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Area rugs: bringing style and warmth to your home since… well, forever.
This winter, we’re all looking for ways to make our homes warmer and an area rug is a good place to start. Whether you have hardwood floors or carpeting, a rug adds a layer of insulation that staves off the cold with the added bonus of feeling soft underfoot.
Of course, it needs to look great, too and not only for the cooler months but year in and year out. If you’re after a quality rug that will finish your space, take on high-traffic areas and fit your budget, you’ve come to the right place. These large rugs are affordable — all coming in under £500 — and look as good as they are comfortable.
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It won’t stop your kids from trudging in mud or keep your friend from spilling their drink, but a machine-washable rug can help make the cleanup easier in high-traffic areas. Without sacrificing looks, the Fletcher Stripe Washable Rug from PractiRugs is made with a polypropylene blend material and a soft design so when it needs a cleaning, you can just pop it in the washing machine.
We’re impressed by its super affordable price tag, too — particularly when compared to other washable rugs on the market. Its pared-back, goes-with-almost-any-decor style sealed the deal for us.
Colourful, yet understated, the Ourika Berber Style Geometric Tassel Wool Rug nails it. With a base colour of off-white, a whole slew of colours come together in a fun, vibrant way creating a diamond pattern with tasselled edge. And who doesn’t love a tassel? It can be the pop of colour your room needs but we love the idea of it in a home that’s already bursting with colour.
As is the case with most Berber carpets, the Ourika is hand-knotted adding to its quality and character — although, this rug doesn’t really need much help in that department!
Breaking up your living room or finding the rug that fits just right under your dining room table might be at the top of your wishlist. If so, a round rung can be a fun and practical way to upgrade your space. The radiating design on this round rug is an up-to-date take on patterned rugs, giving you contrasting colours and a modern feel.
Available in six different colours, you can also shop this range of rugs in a variety of styles and sizes, including seven round options and a number of rectangular choices as well.
Much to our design delight, grey is one interior design trend that's here to stay. And luckily, working this stylish accent colour into your home decor is easy. For instance, this large Moroccan-style Berber rug is one of our favourite pieces we've come across this season. Its oversized geometric pattern won’t overwhelm your space — but is bold enough to make a statement. While it’s versatile enough to go with a wide range of styles, we think it’s particularly well-suited to grey-toned hardwood floors or tiled spaces.
At a seriously affordable price point, this shaggy area rug from Groupon will surely amp up the cosy factor in your home. Not a fan of the grey? It's available in four other colourways, so the choice is yours.
Available in 6 sizes & made to measure
If you think that neutral just means beige, greige, white and off-white, think again. This rich terra cotta-coloured rug acts as a stunning foundation on which you can build up the decor of a room. Its low-pile height and minimalist design make it a great choice for a family room or a dining room as it’ll be easy to hoover, but we have to admit we love the way it’s styled here in the bedroom.
Another big bonus is that the Asiatic York Rug not only comes in a number of ready-made sizes and shapes, it can also be made to measure. This option may creep over the £500 limit we’re sticking to here, but this might be the perfect option for those with unusually large spaces who need a wide range of sizes!
From crisp patterns to quatrefoil designs, there are so many rugs with geometric patterns to check out. They’re capable of evoking a sense of order and ad or adding a bit of a ‘wow’ factor to a room that’s missing a certain je ne sais quoi.
So why have we gone for this option available at Notonthehighstreet? Because it takes the geometric style a step further with a contemporary design. Bisecting lines break up its diamond pattern delivering a softer, less sterile look. Finally, we love the calming effect of the colour palette — to us, it’s a 10/10 choice.
It’s not everyone’s style, but sometimes a traditional rug just works. One of the Best Buys editors bought this exact rug in pink for their home and has found it to be surprisingly great quality. The colours are more vibrant in person and its low pile style is soft and practical if you have pets. Its washed-out aesthetic creates an updated look while the traditional design lends itself well to old homes or rooms that need a boost of character.
Aside from being super durable and requiring little to no maintenance, jute rugs are beloved for their looks as well. Whether you’re creating the feel of a country home in your city flat or you’re getting creative with textures and materials, this style is an interior design hero thanks to the look of its natural fibres.
We’ve hand-picked this John Lewis Jute Border Rug as it’s simply a classic. Its ivory or grey border options play nice with almost any decor and backed by the John Lewis brand, its quality is sure to impress.
