Latest Interiors looks at new trends in carpets and rugs

What’s hot underfoot?

Rugs and carpets help keep heat in, reduce noise, and provide the perfect colour update to any room. Even better, they feel fabulous underfoot, especially as the colder nights draw in. Fancy brightening up your winter floors? Allow Latest Interiors to help you tread softly over some of this season’s best rugs and carpets.

Covered in carpets
Different types of carpet suit different rooms and varying amounts of ‘traffic’. Generally, carpets are either tufted or woven, and fall into three broad categories: twists, loops and velvets. ‘Twists’, which have a cut pile and textured finish, are a good, hardwearing choice for halls and other high-use areas. ‘Loops’ and cords – made from uncut loops of yarn – have a very textured, rugged finish. Also hardwearing and great to look at, their texture makes them trickier to keep pristine so they are better suited to areas with less dirt and mess. ‘Velvets’ are a finer, smoother version of twists, and are ideal for bedrooms and more formal spaces.

Real wool carpets usually cost a little more than man-made or wool/nylon blends, but they remain the gold standard for floor covering. They are also a sustainable, environmentally friendly choice. Wool carpets are hard wearing and stain resistant, and usually clean up well, but for really high traffic areas (or if you’re on a budget), blends of wool and synthetic fibres perform very well.

This season, natural, neutral tones and plain carpets remain a strong trend. But as with other textiles – home and fashion – colour is headlining again. Rich shades of plum, crimson and chocolate bring warmth and colour back in – and if you want to make a statement, or add interest to tricky spaces like stairs and hallways, opt for a fabulous, bright pattern or some bold stripes.

Ravishing rugs
Textured rugs and accessories add warmth and contrast to living space. This season, we’re still loving soft, felted-wool rugs, crunchy sisal and linen, shag-pile, and fluffy sheepskin – lots of texture and form. Look out also for brushed wool, boucle matting, silk, leather and other natural fibres such as coir or bamboo for textured rugs and runners.

As with carpets, rich colours are perfect for winter – chocolate, crimson, emerald green, amber and saffron will warm the coolest space. Geometric prints are still a big trend. Central or large-scale abstract and floral patterns in bright, jewel tones are also big news at the moment. Statement rugs work well as centrepieces, but if you’re positioning a rug underneath a table or other furniture, choose a border pattern instead. If your taste is more traditional, or you’re after an eclectic look, vintage-style rugs and runners in soft, faded tones will add well-worn charm to your sitting room.

If you can’t find a second-hand bargain, there are plenty of Oriental or Aubusson-style rugs around to give you the right look – just add a well-worn leather armchair and a crackling log fire to finish.