A rug in the bedroom is all about a warm and comfortable underfoot, especially for those with hard flooring! For those wanting a larger rug for the room, we recommend a rectangular rug that sits right under the lower end of the bed and extends at least 50cm beyond the sides of the bed (depending on the size of your bedroom).
For those who don’t want a large rug but still want a warm underfoot when getting out of bed, we recommend a round or runner rug to place at either side of the bed.

Scale and proportion is key when placing a rug in your dining room. As a rule, you want your rug to be large enough to accommodate all the dining chairs, even when they are pulled out from the table. We recommend your rug be large enough to extend around 60-70cm beyond your table.
For high traffic, spill-risk areas like the dining area, we recommend a low-pile rug and easy-to-clean material like polypropylene for a rug.

 

Natural fibres like jute and hemp are eco-friendly and bio-degradable fibres that have a versatile look and feel that is easy to style. These fibres are durable and great for adding a touch of natural texture to a space.
Jute is highly absorbent, so it is best to avoid damp areas or spaces that may experience spills such and the bathroom, kitchen and dining areas, as liquids can stain the pile.

 

A popular natural fibre, Wool is a soft and warm fibre with excellent insulating properties. Wool holds colour well and generally cleans easily.
New wool rugs may experience some shedding within the first few months, however this will diminish overtime with frequent vacuuming.

 

 

 

Viscose is derived from natural sources but is a manufactured fibre. Viscose is an ultra-soft and shiny fibre that can be used on its own or to add a silky soft sheen to natural fibres such as wool rugs.
With viscose rugs, it is best to avoid spills and damp areas as liquids can stain the rug.

Your lifestyle will help to determine what rug qualities are important to you. Do you have pets? Are your young children full of energy? Do you create regular legendary dinner parties for your friends? Your activities inform your needs, so consider the following to help decide on the rug for the space you’re shopping for.

High Traffic Areas

Ideal

– Wool has many qualities that make it ideal for rug construction. It contains lanolin, so it’s repellant of water and moisture, plus it’s naturally stain resistant. It’s strong yet soft, making it ideal in any home, including family spaces.

Avoid

– High pile rugs in any fabrication are likely to wear unevenly, and they tend to shed more than other styles.
– Natural fibres, like jute and sisal, are not hard-wearing and they will absorb water spills and hold onto dirt more than other choices.
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Colour and pattern are also important considerations – light, neutral hues or solid dark colours will not work as they’ll show up all manner of pet hair and outside dirt. A colour in between is your best bet, either a solid style with flecks of colour in it, or a pattern that will camouflage what you need it to.​

​Stands Its Ground Against Stains

Ideal

– Low pile heat set polypropylene works well in dining spaces, its stain resistance, moisture resistance and high-impact colour ensuring it looks great even after a few spillages.
– Cotton rugs are often machine washable, so you can forget the elbow grease and let modern technology do the work.
– Wool is naturally stain resistant, and low pile weaves are the easiest to spot-treat.

Avoid

– Jute and sisal can irreversibly stain, and although they can be spot cleaned, it’s not as easy to take care of than wool, cotton, or synthetics. ​

Gives Your Home An Organic Look

Ideal

– Jute and sisal are your friend, as long as you’re styling it in a quiet nook. Keep foot traffic to a minimum and you’ll love the low-key look of this beautiful material.​
– Flat weave wool, especially wool kilims, work perfectly if you’re after a bohemian look.
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Avoid

– Heat set polypropylene​ has its qualities, but its synthetic nature and perfect finish are the antithesis of the style you’re after.
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Feels Luxurious Underfoot

Ideal

– Animal hides are unrivalled in their silky softness. The beautiful material looks as luxurious as it feels.
– Sheepskin is a gorgeous high pile option that feels beautiful. It’s perfect on your hearth, or by the side of the bed as the first thing you step on in the morning.
– Silk is a great choice in low traffic areas, but wool is a good balance of softness and durability, and can be used throughout the home in all areas.

Avoid

– Synthetic choices can be very soft, but their synthetic feel provides a less luxurious note to your home.
– Jute and sisal can be a little rough/coarse underfoot.

Choose a rug style to suit your lifestyle as well as your home. Think about how much traffic the rug will need to handle, whether you’ll be eating on it, or if you have kids and pets using the space. Is your style eclectic or bohemian? Do you favour bold pattern and colour, or is a neutral palette the foundation to your home? Here are a few of our favourites to consider.

1. Flatweave rugs

Ranging from traditional kilims or dhurries to modern styles featuring patterns, stripes and chevrons, these rugs have no pile because of the way they are woven on a loom. They are often more affordable than pile rugs and are a great way to update a room, but they are also less durable. They won’t last as long as a pile rug in high traffic situations and we recommend using a rug pad or underlay to keep them in place. 

2. Natural fibre rugs

Flat woven from natural fibres such as jute, sisal, coir or seagrass, these rugs add a casual feel. They’re generally durable, but require regular vacuuming to stop dirt from penetrating the fibres. They don’t like getting wet, so steam cleaning is out and spills should be dealt with immediately, spot cleaning is best. Many feature a latex backing to protect your floor and keep them in place.

3. Heat-set polypropylene rugs

When buying a synthetic fibre pile rug, look for higher quality heat-set polypropylene. It’s soft, durable and non-shedding, making it a good choice for families and high-traffic areas. It’s also non-static which means that it’s easy to vacuum up lint and pet fur. 

4. Pile rugs

Pile rugs may be hand made (often described as hand-knotted or hand-tufted) or machine made. The pile protects the warp and weft and a high quality hand-knotted rug, cared for well, can last a generation or more. Choice of style and price is almost boundless, from traditional Persian designs made using wool and silk to modern ‘shag’ styles. Materials include wool and silk through to practical synthetics such as acrylic and polypropylene. 

5. Wool rugs

High-quality wool rugs are soft and richly textured, so ideal for making a statement in the living room or adding luxe texture and warmth in a bedroom or nursery. Wool is naturally water and stain-resistant, thanks to the lanolin that coats the fibres. Wool is also known to hold colour well for vibrant results in a rug, as well as being a good sustainable material choice. 

6. Indoor/outdoor rugs

Made using polypropylene or similar synthetic fibres, these rugs are super practical and are now available in a surprisingly wide array of patterns and finishes. They can be hosed down if necessary, and they work well outdoors as well as in areas where kids and pets run wild! 

7. Hide rugs & sheepkins

Hide rugs add a cool, contemporary edge and are beautifully tactile. Cow hide rugs may be natural in colour, dyed or even printed. Style a large hide under a coffee table or next to the bed, or use them to layer over larger rugs or even furniture. Hides sold at Temple & Webster are by-products of the food production industry, and all products meet or exceed strict Australian government import standards.