Turquoise Rugs

Turquoise rugs: freshness and depth for your home

A turquoise rug brings something into a room that hardly any other colour manages: the freshness of water and, at the same time, a quiet depth. Turquoise is a mixture of blue and green, it takes the best of both, and depending on the light and its surroundings it reads sometimes cool and clear, sometimes warm and summery. On the floor the colour has its greatest effect, because there it fills a large surface without pressing on the eye. Bright rooms receive a breath of sea and holiday, while darker spaces gain clarity and lightness.

Turquoise rugs bring freshness to a living room, calm to a bedroom, and suit anyone who wants colour in an interior without making it restless. Unlike red or yellow, turquoise does not push itself to the front. It accompanies the furnishings, sets accents and creates an atmosphere many people describe as relaxing. Morgenland Rugs is a family business with a showroom in Hamburg's Speicherstadt, and we see every day how differently a turquoise rug can work at home, depending on whether it is laid next to wood, white or grey.

From petrol blue to aqua: the turquoise family

Turquoise is not a single shade but a whole family. In this category you will find a selection of variants that differ markedly in effect and mood:

• Petrol blue is the dark, muted pole of the family. It stands for elegance, reads as almost velvety, and suits brass, walnut and dark wall colours.
• Aqua is light, clear and airy. The shade recalls shallow water over sand and makes small rooms appear larger.
• Shades close to sea blue lean more towards blue than green. They read as calm and can be combined almost like a neutral.
• Classic turquoise and blue-green hold the balance between the two sides and are the freshest choice, luminous like the aquamarine many know from jewellery.

Which shade is right depends on the light. Light from the north makes turquoise read cooler, while evening sun brings the green out. Plain turquoise rugs radiate calm, while patterned models bring movement into the design. If you are unsure, the best method is to lay two variants side by side and look at them at different times of day.

Oriental or modern: two routes to a turquoise rug

Turquoise has its place in both great worlds of the rug. In turquoise Oriental rugs the colour often appears as an accent within a pattern grown from tradition: as a medallion, as a border, in floral scrolling vines, or as a field between warm earth tones. Oriental patterns in turquoise have a particular elegance, because the wool breaks the colour and makes it shimmer in many nuances. Ziegler and Gabbeh rugs show well how readily turquoise gets on with beige, rust and grey.

The turquoise modern rugs take the other route. Here the colour often stands on its own: as a plain field, as an abstract design with gradations, as a graphic composition, or as a vintage rug in which turquoise is washed out with grey and cream. Turquoise rugs therefore span stylistically from modern to vintage. Low-pile qualities suit clear, pared-back interiors, while a softer pile brings comfort into a room.

If you do not want to choose, you can mix the two worlds. A modern turquoise rug beneath an old wooden table, or an Oriental rug with turquoise in an otherwise purist room, are combinations that show character. Our Oriental rugs and modern rugs give an overview of every style.

Size and shape: matching a turquoise rug to the room

Size decides whether a rug reads as an island or as a base. As a rule of thumb: in the living room at least the front feet of the seating should stand on the rug, and better the whole seating group. Beneath the dining table you need about 60 to 70 centimetres of margin all round, so that the chairs do not slide over the edge when pushed back. In the bedroom, one large rug extending beyond the bed reads more calmly than two small bedside mats. Small rooms benefit from light turquoise, while large living rooms also carry a strong turquoise in a large format.

Shape influences the effect of turquoise noticeably too:

• A turquoise runner draws a fresh line through a hallway or kitchen and guides the eye. With a runner it is above all the length that counts: it should accompany the route rather than stopping abruptly.
• A round rug in turquoise reads as soft and playful, loosens up angular floor plans and suits a round table or the centre of a children's room.
• A square rug suits square seating groups and rooms with clear proportions.
• The rectangle remains the classic and the most common shape.

Turquoise rugs in the living room, bedroom, hallway and kitchen

Turquoise rugs suit almost every room, but they work differently in each:

Living room: here the rug may be large, and here turquoise brings the most freshness. A turquoise rug beneath a grey or beige sofa reads immediately as a colour scheme, without any other furniture having to be replaced. Cushions in yellow or coral pick the shade up.

