Often, you'll find interior designers talking about the starting point of a scheme. Some might start with existing architecture and aesthetics, others might use color as a jumping-off point. I, however, have started with a rug.
It wasn't really a conscious decision – more a case of scrolling through Pinterest and saving one too many rooms that all happened to have the same rug trend: folk flatweaves. You may know the kind: woven, flat, subtly patterned, full of character, each one a little unique. They feel colorful but never loud, full of sweet little motifs yet not overly kitsch.
So I started looking at folk rugs as the foundation to my schemes. The patterns and colors gave me a ready-made moodboard to lift tones from and build a cohesive scheme from the ground up. And designers love their charm too.
Whether freshly woven or found on eBay, this charming and cozy rug style might just be the layer your home has been crying out for. Here's why they're trending right now.
And my discovery of folk flatweave rugs set off a total obsession.
There’s something irresistibly charming about them. Plus, their flatwoven texture makes them perfect for high-traffic spaces like hallways and kitchens – and their flatpile makes them great underneath a dining table to help with pulling out a chair – while their folk-inspired patterns bring instant whimsy and a sense of nostalgia to a room.
Folk flatweaves are rooted in history and tradition, each one telling a story through the weave, color, and motifs. As India Holmes, creative director at Pelican House, who recently created a collaboration of folky weaves alongside tastemaker Lucy Williams named the Havens collection, explains, 'We’re continually inspired by the quiet poetry of handmade craft, and folk rugs have a special way of connecting us to the natural world.'
'Their handwoven nature reflects the rhythm of the maker’s hand and the imperfections that make them so human,' she continues. 'As an ancient craft, they carry an enchanting quality, each motif and symbol telling a story, a language that everyone can speak.'
'Ultimately, folk-inspired textiles speak to a deeper sense of comfort and continuity. They are made to last, to be lived with, loved, and handed down,' adds India.
I’ve found that these kinds of rugs also work in nearly any setting. In my own home, they balance my eclectic mix of vintage and modern pieces – grounding sleeker furniture and softening my more maximalist corners.
'They integrate beautifully into today’s homes,' agrees designer Nina Lichtenstein. 'Layered over wood floors, they bring warmth without heaviness. Paired with sleek contemporary furniture, they ground a space with texture and history. In bohemian rooms, they feel perfectly at home, and in pared-back minimalist settings, they are the single stroke of artistry that keeps the room from feeling flat.'
Bridging cottagecore sensibilities with Scandi maximalist style, they're both practical and pretty, timeless and trending. Designer Bradley Odom, founder of Bradley Odom Interiors, feels the same pull toward their understated charm.
'I’ve always loved the character and craftsmanship behind flatweaves – they’re timeless, honest, and carry a certain humility that works beautifully in layered spaces,' he says. 'In our new collaboration with Jaipur Living, we explored those very qualities with a modern interpretation of the traditional flatweave. The patterning is subtle and rhythmic, designed to feel collected, not contrived, and the tactile flatweave construction adds warmth without heaviness. I often gravitate toward these rugs for their versatility; they ground a room in texture and quiet sophistication.'
'What I love most is their versatility,' adds Nina. 'They are lightweight, which makes them easy to move, rotate, and layer. They are also surprisingly durable, especially for high-traffic areas, since their tight weave can take daily wear in stride. Beyond practicality, I am drawn to the way they whisper stories into a room.'
'A handwoven folk rug has a rhythm that comes through in the slight irregularities of the weave and the way the patterns shift with human touch,' she says. 'That imperfection is what makes a home feel alive.'
In an age of fast interiors and mass production, there’s something lovely about a handmade rug that bears the mark of its maker, which is why designers (and I) are keen to source vintage or secondhand where we can. A quick search of 'vintage flatweave rug' on eBay, 1stDibs, or Chairish will render thousands of beautiful options, from traditional kilims to Swedish folk motifs.
'We love flatweave rugs – they tend to be casual yet sophisticated, with a humble weave but gorgeous colors, and the pattern options are endless,' adds designer Heather Peterson. 'While Indian Dhurries and Swedish flatweaves have enjoyed long stretches of popularity, I am especially smitten with vintage Bessarabian rugs. Hailing from Eastern Europe, these flatweaves tend to have intricate, often floral, patterns in unexpectedly bright colors,' she suggests. 'They are quite fun and, while folky, the large-scale patterns almost feel pixelated and can read quite modern.'
And of course, there are plenty of modern-day iterations ripe for the picking. Here are just a few of my favorites below.
Shop folk flatweave rugs
From heirloom-worthy investments to more affordable finds, these are the pieces currently inspiring my next scheme.
Handmade in India, this sweet rug combines the charm of traditional folk motifs with an earthy palette and pops of pink that make it easy to layer into any space. Its geometric floral pattern feels both grounded and playful – the perfect way to introduce subtle color to your home.
Sustainably-made and a true showstopper, this handwoven jute rug is a love letter to folk design. Its large-scale floral pattern and intricate border add a decorative flourish that feels timeless rather than trendy. Textured, sturdy, and rich in character, it’s a natural choice for high-traffic spaces.
Handwoven by skilled artisans using 100% New Zealand wool, 'Acres brings a sense of nostalgia, a tapestry of timeless motifs that echo the English landscape, as true hundreds of years ago as they are today,' India explains.
A real collector’s find, this reversible vintage Swedish flatweave from the 1960s channels the quiet geometry and earthy palette of mid-century Scandinavian design. Woven in ochre, beige, and brown, it’s a real understated and warming piece.
Crafted from 100% natural wool, this blue-and-cream flatweave rug blends Nordic simplicity with folk artistry. Its pattern and subtle texture feel instantly grounding underfoot, while the fringed trim adds a touch of texture to contemporary spaces. Soft, durable, and super easy to vacuum.
The Ella Rug was designed to evoke a modern fairytale – charming, earthy, and delicately patterned with stylized folk-art flowers. Its mix of wool and cotton gives it a soft, lived-in texture, while the muted tones make it easy to pair with natural woods and cozy textiles.
If, like me, you're on a mission to add even more warmth and whimsy into your home this fall, try pairing your flatweave with a Scandinavian quilt draped across a sofa or end of the bed for another dose of pattern, color, and charm.
