Buying Guides
Buying the best rugs
So much more than a way to protect flooring, rugs are an easy way to instantly brighten up your home décor. They can be a work of art for your living space as well as a practical addition to your home.
This buying guide covers everything you need to consider before choosing your rug, such as size and material, right through to ordering and caring for your new purchase.
What size rug do I need?
Runner 70 x 240cm | Small 60 x 90cm | Small 90 x 150cm | Medium 120 x 180cm | Large 170 x 240cm | Large 200 x 300cm | Extra Large 240 x 340cm
Example Placements
Kitchen
Small (60 x 90cm)
Conservatory
Small (90 x 150cm)
Outdoor
Medium (120 x 180cm)
Dining Room
Large (170 x 240cm)
Hallway
Runner (70 x 240cm)
Types of Rugs
Think about what you want your new rug to do. Do you want it to lengthen a space? Complete the look of a room or simply protect a carpet or floor?
Mats & Doormats
- Protect carpets and floors
- Provide a shield against dirt carried in from outdoors
- Natural fibre and synthetic mats are great for landings and hallways
Runners
- Update transition spaces such as hallways and landings
- Break up areas of open-plan spaces
- Create a themed look with matching rugs
Sheepskin
- Add a luxury element, texture and warmth to a room
- Tactile and cosy
- Ideal for living rooms and bedrooms
- Great for providing a soft surface in nurseries for children to play on
Traditional
- Choose a handmade rug for a truly unique piece
- Many are crafted using artisan techniques passed down from generation to generation and made with a high-density knot for an intricately detailed design
- Rugs sourced from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan are often carefully constructed over a matter of months
- Create a striking centrepiece for living rooms and dining rooms
Indoor/Outdoor Rugs
- We sell a range of door mats for both indoor and outdoor use
- Many of our indoor door mats are machine washable
- Many of our door mats are made using coir which is a natural and durable fibre made from coconut husks.
- Our outside door mats ensure dirt is left at the front door
Which material?
The look, feel and quality of a rug is also dependent on the type of yarn fibres used.
Wool
Pros
- Warm and durable
- Naturally flame-retardant
- Easy to clean
- Reduces heat loss and noise
- Sustainable
Cons
- Not hypo-allergenic
- Not compatible with acid stains (juice, wine etc)
Ideal for...
Living room, bedroom, hallway
Wool mix
Pros
- Reduced shedding
- Strong
- Cost-effective
Cons
- Less durable than pure wool
Ideal for...
Living room, dining room
Polypropylene
Pros
- Good value for money
- Highly stain resistant
- Easy to clean
- Good colour fastness
Cons
- Flammable
- Heavy furniture may leave a dent
Ideal for...
Hallway, landing, utility room
Polyester
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Good colour fastness
- Quick-drying
- Cost-effective alternative to wool
Cons
- Not resistant to oil-based stains (butter, cosmetics)
Ideal for...
Hallway, bathroom, bedroom
Nylon
Pros
- Very strong
- Durable
- Doesn't flatten as easily as polypropylene or polyester
- Highly stain-resistant and easy to clean
Cons
- Doesn't retain its appearance as well as wool
Sisal
Pros
- Strong
- Hardwearing
- Available in a choice of muted colours
Cons
- Stains easily
- Difficult to clean
Ideal for...
Living room, bedroom, landing
Seagrass
Pros
- Naturally textured
- Stain-resistant
Cons
- Slippery surface, especially when wet
Ideal for...
Living room, bedroom
Jute
Pros
- Softest of all natural floor coverings
- Fine texture
- More stain-resistant than sisal
Cons
- Not hardwearing
Ideal for...
Bedroom, study
Coir
Pros
- Durable
- Strong
- Cost-effective
Cons
- Prone to shedding
- Poor colour fastness
Ideal for...
Hallways, utility rooms
Rug construction
Many of our rugs are constructed by hand, giving variants to the texture, feel and quality of each one.
Hand tufted
- Wool is injected into the backing with a tufting gun. The tufts are sealed firmly in place with latex and then covered with a backing cloth
- Some natural shedding will occur at first but will stop with time
- Not suitable for rooms with underflooring heating as these rugs are latex backed
- Medium durability
Hand loomed
- Rugs are created using a traditional shuttle process by hand on a loom
- Material is laced together to create a strong weave
- Durable construction
Hand knotted
- The oldest and most individual way a rug can be made
- An intricate process of weaving by hand on a loom
- Yarns are tied one at a time
- Durable construction
Hand woven
- Materials are woven together by hand to create a strong construction
- Flat finish making them ideal for busy, high-traffic rooms
Caring for your rug
- Turn regularly to help prevent uneven fading
- Vacuum regularly to avoid shedding
- Use a low-suction vacuum setting for tufted rugs to prevent pile loss
- If you have an upright vacuum cleaner, use the brush tool rather than a regular brush
- Beat loop pile rugs gently rather than vacuuming
- Speak to our Partners about specialist care for traditional or oriental rugs
Responsible sourcing
We're part of the Ethical Trading Initiative, with sustainable trading being at the core of our Partnership values. We ensure our handmade rugs are responsibly sourced by only dealing with suppliers who mirror our opposition to child labour.
Household needs
When considering your new rug, think about how it will work with your lifestyle and the rest of your household.
A great way to visualise the size of a rug is to mark out the space on the floor using a tape measure and newspapers or masking tape. This will really help you picture the size of the rug you are considering and how it will fit into your space.
Have a large family or entertain a lot?
Then consider a flatweave or low-pile rug that can withstand the wear and tear of heavy traffic.
Have young children or pets?
Spend more time relaxing on the floor?
Concerned about trip hazards?
Ordering your rug
Delivery options
Standard delivery
Standard delivery is free for orders over £50, or £3.50 if you spend less. This can be as little as 3 working days, but you’ll be offered delivery slots at checkout.
Click & collect
Click & collect is free for orders of £30 and over, or £2 if you spend less
Next day delivery
Next day delivery is available for most of our rugs.
Delivery by our approved supplier
Delivery by our approved supplier means the rug will be delivered directly by the manufacturer, or their chosen courier, and they will arrange delivery with you.