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Jackie Reeve is a bedding writer who has also covered towels, rugs, and chicken coops (with the help of her 20 backyard pets).
We’ve removed some discontinued products and added three new ones: the Poppy Handwoven Wool Rug from Annie Selke, the Threshold Eliot Geo Rug from Target, and the Tversted Rug from IKEA.
Imagine you’re furnishing a room—either renovating a boring space or starting from scratch—and you’ve carefully selected furniture, art, and lighting.
Now you’re ready to put the finishing touches on to give your new style a flawless look.
Maybe you want to use a soft neutral tone to blend in with your surroundings, or maybe you want to be bold and express yourself. Maybe you just want something to make the room feel cozier. Maybe you have kids or pets. Maybe you have an unlimited budget, or maybe you only have a few hundred dollars.
We’ve rounded up 10 rugs in a variety of styles and materials, and we plan to continue adding more as we discover more beautiful options. We’re also sharing expert design tips on which rugs are best for high- and low-traffic areas, and what size rug you should buy. So, read on—this is the fun part.
Jackie Reeve is a senior writer on the Home Decor team, covering bedding and textiles, including sheets, blankets, towels, and quilts.
We reviewed hundreds of rugs from direct-to-consumer brands, big-box stores, Amazon, and other retailers including Crate and Barrel, Target, West Elm, and Ikea.
We’ve updated this guide several times over the years, with four different authors. In the original guide, we tested 38 rug samples. In 2020, we tested four full-size rugs, in 2022, four more, and in 2024, 12 more, both new and existing. Each time, we follow roughly the same testing plan: We pull out a few rug or carpet samples and immediately eliminate a few based on look and feel. Then we walk on them (with and without shoes) and note the feel, style, and material.
Then we do the cleaning test. Over the years, we’ve tried a lot of different ways to make a mess, from scattering a mixture of dry quinoa, cinnamon, and crushed toast all over the carpet to smearing samples of wine and chocolate ice cream.
For our latest test, we laid out a few washable test mats in her soup-making kitchen over a long weekend, spilled everything from pumpkin puree to butter and wine on them, and then threw them in the washing machine. For the rest of the rugs, Jackie laid them out in her office, then walked on them in wellies after a walk in the garden. She also lets her dog walk on them when the yard gets wet and muddy.
We also often involve pets and even children to test the durability and tactile feel of the carpet. We once let one of the cats roll around on a sample of the carpet before vacuuming it. We teased one of the cats with catnip and treats until she started scratching the carpet. In 2020, our carpets were stress tested by two senior cats in Gregory’s home (they made a lot of mess that needed to be cleaned up). In 2024, Jackie’s teenage daughter spent a lot of time sitting on the floor playing with her Breyer horses and American Girl dolls, so she tested several carpets to see which would be best for her nursery.
This affordable rag rug is quite durable, washable, and perfect for the kitchen. Available in a variety of colors and sizes.
Most small stains are easy to remove. Safavieh rag rugs are made with multicolored yarns that naturally hide stains, and they come in a variety of color combinations. Once they start to look ragged, you can flip them over (they’re reversible) or throw them in the washing machine. Some larger sizes, like the 8×10, may require a trip to the laundromat, but most are thin and lightweight enough to wash at home. If you do ruin a rug, replacing it isn’t expensive, but we’ve found that it holds up well even after years of use. One of our editors has had a multicolored version of this rug since 2015, and it still looks great with just a few tugs on the yarn.
They are comfortable and affordable. These rag rugs are soft to the touch and less expensive than most rag rugs we have seen.
The Safavieh cloth mat is a bit thin and feels uneven when you step on it. We recommend pairing it with a rug (which will also prevent slipping in high traffic areas).
May shrink. One editor found that her sneakers lost several inches in length (even after air drying), so keep that in mind when sizing.
Under certain circumstances, rugs can lose their shape. This happened to one editor, whose rug sagged under the weight of his office chair and was scratched by his cat (not surprising, given the rug’s loose weave).
These tightly woven cotton rugs are smoother and softer than rag rugs. We love that they’re machine washable and available in a variety of patterns and sizes.
They have a variety of options. Hook & Loom Flatweave Eco-Cotton rugs offer the widest variety of patterns we’ve ever seen, from unique checks and geometric patterns to simple solid colors.
This is one of the softest flatweave rugs we’ve ever tried. Our testers said the weave felt tighter and smoother than the rag rug we chose, and softer than the Annie Selke Wool Flatweave rug we chose.
They’re easy to maintain. We’ve been testing this rug since 2016 and know it’s great for kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Jessica Probus, author of The Home Decor Cheat Sheet: Essential Tips for Living in Style, says the small geometric patterns are great for covering up marks and stains. They’re also machine washable, so they’re ideal for spill-prone areas (like the kitchen or dining room), though larger rugs will need to be taken to the laundromat.
Carpets can pill. A former staff writer owns one and reports that it initially began to pill. She complained to the company, and a representative gave her her money back and let her keep the original. She later moved the carpet from the living room to the bedroom (an area with less foot traffic), and after several cleanings, the problem went away.
This rug has a beautiful woven pattern that will add texture to any room without being too noticeable. We like this look because small spots and marks don’t stand out against the intricate lines of the weave.
The colors and patterns strike the perfect balance between glamour and understatement. The Dash & Albert Herringbone Cotton Area Rug’s colors, like Ocean, Dove Gray, Stone, and Coral, are neutral but more unexpected than the typical cream or navy. The subtle herringbone pattern can also hide small stains and marks. As with most flat-woven rugs, we recommend using an underlay to prevent slippage.
