of rug you go for will most likely depend on how much you want to spend, if you have a preference for certain materials, and what the ultimate function of the rug will be…whether that’s decorative, practical or even a bit of both.

Polypropylene, wool or plant-based fibres are your main choices. I have a bit of an issue with polypropylene rugs...and it's not just the eco reasons, as I can't hand on heart say that the mainstream wool or cotton industries are much better, but it's more from a sensory, tactile perspective. I always prefer either cotton or wool rugs as they simply feel better underfoot and are never static.
So for this guide, I’m going to focus on rugs made from natural materials.

Moss green sheepskin rug, Graham and Green

Wool
A wool rug will be durable, soft to walk on and naturally stain resistant due to it’s inherent water repelling qualities. If practicality is your number one requirement, then stick to a short pile densely woven rug as this is more likely to allow the dirt to sit on the surface, rather than be absorbed into the rug.
Patterned ones are also more forgiving when it comes to disguising the odd stain.

If you want to go all out on the luxury front, and don’t give a hoot about whether it’s practical or not, then grab yourself a sheepskin or a Flokati. Both of these feel great to walk on barefoot, and so are perfect for no-shoe areas where you crave a more sensory experience.
A note of caution for any parents out there…I once owned a huge Flokati that I indulged in when I lived in New York…brought it back to the UK, had kids and then watched it slowly get destroyed over the years from spillages, and all sorts of other things. You could literally have made a full meal from the amount of crumbs it hid among its tufts. So make sure you think about the practical as well as the decorative when it comes to your rug choice!

Jute, seagrass, sisal, hemp. coir etc.
Rugs made from plant-based fibres have really improved in design over the last few years. Where once they were plain brown, chunky and mainly found in communes (joke!), you can now find some beautifully decorative flat weave ones which will complement and enhance your design scheme.
They’re particularly great in hallways, or in front of sliding garden doors or bifolds, as they are tough enough to be stomped all over, and won’t absorb any dirt that’s just been walked in. Just let it dry, and then brush it off.
And if you have wooden floors, their earthy tones are perfect for sitting quietly in the background, without fighting with any other more prominent pieces you may have in your room.

Cotton
The main advantage with cotton rugs, depending on the size, is that they are washable and relatively low cost. They do pick up the dirt pretty easily though, and are probably best for low traffic areas. They can also ‘wrinkle up’ as they don’t lay as heavily on the floor. If you do decide to go for a larger cotton rug, always get a non-slip pad to go underneath…otherwise you may find yourself skidding across the room.

Sienna 100% recycled cotton rug from Ian Snow

More unusual materials
Unexpected materials are constantly being turned into rugs as designers look to create products in a more sustainable way. I’m not entirely sure what the process is, but if you’re looking for an outdoor rug for the summer, then one made from recycled plastic bottles has got to be a good option. I love the one below as it looks like a vintage Turkish rug, but would be way more practical.

Size

Another question that is always asked, is what size should my rug be? When it
comes to positioning a rug in certain areas, there are actually a few golden rules
that you can stick to.

Rugs by the sofa:

Rule number one regarding rugs by a sofa: always either sit the front two legs on it with roughly 20cm of rug under the sofa, or position it just in front of the sofa with roughly a 10cm gap.
The same said rug should be at least 15 - 20cm wider than the sofa on both sides.
And if you have an armchair near the sofa, try to make sure your rug is big enough to sit under part of it as well. That way you zone off your seating area perfectly, creating a lovely little area for relaxing in.
Likewise with a coffee table in front of the sofa, you will want that to sit on the rug as
well - with at least another 30 cm of rug on show beyond the width of the table.

Rugs under a dining table:

I love a rug under a dining table, particularly when the room is quite large or open plan as it helps to zone off the area, marking it off as a separate little space without the use of walls!
Regarding the size, it’s always a good idea to make sure it’s at least 50cm bigger than the table all round. This ensures that your chair isn’t half on and half off the rug when pulled out.
You want to be able to pull your chair fully out, and for it to still sit within the rug.
If you are putting a rug under a table in a separate dining room, do make sure you have enough space so that it is still at least 30cm from the edge of the room.
If you completely cover your floor with a rug, you will probably make your room feel small.
And always mirror the shape of your table to the shape of your rug. No square rugs under round tables…it just looks weird, and throws off all the symmetry in the room.

