Joining an all-star designer roster that includes Joanna Gaines and Jeremiah Brent, Leanne Ford has officially entered the ranks of Loloi legends with a new 25-piece rug and pillow collection. Grounded, tactile, and unmistakably Leanne, this quietly confident lineup might just be the best foundation for Christmas chaos to unfold.
‘These rugs aren’t too precious,’ Leanne tells Homes & Gardens. ‘They’re meant to be lived on, lounged on, loved. A good rug should make you want to take your shoes off and get comfortable,’ she adds.
Running the gamut from low-pile (perfect for high-traffic holiday happenings) to plush and cloud-soft (ideal for floor sitting and present-opening), this collection is defined by linear patterns and organic restraint – a direction inspired by a certain children’s classic.
‘I was reading The Secret Garden to my daughter, Ever, while I was working on this collection, and it just started to seep into everything I was creating,’ Leanne explains. ‘That story’s sense of discovery, its connection to nature, and its message about transformation all felt so right for this moment.’
Take, for instance, the space-dyed Craven line, which, according to Leanne, lends the wool a crucially off-kilter beauty. ‘A perfect stripe can sometimes feel too sharp or graphic for me,’ she says. ‘I wanted something quieter, more painterly – something you can live with for years without ever getting tired of it. It’s that subtle play of tone and texture that makes a space feel soulful.’
Perfect in their imperfection – much like life at home, or the holidays themselves – Leanne’s rugs embrace the enchantment in the undone. ‘I’m always drawn to imperfection – that’s where the magic is,’ she muses.
This collection feels in line with rug trends, but also totally timeless and could seamlessly fit in any room and any style. Ahead, our favorite pieces from the new collection for real life, made to make moments softer, cozier, and more forgiving during the busiest time of year – plus some tips from Leanne along the way.
We often think coziness comes from a warm, inviting color palette, and while that can absolutely be true, texture might be even more important. ‘It all comes back to texture, texture, texture for me – it’s really the heartbeat of how I design,’ says Leanne of rugs like this hand-tufted blush wool number. ‘A high-pile, shaggy rug is such an easy way to add warmth and soul to a space,’ she continues. ‘There’s just nothing better than stepping out of bed in the morning and sinking your feet into something soft, or ending the day with everyone sprawled out on a cozy rug in the living room.'
There’s plenty of plush, floor-sitting fodder in this lineup, but it also runs the gamut. ‘The Weatherstaff rugs, for example, are thin, simple, and so special – they even fit under a door swing (if you know, you know!). They’re jute-based, so even without the plushness, they bring that beautiful, natural texture that makes a room feel lived-in and layered,’ says Leanne, noting their knack for high-traffic zones where you still want that warm, grounded feel.
Unsure how to use a small rug, like this little Lennox? Leanne has answers. ‘I actually love finding creative ways to use smaller rugs. On one of my TV projects years ago, we had this big open living room, and instead of filling the whole space with one oversized rug, we placed a smaller one just under the coffee table,’ says Leanne. ‘It defined that zone in such a simple, chic way. I tend to use multiple rugs in a room anyway – it’s such a great way to break up an open floor plan and create little seating or conversation areas within a larger space. Next time you travel, take note – you’ll see this approach in all your favorite hotel lobbies.'
There’s a noticeably human quality to this collection – and it's not just because each rug is handmade. The fluidity of lines, even in something as structured as the checkerboards above, feels spontaneous, like one of Leanne’s charcoal sketches come to life. ‘And that’s really how I design – I never start behind a computer,’ explains Leanne. ‘It’s just me with paper and charcoal, sketching by hand. On the surface, the patterns are simple – stripes and checkers – but that hand-drawn quality gives them a personality all their own. It’s what makes them feel human, timeless, and unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.’
Rugs might be the focus, but there are throw pillows in the new collection too. Fresh, organically inspired greens such as this olive-hued cotton-weave throw pillow cover are perennially in style, but this lighter, livelier take on the shade feels especially right ahead of the holidays – a softer swap for the usual evergreen. Buy it now and pair it with oxbloods to pass it off as a Christmas-season purchase, then keep it out year-round for its quietly calming energy.
Matchy-matchy without appearing overly obvious, the Medlock style takes the softer, organic stripes of the Craven rug and reimagines them in throw pillow form.The two-toned stripe comes in three additional hues from the wider collection – light beige, beige, and green – all designed to mix and mingle across the line’s nature-inspired palette, or hold their own entirely. The latter is the Leanne way: let a single pattern breathe and quietly take center stage. ‘When I’m working with a piece like that, I tend to let it breathe. You don’t need to over-style or over-layer – just let the natural materials and texture do the talking,’ she says.
‘This line fits seamlessly with everything else I’ve designed and created throughout my career,’ Leanne says of her Secret Garden inspo. ‘The earthy, neutral palette ties into the color story I’ve been telling all along. When you walk in, it’s like an exhale – it sets the tone for the whole space.’
And of course, placement is everything. Even the best rug trends need the right place to land, so consider this your cue to brush up on the ancient art of feng shui rug placement ahead of the holiday antics.
