The ultimate guide to rugs: Hand-knotted, flatweave and sustainable styles explained

The right rug can be the element that brings an interior scheme to life. However, often, and perhaps mistakenly, it is the last piece of a room to be considered when decorating. ‘It should be the other way around’, says Christine Van Der Hurd, leading textile designer and founder of rug specialist Vanderhurd. ‘The carpet or rug is the first part of the interior, the first piece in the puzzle, the clue to setting the direction the room will take. It helps to ground the room.’

Rugs add instant texture, colour and warmth to a scheme, but with so much choice on the market, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. ‘They don’t have to be an exact colour match with other elements, but they should be harmonious’, says Van Der Hurd. ‘A sure path to cohesion is to make sure the colours work together?’

When it comes to choosing a pattern, rug consultant Amy Kent, who offers standard and bespoke options, recommends ‘playing with scale and size, and consider how it will wear.’

Designs for life: The art of hand-knotted rugs

Traditionally, making rugs using the hand-knotting technique has a rich history originating in Asia and the Middle East, and a good silk or wool hand-knotted rug will last for decades, provided it is professionally cleaned.

Hand-knotted Afghan rugs, such as those stocked by Alex Rees at Rugs of Petworth, are made on looms in Afghanistan and then sent over the border to Pakistan for finishing, although he also sources from India, Iran and Turkey.

In several of her designs, Jennifer Manners uses the Tibetan hand-knotting technique, a method where each knot builds upon the previous one, and which is particularly well-suited for contemporary styles, too.

In a hand-knotted rug, whether made of silk, wool or a mix of the two, each dot of colour has been individually tied onto the warp thread and cut with a knife. Doing it by hand is laborious, but the detailed process allows for endless creativity when it comes to designs.

In terms of the finish, Lucy Todd, co-founder of 16TEN Rugs, explains that the knots are like pixels in a camera. ‘The higher the knot count, the finer the quality and the longer they take to make,’ she says. Kent adds, ‘When this process is done by a machine, the pile looks flat.’

Silk hand knotted rugs have a soft sheen, and more intricate designs due to high knot density, and are best for low-traffic areas. Wool rugs have natural stain resistance from lanolin, and best for high-traffic spaces. ‘If you want something cosy and luxurious, there is nothing better than a mohair wool rug to sink your feet into’, says Todd.

The beauty of hand-loomed rugs

Hand-loomed rugs are made with a shuttle that travels across the loom rather than by tying individual knots. While this method reduces the production time significantly, it also reduces the variety of the designs due to its more restrictive nature of weaving.

This production technique has been around for a long time, but is becoming more popular as a way of making a good-quality rug quickly. ‘The time constraint with hand-loomed rugs is the setting up, explains Jennifer Manners. ‘Once that’s done, a rug can be made in a matter of weeks.’

The appeal of hand-tufted rugs

A modern version of the hand knotted technique, hand-tufted rugs are made with a tufting gun, which is used to insert the yarns into a latex backing. Choose quality options to ensure hand-tufted rugs have latex that does not crack. Essentially, they look like hand-knotted rugs but are less expensive to make.

‘Hand tufted rugs are an excellent choice for living rooms and provide an especially luxurious experience in bedrooms, where the deep wool pile offers exceptional comfort underfoot,’ says Andy Guard of Roger Oates Design.

Practical flatweaves: Timeless and versatile rugs

Woven either by hand or on a loom, flatweave rugs, as their name suggests, have no pile. Cultures all over the world have developed their own patterns, from simple to intricate, and styles, such as Turkish kilims and Indian dhurries.

‘I’ve always thought a flatweave rug to be very chic, and, often, the understated piece that makes a room,’ says Guard. ‘Wool flatweave rugs are achingly practical, reversible, and their subtle texture complements all floor finishes.’

Eminently practical, flatweaves can be placed in any room, but are particularly well-suited for high-traffic areas like hallways and kitchens due to their hardwearing nature. To keep a flatweave rug pristine, periodically hang it outside over a washing line and beat it lightly to knock out the accumulated dust and dirt.

Plant-fibre wonders: Natural and sustainable rugs

‘Sisal is a durable plant fibre, suitable for most areas of the home. Jute, by contrast, is a softer fibre, which works well in bedrooms, although chunkier weaves can be used in sitting rooms and dining areas‘, says Kirsty Barton of Alternative Flooring.

Seagrass is hand-harvested from riverbeds and tied into long strands for weaving. ‘With its slight sheen from natural oils, seagrass adds a subtle glow to any interior space, but isn’t recommended for stairs,’ Barton adds. Its fibres can become slippery over time.

Also of note in this category, is 16TEN Rugs, which uses allo fibres. Similar to sisal and jute, allo fits the category of ‘perfectly imperfect’ textiles and, according to Lucy Todd, is the future path towards sustainable, luxury interiors, as it requires no fertilisers or pesticides.

Inside-outside flexibility: Rugs for every space

The advent of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) fibre has meant that it is possible to create durable, practical and attractive rugs made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles. Alternative Flooring’s Anywhere CarPET collection has rugs and runners that look like natural sisal but are suitable for any space indoors and out, including bathrooms.

Similarly, Jennifer Manners’ /re/PURPOSE PERFORMANCE collection is made up of hand knotted rugs which can be treated with bleach - should a glass of red wine be spilt on one.

How to size and position your rug

Make sure that a rug that is not too small for its intended purpose. ‘It is important to make sure the space feels grounded and not like the furniture is floating,’ says Barton. ‘Aim for a rug that’s wide or long enough for a sofa’s front legs to sit on comfortably - it should extend about six to eight inches beneath. The same is true for a rug under a dining table, where extra depth should be included to allow the chairs to pull out easily.’

Layering rugs is a way to add texture and define a space. ‘You can layer as much as you like, suggests Kirsty Darby of Tate & Darby. ‘A large jute rug on top of a carpet works well with a colourful striped kilim on top. Don’t think everything needs to be straight: rugs at an angle can create a more interesting look, too?’