A rug is the perfect accompaniment to any room, they can add character to an otherwise lack-lustre layout.
The choice of rug can completely change the tone of a room. There are so many rug options to choose from, It is hard to know which rug type to choose.
To make that difficult choice easier, our researchers have compiled a list of the most Instagrammable rugs based on popularity. Plus, our home accessories buyer, Emily Dunstan, offers her top tips.
1. Persian Rug – 203,344 posts
Persian rugs are one of the most popular and unique rugs on the market. Plus, they are incredibly versatile in both look and price. Produced by rug artists in Iran, the beautifully intricate designs are great as statement pieces. However, they can also be toned down for a subtle but equally elegant look.
Emily’s Top Tip: Patterned rugs like Persians are great in high-traffic areas like living rooms as they wear in a beautifully subtle way.
2. Moroccan Rug – 76,841 posts
Traditionally hand-woven in Morocco, this type of rug was originally made for functional purposes. However, western culture has begun to notice and admire the wonderful colours and patterns. With bold patterns and adventurous colours, this rug choice will add that extra kick to your room.
Emily’s Top Tip: Moroccan rugs can also double as wall hangings where they can be admired in full.
3. Kilim Rug – 69,254 posts
Full of unique patterns and textures, a Kilim rug is the perfect statement piece. Kilim rugs are great for high-traffic areas as they are very easy to clean. Plus, most Kilim rugs are reversible which is ideal for busy homes.
Emily’s Top Tip: Colour matching the rug to surrounding furniture is key to making busy rugs like Kilims fit in perfectly.
4. Oriental Rug – 60,844 posts
Despite often being thought of in the same category as Persian rugs, not all ‘Oriental’ rugs are Persian rugs. An authentic ‘Oriental’ rug will only be made of wool and occasionally with silk too. Beautifully intricate designs fill these rugs, a perfect expression of skilled craftsmanship.
Emily’s Top Tip: Try pairing detailed rugs with neutral colours or with other accent colours within the room to create a seamless décor.
5. Berber Rug – 42,330 posts
With North African roots, this traditional rug is full of character and earthy tones. A dense pile provides the ultimate softness and a thick feel, modernised Berber rugs commonly utilise geometric patterns and styles.
Emily’s Top Tip: Pairing Berber rugs with earth tones like terracotta can create a rustic and earthy feel.
6. Runner – 18,091 posts
This long thin rug type can be used for both practical and visual reasons. It’s the perfect addition to hallways, walkways or in front of the sink to catch spillages.
Emily’s Top Tip: This type of rug is best used in hallways as a runway rug to create the illusion of direction and to open up the space.
7. Fur – 17,946 posts
Real fur rugs are dying out due to their non-vegan credentials, nowadays faux fur rugs are much more popular. Faux fur rugs add extra luxury to a room during the winter months.
Emily’s Top Tip: Fur rugs look best when they’re the centrepiece of the room, and are not overshadowed by other furniture. Try placing this rug in areas with little traffic to keep it looking full and fresh.
8. Shag – 16,010 posts
Shag rugs have a deep pile which gives it its textural appearance and high comfort levels. These rugs became very popular during the 60s and 70s and remain a highly sought-after rug even now. The only downside to the shag rug is the difficulty in cleaning it.
Emily’s Top Tip: When placing furniture on this rug, remember to use furniture coasters to stop the pile from becoming flattened.
9. Overdyed – 10,892 posts
Overdyed rugs are made by bleaching and dyeing rugs to create vibrant colours. It’s often a great way to revitalise old rugs and brighten up a room.
Emily’s Top Tip: Overdyed rugs are a great way to modernize old Oriental rugs and to change up colour schemes.
10. Woven – 4,415 posts
Woven rugs are a great accessory to any room, they can instantly change the décor. The woven rug is a very popular component of the farmhouse style interior due to its rugged and informal look.
Emily’s Top Tip: Woven rugs look amazing when they are layered on top of each other for an effortless look.
11. Abstract – 4,270 posts
The perfect expression piece, abstract rugs are popular in modern homes, they can give the room an instant chic feel. Whatever the pattern, these rugs fit very easily into any room.
Emily’s Top Tip: This rug deserves admiration in full, avoid placing busy coffee tables or furniture on top or nearby.
12. Geometric – 1,846 posts
Another modern rug, these geometric rugs are often very bright and have crisp lines throughout. This rug looks best in maximalist settings where patterns allow for self-expression.
Emily’s Top Tip: Colour matching is key for this rug, choose key colours and feature the same coloured accent pieces to make the carpet pop.
13. Recycled Rug – 1,470 posts
These rugs are perfect for eco-friendly homes and are available crafted in all manner of recycled materials. Recycled pieces have a bad reputation as being boring, these rugs, however, have just as much character as other styles.
Emily’s Top Tip: Recycled rugs come in a variety of different patterns and designs. They often look great in gardens.
14. Ikat – 586 posts
Ikat is a dyeing technique which produces bright and beautiful patterns throughout the rug. In recent years, Ikat rugs have become increasingly popular.
Emily’s Top Tip: Ikat rugs have complicated colours and patterns. So, stick to using complimenting neutral colours for other furniture in order to keep the rug as the stand out piece.
15. Trellis – 561 posts
These contemporary rugs are commonplace in modern and minimalist homes. Moroccan building domes inspired this pattern. Due to the patterned nature, any surrounding furniture should complement the rug and shapes must not conflict.
Emily’s Top Tip: Trellis rugs look great with white and grey rooms, this design screams elegance and sophistication.
16. Plain – 378 posts
Plain and simple, these rugs come in a variety of colours and are the perfect bold addition to a room. Whether you choose a neutral or bright colour, this style is a classic.
Emily’s Top Tip: Plainly designed rugs offer pops of colour or neutralise an otherwise colourful room.