Bedroom: muted shades such as petrol blue create a peaceful atmosphere. A soft wool rug in petrol beside the bed is pleasant underfoot in the morning and gives the room a more refined air.

Dining room: a turquoise rug makes a dining room modern. Beneath the table a low pile is recommended, ideally patterned, because it hides crumbs and light traces of use more generously than a plain field.

Hallway: a turquoise runner greets guests with freshness and a maritime air, almost like a view of the sea, and creates a welcoming atmosphere. Wool is the first choice here for its resilience.

Kitchen: turquoise suits white fronts and wood. A narrow runner in front of the worktop brings colour to a place that often stays sober.

Children's room: aqua and light turquoise are cheerful without reading as childish, and so grow with the child. Combined with white and blue they make a serene room, and a round rug as a play surface works particularly well here.

Combining turquoise: walls, furniture and accessories

Turquoise is easy to combine, because it suits warm and cool colours alike. With white walls the rug reads as clear and maritime; with a warm beige and sand it takes on a Mediterranean air; with anthracite or dark grey, elegance arises. Dark wall colours in petrol or fir green work too, provided the rug is lighter than the wall.

With furniture the rule is simple: a strong turquoise harmonises with dark furniture and warm woods such as walnut, a light turquoise with white and pale woods such as oak or ash. White and grey upholstery are uncomplicated partners, and with gold or brass turquoise glows especially. Complementary colours create the tension: orange, coral, mustard yellow or a warm terracotta set lively accents beside turquoise. For more calm, stay within the family and combine turquoise with blue, green and petrol.

For accessories: one or two repetitions of the rug's colour are enough. A cushion, a vase or a picture in turquoise is all it takes to link the rug to the rest of the interior. No more than that, or the effect tips into a themed room.

Material, pile and care

The material determines how turquoise looks and how long it stays beautiful. The quality of a rug is recognised first in the fibre. Wool takes colour deeply and returns it matt and alive. In hand-knotted Oriental rugs the dye is in every fibre, along with the natural mix of slightly differing shades that makes a rug read calm and refined. Silk brings the sheen: a turquoise with a silk content changes with the fall of light and looks different from every angle. Wool is also durable and repels dirt naturally, an advantage that counts for a light colour such as aqua.

On pile: a low pile is suited to daily life, easy to vacuum and the right choice for dining room, hallway and runners. A high pile is softer underfoot, creates comfort and suits living room and bedroom. The foundation of many Oriental rugs is cotton, which gives them stability; cotton in the foundation is a good sign of solid construction.

On care: vacuum at least once a week, dab stains up at once with clean water and an absorbent cloth, and never rub. Direct sun over years weakens any colour; turning the rug every few months distributes light and traffic evenly. For deep cleaning of wool and silk in a way that respects the material, roughly every one to two years depending on use, our rug cleaning is at your disposal.

Advice, made-to-measure and showroom in Hamburg

A turquoise rug is a decision best made with the original in front of you. Images on a screen never show the colour quite as it will work in your home. In our showroom in Hamburg's Speicherstadt you can see a selection of turquoise rugs side by side, touch them and compare them in daylight. We are a family business and we take the time for your questions.

If you bring or send us photographs of your home, we will give you an honest assessment of shade, size, design and style. Use our personal rug consultation for that. If no standard size fits, we can advise you on having a modern rug made to measure, in your turquoise and in your shape.

Common questions about turquoise rugs

Which colour suits a turquoise rug?

The simplest are white, beige, grey and pale wood. For contrast, orange, coral, yellow, gold and brass work well. Within the family, blue, green and petrol harmonise.

Does a turquoise rug quickly look too colourful?

No, if the shade suits the room. Plain turquoise rugs radiate calm, and muted shades such as petrol blue can be used almost as a neutral. Light shades such as aqua need quiet partners in white, grey or natural tones.

What size should a turquoise rug be?

In the living room, large enough for the seating group to stand on it at least with its front feet. Beneath the dining table, with about 60 to 70 centimetres of margin per side. When in doubt, take a size up: a rug that is too small looks lost.

How do I care for a turquoise rug so the colour stays fresh?

Vacuum regularly, dab stains up at once with water, turn the rug from time to time and avoid permanent direct sun. For wool and silk, professional cleaning at longer intervals is recommended.