Skip to Content

40 of the best rugs to buy now

Colourful or neutral, big or small, these are the rugs with room-transforming potential

By and
emily forgot rug for floor story
Floor Story

Functional but fabulous, rugs are often referred to as art for your floor. As we catch on to the ability rugs have to transform a room, artists, interior experts and furniture designers are all turning their hand to creating new designs. There’s never before been such a plethora of styles to choose from. Whether you’re looking for highly decorative designs, bright hues or something a bit more minimalist (if so, you may also like our edit of Berber rugs), we have the one for you.

1

‘Oblique’ by Matthew Hilton for Nanimarquina, Nest

oblique rug by matthew hilton for nanimarquina
Nanimarquina

Different pile heights have been used to create the two layers of Hilton’s ‘Oblique’ design, echoing the age-old tradition of overlaying rugs. It’s a deceptively simple visual trick that will subtly add interest to a pared back scheme. £3,709, nest.co.uk

2

‘De Stijl’ by Eileen Gray, Aram

de stijl rug by eileen gray at aram
Aram

Made in Nepal from hand-spun New Zealand wool, this rug is a great way to invest in a piece of iconic modernist design. It was based on one of a series of paintings and collages made by Eileen Grey during the 1920s and ‘30s which were influenced by the Dutch De Stijl art movement that lends it its name. From £8,300, aram.co.uk

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

‘Terracotta Lewitt’ by Garcé & Dimofski, Invisible Collection

terracotta lewitt rug by garce and dimofski from invisible collection
PIFFAUT

Hand-tufted from 100 per cent wool, Garcé & Dimofski’s ‘Terracotta Le witt’ rug is made in a succession of layers that evoke a random, moving pattern. From £1,975 per sq m, theinvisiblecollection.com

4

‘Zebra D III’ rug, Tai Ping

zebra d iii rug tai ping
Tai Ping

Made from New Zealand wool and silk by Tai Ping’s craftspeople, this beautiful tufted rug’s swooping curves and crisp lines gives it an Art Deco feel. It comes in four colourways - we love the deep inky blues and greens of the ‘Nocturne’ option. £2,421, taipingshop-uk.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

‘Himani’ rug, Baxter

himani rug by baxter
ALEPH-como

The dramatically contrasting tones and textures of Baxter’s ‘Himani’ series of rugs make them look and feel like a piece of abstract art on the floor. Price on application, baxter.it

6

‘Memoriae’ rug, CC-Tapis

cc tapis memoriae rug by duccio maria gambi
Pizzetti Paolo 2020

Duccio Maria Gambi’s extraordinary hand-knotted Himalayan wool creation pushes the boundaries of what a rug can be, with the borders and edges dissolving and taking on a 3-dimensional quality. Whether it’s placed underfoot or hung on a wall to be observed from a different perspective, this striking design will transform any space it inhabits. From £5,109, cc-tapis.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

‘Hover’ rug, Deirdre Dyson

deirdre dyson hover hand knotted wool and silk rug
Deirdre Dyson Exclusive Carpets and Rugs

The perfect foil for contemporary furniture, Deidre Dyson’s ‘Hover’ rug is alive with vibrant colour and dynamic pattern. Hand-knotted in wool and silk, the varying tones and textures bring a lightness and energy to the design. £1,080 per sq m, deirdredyson.com

8

‘Rondel’ rug, Jennifer Manners

jennifer manners rondel rug
Jennifer Manners

Proving that you don’t need bright colours or complex patterns for a design to have impact, Henry Prideaux’s ‘Rondel’ rug for Jennifer Manners features a series of raised roundels to make a subtle statement. The hand-knotted rug is made from an innovative fibre formed from recycled water bottles which is durable, sustainable and feels luxurious underfoot. £2,355, jennifermanners.co.uk

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

‘Jelly Salad’ rug, Christopher Farr

jelly salad rug by bethan laura wood for christopher farr
CHRISTOPHER FARR

Bethan Laura Wood found inspiration in the kitsch, colourful Jell-o salads that were so popular in America in the ‘50s and ‘60s for the design of this CF Editions rug for Christopher Farr. Made using the hooked rug technique, its joyful abstract vegetables gain textural definition from the varying heights of the pile, as if they are suspended in a jelly sea. £975, christopherfarr.com

