Latest Homes magazine

Latest Interiors gives the home a quick and simple make over by adding a rug to your living space

Accessorise, add a splash of colour, or even give
your space a makeover by choosing the right rug. This season, colour is everywhere, so be bold and make a statement. This week, Latest Interiors checks out some bright and beautiful rugs…

Feel it
Pure wool is the ultimate in softness and under-foot luxury. Other natural fibres, such as linen, suede, jute, coir, leather and sheepskin also look and feel beautiful. Wool/synthetic mixes and man-made alternatives to animal product can be harder-wearing and more resistant to stains.

Rugs are an excellent way of introducing texture to a room: simple, natural fibres such as jute and hemp provide a low-key accent in modern or eclectic spaces, as do Japanese tatami (rush-work) mats. For something a little cosier, choose thick-pile wool, silk, or an animal skin rug.
Opt for flat-weave rugs and runners (where the material is woven like fabric) in high-traffic areas like halls and stairs. Rugs with a ‘pile’ are better suited to room areas with less traffic – over-used, they will look flat and tired quickly.

See it
This summer, make it bright and bold. Colour is one of this season’s key trends. Summer brights – lime, lemon, orange and blue – look fabulous in neutral or white spaces. Subtler shades of aubergine, midnight blue, brick, saffron and moss work well in more traditional homes.

Single colours, or wide blocks of colour, make a strong visual statement and can transform a space. We particularly love the stunning laser-cut ‘Stella’ felt rugs by Michelle Mason (www.notonthehighstreet.com) – circular, soft merino felt rugs in bold monochrome, with a cut-out lace pattern. Bodie & Fou (www.bodieandfou.com) also sell a bright, beautiful circular pink felt rug, with cut-out butterflies and flowers.

Patterned rugs are better for hiding wear-and-tear, and there are some fabulous designs; contemporary florals work almost anywhere, and are very now. We love Debenhams’ designer ranges for colour and pattern. For something a little greener, check out the very inexpensive cotton durry rugs and runners – contemporary colours and a beautiful peacock design – at Nettle Green (www.nettlegreen.co.uk).

This entry was posted on Monday, June 21st, 2010 at 3:20 pm and is filed under Features, Interiors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.