These rugs are great for high-traffic areas. One of our editors, who used this rug in her dining room, said, “While there are a few minor imperfections here and there, it’s not unsightly or noticeable. The design hides dirt and stains well, and the material is easy to clean” — even after dogs and kids got it dirty (though we wouldn’t choose a light-colored rug if it’s prone to frequent stains).
While it’s not the softest, it’s still pleasant to the touch. There’s a slight texture underfoot that testers liked. But if you want something really soft, you might want to consider something softer, like the wool rugs we chose.
It’s not cheap. In fact, it’s the most expensive cotton rug we recommend, but we think the high-quality cotton and classic herringbone pattern will last a long time.
Hand washing or professional cleaning is recommended. This means that caring for this rug can be labor intensive and expensive. We threw it in the washer and dryer anyway – the area of ​​the rug was reduced by 10%, but this is comparable to other rugs we have machine washed.
Simple in design yet luxurious to the touch, this wool rug will add warmth to any room with its softness and rich color.
It’s so soft. Of all the items we picked, Revival’s Ombre Wool Rug is the softest and feels like a cloud when you step on it, thanks to its soft, medium-length pile (about ⅓ inch) made from 100% wool fibers with a cotton backing. You’ll want to place it in a room where comfort and warmth are key.
The gradient tones are very pretty. We tested the dull pink Dawn, but the rug comes in five different gradients: Golden Hour, Sunset, Blue Hour, and High Noon (you can order samples if you can’t decide). The dramatic yet subtle gradient makes it feel like a piece of art on your living room floor.
The rainbow version of this durable, comfortable plain weave rug is bright and eye-catching, yet subdued enough for use in larger spaces.
These colors are so delightful. Unboxing Annie Selke’s Poppy Rainbow Handmade Rug is like a breath of fresh air. Every time I pass by it, my mood improves, and it’s become my dog’s favorite rug. If you prefer more muted colors, the pattern is also available in blue, green, and beige gradients.
Its texture is surprisingly luxurious. The wool and cotton blend rug with a smooth weave is pleasant to the touch and soft to the touch.
In most cases, it’s easy to clean and maintain. Vacuuming is easy. The fibers also seem to stand up to muddy dog ​​paws without leaving much of a mark (a quick wipe with a towel removes most of the dirt). We think it’s durable enough for high-traffic areas, but attractive enough to be a focal point in a room.
Professional deep cleaning required. As with other wool rugs we’ve picked out at Revival, you’ll need to spend a bit of money to remove stubborn stains.
We wouldn’t put it in the dining room or playroom. We’re worried about spilling wine or food on it.
Jute is durable yet soft. The natural fiber Revival Hart Jute Area Rug is a great choice for dirty or high-traffic areas, like under a dining room table or in a hallway. At the same time, jute is soft to the touch and has little to no shedding, unlike thicker, coarser jute rugs. The Hart jute rug is flexible and finely woven, giving it a more refined, sleek look that makes it a great choice for layering with other rugs in your living room. Like flat-weave rugs, Hart jute rugs don’t provide much cushioning on their own (though you can compensate with an underlay).
You don’t have to go neutral. In addition to the natural, unbleached tan color jute is known for, this rug is also available in seven solid colors (each color has its own page on the Revival website; we’ve linked to them in the specs below). There’s also a checkered print.
Maintenance is fairly simple. We tested this 5-by-8-foot vacuum under the dining room table and in the kitchen. It picks up dust easily, and it’s light enough to shake outside when a deep clean is needed. You can also wipe down stains with a damp cloth, but jute is very absorbent, so don’t get it too wet.
It can take some work to smooth out the corners. Two corners of our jute rug kept curling over for the first couple of months, even when we put weights on them and bent them in opposite directions, but Revival’s tip of bending and folding the corners finally seemed to work.
Fighting wrinkles also requires patience. Most Revival rugs are shipped neatly folded (not rolled), so there may be some wrinkles when you unpack them. Fortunately, most wrinkles disappear within a few weeks.
This woven rug made from 100% recycled polyester has a neutral yet modern design that will fit into most interiors and almost any room setting. It is also durable, comfortable and easy to clean.
It whispers hygge. If you are looking for a rug with a modern style but a neutral design, comfortable and attractive, the Burrow Cape House rug is a great choice in terms of appearance. Its marled herringbone pattern is as soft as your favorite sweater. Unlike some polyester rugs, its overall texture is neither too smooth nor too silky due to the thick weave.
We were surprised at how durable it was. We were impressed by the tightly woven rug, which despite the obvious loops, was able to withstand the stress of cat claws, and Gregory had several cleaning situations where he would yell, “I don’t remember the cat eating this!” and the rug would look like new again.
Cleaning is a breeze. This rug lives up to its marketing promises and is a low-maintenance, easy-to-clean flooring option. One of our editors hung this rug in her bedroom where her dog had vomited a few times, and since polyester isn’t as absorbent as materials like cotton or wool, it made cleaning up the mess easier.
It only comes in two sizes. Unlike our other options, this rug is only available in two sizes: 5 x 8 feet and 8 x 10 feet. It only comes in two main colors: beige and gray (but you can choose light or dark).
Stretch is unavoidable. One of our editors uses this rug in her bedroom, with two bed legs on top. She noticed that after about three years, some areas were starting to look a little stretched out and out of shape. She didn’t use an underlay, which would make any rug more prone to slipping and wear.