Which rug suits me? A short guide to the right decision

A good rug belongs among those cultural goods that have been given particular attention through human history. Whether it is the tapestry, comparable to a work of art, or the Golden Fleece, around which countless stories are woven: at the centre stands always the beauty and the symbolic power of weaving, and the expression that comes out of it.

In that context the rug is an architectural detail and a still life with an epochal effect to match. In the foreground stand the sense of style and the fashion of the age, which the rug embodies.

Today anything is possible, and taste alone decides whether you put a small work of art, a visual highlight or a stylish stimulus on your floor. In the end your own taste is what counts, and it can draw creatively on an enormous variety. Now let us look at which rugs suit your home and how to find the best one for you.

Find the right rug for you

In cultural history, the rug will have developed out of the human striving for comfortable domesticity. Making the ground softer and more comfortable with brushwood, twigs or other natural materials was probably the first step towards the rug as an underlay. Animal skins and hides are still used today almost untreated, to lift parquet, laminate or a tiled floor. At the same time, a plaited mesh of twigs pointed the way towards creating a flat textile out of that same craft.

At the heart of rug production, then, stands the making of a flat textile, entirely by hand or by machine, which is either tufted, warp-knitted, knotted or woven. While looms were in use in Egypt as early as 4400 BC, as far as we know, the first weaving machine only saw the light of day in the 16th century. In cultural terms, rugs from the craft of the East, the oriental rugs, are therefore distinguished from those of Western production. This article will help you find the right rug – one that suits you and makes your home beautiful.

With that distinction especially, it is worth looking closely at workmanship, material and origin. Oriental rugs of the highest quality are recognised not by a beautiful pattern alone, but by harmonious colours, dense knotting and long-lasting natural fibres. If you want a rug that is not only decorative but gives a room lasting character, take these marks of quality deliberately into account.

Three expert tips for the right rug

1. Choose materials that suit you

When choosing the right rug, always look at the material, since it is the decisive factor in the durability, the quality and the look of the rug in your home.

If you are particularly interested in classical craft and long-lasting natural materials, it is worth treating Persian rugs as a category of their own. They differ considerably according to origin, knot density, pattern and the quality of the wool. It helps, therefore, not to decide on colour or size alone but to check what really makes the best Persian rugs in daily use: coherent workmanship, harmonious colours and a material that suits the room in question.

Both man-made materials and pure natural materials have advantages and disadvantages to weigh against one another. With a textile, the focus of an often repeatedly tested material quality is on durability, ease of care and resistance to dirt. For that, the fibres and their properties should come first. A distinction is drawn between rugs in natural materials such as bamboo, coir, sisal, wool, leather or seagrass, and rugs in synthetic textile such as polyester, viscose, PET or paper. These materials have the following properties:

Bamboo        

This natural material is very silky and extremely elegant in its effect. It is a renewable raw material that regulates temperature and moisture. A bamboo rug is therefore fully recyclable, and it binds dust and allergens as well.

Coir        

In its homeland the coconut palm is also called the tree of life. Coir fibres make an extremely robust rug material, thanks to their durability. The timeless elegance of their warm natural tones is growing more popular here as well, since the textile also has a good effect on the climate of a room.

Sisal        

The sisal agave is a plant whose long fibres go mainly into making cord and yarn. Along with very high durability, this natural material improves the air in a room; it is biodegradable and convinces with timeless natural colours.

Wool        

Wool, one of the best-known textiles, is very hard-wearing and long-lasting. The material binds fine dust and is easy to clean. Wool has surface properties that repel dirt naturally, thanks to its own grease content. Wool also convinces with a natural damping of impact noise.

Leather        

Leather is very robust and is worked into rugs particularly in the so-called patchwork technique. The material can be used in many ways and is very resistant and easy to care for.

Seagrass        

As a natural raw material, seagrass is growing more popular, since it grows back quickly and is 100% biodegradable. That ecological value is complemented by a warm natural tone, which improves the climate of a room further. A seagrass rug is very hard-wearing as well.

Polyester        

Polyester consists of synthetic micro-fibres, developed technically as an alternative to silk. The polymer is extremely robust and heat-resistant and, depending on the weaving technique, can imitate natural rug fibres.

