The 10 best rugs

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{1} Brink and Campman Orchid Rug

This hand-tufted rug will bring a splash of colour to any living room. A contemporary twist on florals, this acrylic rug has been carved to highlight its fantastic mix of colours and looks wonderful set against a

A well chosen rug can add colour and character to your home, whether you’re layering up your already carpeted space or dressing your perfectly polished wood floor. Natural wool offers warmth in the colder months but never feels stuffy once the weather improves, making it the ideal choice of material for year-round comfort and style.

If you’re after a rug that’s easy to maintain, look for a flatweave design that you can simply glide the vacuum cleaner over. Hand-tufted, or hand-knotted rugs with a deeper pile require more attention, so follow the care instructions to the letter to make sure yours is kept in tip-top condition.

Wool rugs can be eye-wateringly expensive with some styles reaching well into four figures once you decide on an extra large carpet to fill your open-plan living space. But where some are veritable artworks in their own right, others are purse-friendly, design-led pieces that certainly pack a punch in the style stakes.

We tested a range of hand-crafted wool rugs, from the high end to the high street, looking for striking design and durability, as well as that all-important affordability underfoot.

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Harlequin Rhythm rug in saffron, 140 x 200cm

This hand-tufted contemporary rug is crafted from 100 per cent wool yarn, offering a dense and luxuriously thick feel underfoot. We loved the contemporary patterning in tonal colours: saffron, ochre, cream and greys combine in loose geometric kite shapes, awarding the rug an optical illusion beyond its rich physical texture – the imperfect lines create an attractive movement. The rectangular carpet comes in four standard sizes but it’s also available to order in custom dimensions to suit your living space.

OYOY Living hip rug runner, multi, 200 x 75cm

We found this elongated rug works wonderfully as a contemporary runner in the hallway but it’s equally at home under the coffee table in front of the sofa. It’s made from 80 per cent wool with the 20 per cent cotton makeup awarding it extra durability. We loved its simple harlequin diamond pattern in a palette of warm, earthy tones, which added immediate homeliness to our pad. One for smaller spaces, this is a versatile modern rug with big impact.

Wool Room illusion brights wool rug, prism green multi, 80 x 150cm

Handmade from 100 per cent wool pile, this contemporary rug may have sharp-angled geometrics but it’s luxuriously soft to the touch. Another carpet with a colourway borrowed from nature, this one features a series of triangles, diamonds and parallelograms in rich greens, blues, browns and creams. We love the way the colours move from dark to light diagonally, awarding the carpet a visual wave. The eye-popping rug is available in three sizes to suit a variety of living spaces.

Nani Marquina Hayon X Nani square rug

Where homeware meets art, this offering does not look out of place when hung on the wall. The contemporary rug is made from 100 per cent hand-spun New Zealand wool and offers an impressive density and incredible softness. A visual feast of a statement piece, this unusually square rug features a cacophony of abstract line-drawn illustrations with nautical motifs on a rich and warm cream background. An attention-grabbing luxury carpet for art lovers.

Floor_Story wakaam rug, 170 x 250cm

This east London brand can be relied on for the most creative carpets around. With an impressive roster of designers, the sky’s the limit when it comes to pattern and shape underfoot. The wakaam rug is the handiwork of designer Rebecca Hughes, who takes inspiration from her travels – in this case a busy Senegalese market. The flatweave rug is hand-woven from 100 per cent wool and features candy bright geometric shapes that rebelliously break free from its regular rectangular dimensions – another optical illusion that plays on the layering trend.

Habitat Brecan medium grey wool rug, 140 x 200cm

We do love a combination of contemporary design and age-old artisanal techniques, and this rug offers just that. The flatweave carpet is crafted in India using 80 per cent handspun wool with 20 per cent cotton to add to its hardwearing properties. The natural grey is accented with bold yellow stripes to give this one a cheery spring/summer feel. The rug is available from a runner up to an extra large 200cm x 300cm carpet – and even that doesn’t break the bank. Spring fresh and affordable.

Gooch luxury hand knotted Pakistan Bokhara rug, 155 x 95cm

One for traditionalists, this vibrant carpet features an intricate elephant’s foot motif inside an ornately patterned border – all in natural terracotta hues against a rich blue background. Handknotted in Pakistan from 100 per cent locally sourced wool, the rug is velvety soft to the touch thanks to its high density pile. Available in four sizes, the classic carpet adds timeless elegance to any living space – and works very well if you're going for that laid-back boho look.

Ikea Stockholm flatwoven rug, yellow, 170 x 240cm

This handcrafted rug features a netting pattern but against the bold, bright yellow we can only see lemons – and that’s no bad thing, given its fresh, zesty appeal. The flatweave rug is made from 100 per cent wool and features the same repeat pattern on both sides, meaning it’s reversible, effectively doubling its lifespan. An affordable rug for its size, this one’s easy to maintain but does require an anti-slip underlay.

Made Valmiki hand tufted wool rug, 160 x 230 cm

We’ve seen layering emerge as a big trend in floor coverings, with complementary rugs arranged in angular shapes. Made’s response is to create a single piece that effectively does the same job. This rug of two halves playfully juxtaposes vertical and horizontal stripes to draw the eye in different directions. And in tonal, earthy shades, it works beautifully. Made from 100 per cent New Zealand wool, this one feels luxuriously thick and soft with its short pile adding to its rich density.

The verdict: Wool rugs

Harlequin’s Rhythm rug in saffron is a beautiful contemporary carpet that offers a homely feel with its tonal colourway borrowed from nature. We loved its geometric design that creates the illusion of movement, making it all the more cosy. On the more affordable side, Habitat’s Brecan grey rug was another homely addition that perfectly merges modernity with traditional craftsmanship.

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