10

‘Elder 03’ rug, Nordic Knots

elder 03 rug nordic knots
Nordic Knots

The muted, neutral tones and restrained geometry of this hand-knotted rug make it perfect for tying all the elements in a room together. Made from Sardinian wool using centuries-old artisanal weaving techniques, it’s a beautiful balance of contemporary style and traditional craftsmanship. From £845, nordicknots.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

‘Archipelago’ rug, Kasthall

archipelago rug by kasthall
Kasthall

After lead designer Gunilla Lagerhem Ullberg’s death in 2015, the team at Swedish textile brand Kasthall turned her sketches and samples for ‘January’, the third entry in her ‘Archipelago’ series, into reality. A fitting tribute to the ‘queen of rugs’ that will make a neutral but interestingly textured addition to any home. From £8,560, kasthall.com

12

‘Construct’ rug, Floor Story

construct rug emily forgot for floor story
TRAFFIC JAM STUDIO LTD

Following a one-off project, Emily Forgot and east London rug dealers Floor Story have joined forces for ‘Construct’. Its three designs draw on Forgot’s blending of the boundaries between 2D and 3D, via different pile heights, colours and her signature graphic shapes. Each works on its own or can be joined together to create a larger, modular floor covering. From £750, floorstory.co.uk

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

‘Inky Dhow’ rug, CC-Tapis

inky dhow rug by bethan gray for cc tapis
CC-Tapis

Like many of us during lockdown, British designer Bethan Gray picked up a new skill: calligraphy. The lines created by her Chinese calligraphy brush were the inspiration for this complex but calming rug design for CC-Tapis. £6,435, monologuelondon.com

14

‘Eik’ rug by Linie design, Woven

flat weave rug with abstract shapes pattern and fringed ends, elk rug, linie design
Linie Design

Softly Scandinavian in style, this rug has a graphic print in soft tones, making it the ideal choice for a neutrally decorated space. From £300, woven.co.uk

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

‘Busy’ rug by Raw Edges, Nest

rectangular rug with large stitches, raw edges for gan, heals
Nest

Design duo Raw Edges explore the messy underside of hand embroidery, giving it pride of place on the surface of this rug from the ‘Backstitch’ collection for GAN. £1,036, nest.co.uk

16

‘Off cuts’ rug, Deirdre Dyson

deirdre dyson off cuts  note paper hand knotted wool and silk rug
Deirdre Dyson

In her ‘Paper and Stone’ collection of rugs and wall hangings, Deirdre Dyson explores the possibilities of both materials. All pieces are made bespoke in Nepal. ‘Note Paper’ wall hanging; ‘Off Cuts’ rug, both from £1,080 per square metre, deirdredyson.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

‘Climbing vine’ rug, Nordic Knots

climbing vine rug by campbell rey for knots rugs
Knots Rugs

The colour combination in Campbell-Rey’s creation for Nordic Knots sets it apart from the crowd, with a deep, mossy green paired with on-trend lilac. The floral motif pays tribute to the traditional Swedish Gustauvian style. From £670, nordicknots.com

18

‘Selce 1’ rug by Studio Salaris, Artemest

mustard rug with burgundy tufts, selce rug
Studio Salaris

Unconventional in shape, this rug is constructed using different techniques including boucle, velvet, relief and shag pile, giving it a unique feel as well as look. £5,485, artemest.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

‘Pisces’ rug, The Rug Company

pisces rub by martin brudnizki for the rug company
The Rug Company

Interior designer Martin Brudnizki concentrated on the border of this rug, decorating it with a sequence of fish tails. Gold silk accents add a scale-like glint to the deep blue background. From £2,791, therugcompany.com

20

‘Nuances’ rug by Patricia Urquiola, GAN

patricia urquiola, gan, heals, felt rectangular rug with curve
Gan Rugs

Superstar designer Patricia Urquiola’s sustainable felt rug, made from discarded wool, was the winner of the 2020 ELLE Decoration International Design Award for flooring. £2,349, heals.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below