Viscose        

Viscose has a silky sheen, and it is mainly for that lustre that the rug industry uses it. It is a close-to-natural fibre with a fine look, and it damps impact noise. Viscose is also 100% biodegradable.

Paper        

Paper is a renewable raw material, since it is made from softwoods and cellulose fibres. As a rug the material is very robust, easy to care for and, on top of that, 100% biodegradable.

2. Choose between high-pile and short-pile rugs

The surface structure of a rug can differ enormously. Depending on the material used, rugs are distinguished by the length of the fibre, by the cut and by whether they are loop-pile. In fibre length, the high-pile rug, at 1.5 cm to 5 cm, is distinguished from the short-pile fibre, which is under 1.5 cm. A rug is also called a bouclé when it is a loop-pile made of closed yarn loops or fibre loops. Velour rugs, by contrast, consist of cut fibres. A mixture of velour and bouclé is the cut-loop.

High-pile rugs suit bedrooms and formal living rooms best, rooms that are only rarely walked through. A deep pile offers the ultimate in warmth and comfort, so that you feel good barefoot or can sit on the floor with plenty of padding. So if you are looking for rugs for a living room or a bedroom, high-pile rugs suit you best.

Short-pile rugs are ideal for rooms where children play, and for dining rooms and kitchens, where things get spilt and easy cleaning matters most.

3. Choose colours that suit your interior

Given where a rug will finally be used, it can be chosen to suit the furnishing and the fittings of that room. Whether it is the hall, the kitchen, the living room or the bathroom, different rug sizes, colours and designs are available according to the size and character of the room. While in a bathroom the rug's regulation of moisture should come first, in a child's room a hard-wearing, dirt-repellent rug is the one to choose. In colour and in shape, this piece of interior design should also be chosen to suit the size of the room and the floor beneath it.

Frequently asked questions about finding the right rug

How do I find the right rug?

To find the right rug, various factors have to be taken into account: size, style, colour and material. To make sure it fits, measure the area you have in mind precisely, and bear in mind that larger rugs generally work better. Think of a particular style or colour that you can match to your existing furniture and furnishings. Choose the material according to what the room demands – hard-wearing options for heavily used areas, and a low pile where chairs have to move easily over it.

This will help you choose a rug that suits your living room, your dining room or any other area of your home. Knowing the right size and shape for the way your furniture is arranged – when placing a rug under a dining table, for example – helps you achieve a harmonious look. Go for natural fibres such as cotton, jute or sisal for a minimal, Scandinavian-inspired look.

It matters to understand the care a rug needs and how it suits allergy sufferers. Choose from a range of materials such as wool, polypropylene or synthetic blends. In the end, choosing the right rug improves the whole atmosphere and design of your space and provides both looks and comfort.

Which rug suits which sofa?

When choosing a rug for your living or dining room, take account of the colour and the style of your sofa. With a pale sofa, go for a dark rug to create a striking contrast. With a dark sofa, on the other hand, a pale rug can give a fine balance. Do not be afraid to combine within a space – you can always use a separate rug to define an area. Remember to consider the size and shape of the rug, the material (cotton, or natural fibres such as jute or sisal) and how much care it will need.

Which rug suits which floor?

Look first at the colour and the finish of the floor. On dark parquet or dark tiles, a pale rug lifts the room; on a pale floor such as oak, ash or light laminate, a rug a few shades darker gives the room depth. With a busy floor – patterned tiles, or vinyl with a strong grain – choose a plain or restrained rug so that the two do not compete. Rug and floor should harmonise but stay clearly distinct: if they sit in almost the same shade, the rug disappears. On a smooth floor such as tiles or laminate, a non-slip backing or an anti-slip mat matters; on underfloor heating, check that the rug is approved for it.

How big should a rug in front of a sofa be?

A rug in front of a sofa should be big enough for all the furniture legs to stand on it. That way the rug anchors the seating area and creates a coherent look. It is advisable to choose a rug size that extends at least 30 to 60 cm beyond the sofa on each side. That helps define the seating area visually and gives the room a sense of proportion. Beyond that, it matters to take the size of the room and the overall layout into account when choosing the right rug size.