There’s something enticingly luxurious about a white rug and that’s exactly how we’d sum up this shaggy number by Well Woven. It’s seriously cute and adds a lot of texture to your room, but most of all, it feels incredible beneath your feet. It’s stain-resistant so it’ll hold up against whatever your life throws its way so no need to relegate it to low-traffic areas.
Although this rug isn’t the largest on our list, it’s a good-sized option for a kid’s room. Its colour block, simple design makes for a fun space that inspires playtime without totally sacrificing style. In other words, it’s the perfect middle ground between your want interior dreaminess and your child’s innate need for play. It’s also practical for keeping your little one cosy during the cooler months. Each morning when they get out of bed, the Building Blocks Rug will keep their toes warm and feel wonderfully soft underfoot.
Warm neutrals and strong lines are hallmarks of modern design and the Studio Modern Area Rug features them both. Effortlessly chic, its design plays with layers and texture in an alluring manner and its colour scheme is easy on the eyes, too. In the end what’s not to love? Pair it with an Eames chair or a tulip table and you’ll love the final product.
Pared back palettes, blonde wood and make-sense, simple design have been super popular in recent years having drawn inspiration from Scandinavian styles and we don’t see the trend waning any time soon. Whether you’ve already redecorated, or are searching for ways to hygge your home, this rug will light the fire in your heart.
Its oversized leaf design not only looks earthy and warm, it’s a better choice for large spaces as it won’t feel too busy. Its pattern and its feel evoke a sense of cosiness and it’s easy to keep clean.
In short, yep. A rug is a great way to stay warm without popping on the radiators.
To seriously fight the cold, carpeting is the best flooring for the job. But ripping up the hardwoods and laying down carpet isn’t exactly the cheapest option, nor is it necessarily what everyone wants for their homes. And if you have original hardwood parquet flooring in the front room, please do us a favour and don’t get rid of it!
But as people across the UK weigh up added costs of living and keeping their homes warm, carpeting might seem more and more attractive. Particularly when you consider that your home loses 10-20% of its warmth through the floors according to Tapi. Instead, adding a rug to your room lets you keep in the heat, keep the flooring you love and keep your wallet happy. With a variety of styles available on the market, you're sure to find the perfect choice for your living space.
The good news is that you can certainly introduce a rug to your space even if you have underfloor heating (UFH). However, there are a few more things to consider. Why? When you add a rug on top of your flooring, it creates another layer for the heating to go through making your heating work a bit harder. So picking the right rug is key.
UFH heating specialists Nu-Heating recommends three things to consider when shopping for an underfloor heating-friendly rug:
Material: Natural carpet fibres are best for underfloor heating. Synthetic fibres have the potential of melting if too warm or they may totally block heat rising into the room.
Backing material: Much like the material of the rug, some backings risk restricting heat so that it can’t penetrate the rug. Again, natural materials and fibres like hessian are going to be your UFH’s friend here.
Thickness: A rug with a high, plush pile might feel great on your feet, but these rugs aren’t always great options with UFH. If too thick, you again run the risk of blocking out heat. So be sure to look for low and medium-pile choices.
Have we scratched your interior decorating itch? We won’t lie, we’re feeling inspired by these area rugs to the point that we’re thinking some redecorating is in order.
Which rugs have taken our fancy most you ask? The Ourika Berber Style Geometric Tassel Wool Rug from La Redoute has solidly taken top spot in our eyes. Its geometric pattern, its stunning use of colours and its detailing tick all the boxes for us. Its sizing options are great for bigger rooms and its price point is perfect.
Not the type to choose just one favourite, we’ve also fallen for the Asiatic York Terracotta Rug from RugsDirect for a lowkey option that’s big on looks and the Artistic Weavers Studio Modern Handmade Wool Rug from Overstock.com for a bold, layered style that fits the bill for extra-large rug needs.
Honourable mentions are going to our tried and tested pick from Amazon, the Distressed Traditional Faded Ikat Style Rug, as well as the seriously practical, but super chic PractiRug Fletcher Stripe Washable Rug.
Once your new area rug has arrived at your door and you’ve rolled it out, sit back and enjoy your design prowess over a cuppa and have a sip for us, won’t you?
The information presented above is accurate as of 01/12/2022. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices. The 'Best Buys featured' badge indicates sponsored content, and we may earn a commission when you make a purchase.
With a knack for researching and keen eye for detail, Kat Miller is a go-to resource when you’re on the hunt for something new, wedding trends, kitchen appliances and more. When she’s not testing out a new recipe, you’ll find her lost in her favourite podcasts.
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