Rugs in a bedroom:

Again, the key is to have some of the rug under the bed as this ensures the space feels cosier. Also start the edge of the rug at least 15cm away from the bedside table, otherwise you end up having to position it all the way under it to avoid a wonky table, and then it’s butted up against the wall…which won’t look right either!
Your rug should always go beyond the edge of the bed by at least 50 - 60 cm, otherwise you won’t have enough space to step onto it’s cosiness when you first wake up in the morning…
And if you’re lucky enough to have a really massive bedroom, then a super large rug that will sit completely under the bed, and still go beyond it by 50 cm on all sides, is a powerful style statement, and a great way to bring an injection of either pattern, colour or both into your room.

Style

Layering:
There are various ways you can play around with rugs in order to bring a bit of style into your space. A technique that looks great on wooden floors in particular, is to layer a colourful patterned rug on top of a larger, plain, flat woven one made from coir, jute etc. This not only allows you to play with pattern on a smaller scale, and almost embed it into the earthier tones of the more neutral rug underneath, but it will also bring warmth and character to your room. It’s also a great thing to do with a more delicate vintage rug, as the sturdier one underneath seems to protect it from every day wear and tear. Plus I think people are less likely to walk on it with shoes, as it simply looks like a little piece of art! This type of thing is supposed to look like you mean it…intentional, not like you’ve just chucked a couple of random rugs on top of each other.

Unexpected placement:
Rugs can be great to use in places where you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find them. A vintage rug in a kitchen for example, will instantly bring a bit of homeliness to an often more austere area. Again, don’t forget the underpad if the rug is on tiles, you don’t want to be tripping up whilst holding a pan of hot sauce (wouldn’t want to ruin that rug after all).
Smaller, colourful rugs can also be used to create little pops of ‘visual’ interest around the home. I have a really pretty rag rug under my dog’s water and food bowls. Far preferable to a boring ‘dog designed’ mat in my opinion, easy to wash and looks great.
And I think the dog likes it too…
Likewise, try popping a smaller rug under a console table in a darker hallway for example. This will not only help draw the eye to another part of your home (where you might want to display art, or a vase collection), but will also bring colour to a part of your home that traditionally has less natural light.

A carpet but not a carpet:
Most carpet suppliers will offer the option of having a piece bound at the edges, thus turning it into a super sized rug. This is a fabulous idea for recreating the look and feel of carpet, without going all out and having it fitted. Great if you’re in a long term rental with dodgy flooring, perfect for a room like a nursery where you just want something simple to cover most of the floor (ready for rolling and crawling around on…the baby that is, not you), or simply to transform a darker wooden floor into something lighter and brighter in appearance. And the plus side is that you can take it with you when you move - unlike fitted carpets.
Carpets can be bound with simple self coloured stitching, edged with braiding or even with a leather border. There’s lots of choices, and it really is a fabulous way to cover a larger area.

Statement rug for maximum wow factor:
If the rest of your room is full of plain colour with little or no pattern, then your rug choice can be a real decor highlight. This is an ideal ‘interiors’ opportunity for you to really delve into the type of rug style that you’re drawn to, and go all out with a piece you’ll love.
And don’t be hoodwinked by trends. Find a style of rug you love, and inject a bit of character into your room. Also think about how it works with the rest of the colours in your space, whether there’s a thread of colour running through it that is found elsewhere in your other pieces or accessories, or perhaps it works with the floor colour like with the black and white cowhide in the image above.
Either way, consider it carefully,…particularly if it’s going to be a large one, as it will obviously draw the eye in a major way. And bear in mind longevity…consider how you might feel about it in a few years time, and whether you’ll still be into the whole Moroccan Berber look…

A pretty rug like this one can add a real sense of playfulness to a room. Tufted Eden rug by Anthropologie

And lastly, have fun with your rug choice and enjoy it’s inherent tactile nature.
Bear in mind also that if you’ve chosen a rug made from natural materials, there’s a strong chance it has been made by hand by someone on the other side of the world.
And that in itself is something quite wonderful.

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