The 18 Very Best Area Rugs

Whatwe’relookingfor

Material:Wool |Style:Hand-loomed cut pile, 13mm thickness |Size range:5’x’8 to 10’x14’

If you’re looking for a plain wool rug in sophisticated colors, some of which can function as neutrals, consider Nordic Knots’ Grand rug, which at least three Strategist staffers own, including myself. I first wrote about them as an area-rug alternative tocrimson wall-to-wall carpetingthat I’d seen crop up in the homes of folks like Laila Gohar and designer Pali Xisto Cornelsen. Its brick-red color is more subdued but still provides a similar effect. (Other stylish people, including CAP Beauty co-founder and CEO Kerrilynn Pamer and interior designer Madelynn Furlong Hudson, also prominently feature the brick-red rug in their homes.)

After two of my colleagues, Strategist deputy editor Simone Kitchens and former associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell, bought the rug (Kitchens in Leo, a brownish gold, andMilliner-Waddell in red), I was convinced to check one out myself. I requested the Milano Green color, a gorgeous, hunter-olive tone, to put in one side of my living room. I’ve had it for nearly two years now and I still love how saturated and vibrant the color is. Handloomed in a cut-pile style from New Zealand wool, it also feels incredibly nice underfoot. The rug has a thickness of 13 millimeters, meaning it’s not too thick or too thin, and a satisfying plushness that is extremely inviting not just for walking barefoot, but also for sitting and lying down on. There has been some shedding, but a quick vacuum takes it all up. I have two kids, who inevitably drop crumbs, spill drops of liquid, and get Play-Doh and other pigmented substances on it, but the stains don’t stick too badly and are easy enough to dab away. While it’s on the expensive side, it truly feels luxurious — and like something I’ll have for a long time. The price begins at $995 for a five-by-eight-foot rug.

Material:Wool |Style:Hand-tufted, .70 inch thickness |Size range:4’x6’ to 10’x14’

While the Nordic Knots Grand rug is very nice, it’s expensive, especially if you’re looking to cover a larger room.Kitchens went on the huntfor similarly solid-colored and soft wool rugs, but with a lower price tag, and came across this collection from Rugs USA, made in collaboration with actress Ashley Tisdale. “The colors were really good,” Kitchens says, so she ordered one in blush for her daughter’s room and another in brown for her guest room, which doubles as an office. She reports that while the brown reads a little more eggplant-y in person, and the rugs are not as soft as the Nordic Knots rugs, they are still very comfortable underfoot. They’re also made of 100 percent hand-tufted wool that’s Oeko-Tex certified. They have a medium pile of about 18 millimeters, compared to Nordic Knots’s 13-millimeter thickness. Kitchens paired the rugs with a rug pad for extra plushness. The five-by-eight-foot rug costs $289, which is about a third of the price of the Nordic Knots Grand rug in the same size.

Material:Wool and viscose |Style:Flatweave, .60 inch thickness |Size range:2’x3’ to 12’x15’

Before Kitchens tried the Ashley Tisdale rug from Rugs USA, she bought a rug from the brand’s collaboration with interior designer Arvin Olano, which came recommended to her by Marisa Carroll, executive editor at the Cut. At the time, this collection had the closest matching colors to Nordic Knots’s offerings; Kitchens chose one in a red shade called Brick. These rugs are actually a wool-and-viscose blend, making them “very soft — just a hair less soft than the Nordic Knots rug,” according to Kitchens. They also have a slight white flecking effect that keeps them from looking identical to the Grand rug.Still, Kitchens likes the way her rug “picks up light in a nice way and sort of changes when the room gets darker.” Comparing the bottoms of both rugs, Kitchens says that the Rugs USA rug is very similar in construction and thickness. “The Nordic Knots is the softest of all the rugs I’ve tried, but this surprised me,” she says. (Strategist sleep writer Amelia Jerden recently bought the rug in Wheat after reading this review and can attest that it’s “very soft.”)And you can’t beat the price: The Rugs USA rug is $622 for a five-by-eight-foot rug — nearly two-thirds of the price of the equivalent size at Nordic Knots.

Material:Wool |Style:Beni Ourain |Size range:Various

Finding an authentic, ethically sourced Moroccan rug can be intimidating, but there are plenty of reliable places that make it easy to shop for one in a variety of sizes and styles. The first one I purchased came from the Anou Cooperative, an artisan-owned-and-managed collective of over 600 weavers in Morocco. Each rug’s product description includes information about the weaver in addition to details like size, weight, material, and weaving style.

When the one I had my eye on was sold, I was able to get it custom-made by the same weaver. The Anou provided updates every step of the way, from progress photos straight from the loom to a countdown of days until shipment. Shipping was easy, and the rug I received was identical to the first version I saw. Made with dyed wool, it has abstract designs and shapes in bright colors like pink, blue, and purple on a white background, and it feels plush and textured. It is also reversible to the cotton-warp side for when the weather gets warmer. I had it in the living room for five years before putting it in my younger son’s room, where it feels incredibly festive and cozy. You can find hundreds of rugs in Beni Ourain, flat-weave, and other styles in a range of colors, patterns, and sizes — or you can get something custom-made if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for. This nine-by-seven-foot rug goes for $1,403.

Material:Wool |Style:Beni Ourain |Size range:Various

The Anou rug I have has a rustic handmade feel and traditional motifs, which I love, but if you’re looking for a Moroccan rug that’s available in modern designs with a more elevated, softer hand feel, consider Beni Rugs. Based in Marrakech, Beni owns the first vertically integrated production facility where rugs are designed, woven, washed, dried, and sold. The rugs are made from live wool sheared humanely from Moroccan sheep in the Atlas Mountains, as opposed to dead wool, which is chemically removed from sheep hide. Live wool is known to be softer, more durable, and prone to less shedding. Beni also uses a proprietary washing and drying process that leaves the rugs incredibly soft. You’ll see this reflected in the price, which is higher than other Moroccan rug purveyors.

I received a sample of the solid hand-knotted wool rug in Oat, a natural, off-white color, with tassels on one end, and the first thing I noticed was just how plush and luxurious it felt. With a higher pile height of between 1 to 1.5 inches, it’s much shaggier than the Anou rug. Walking on it, you feel your feet sink into the rug in an extremely satisfying way. I put it in our bedroom, where it makes me feel like I’m in an Old Hollywood dressing room.The rug also comes in over 60 gorgeous hues if you’re looking to add more color to a space. Kitchens wanted something “really rich in color” for her living room and decided on dark chocolate brown but admits that it was difficult to choose. “I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the colors. The color options are so beautiful and saturated — just another level,” she says. I received the rug quickly because it was an in-stock option, but for all other rugs, which are made to order, the lead time is between 12 and 16 weeks. The smallest version of this rug starts at $840 for one that measures three by five feet.

Material:Wool |Style:Beni Ourain |Size range:Various

Etsy is another great source for Moroccan rugs shipping directly from the source. Fashion writerHarling Ross Anton recommended a couple of Etsy stores in a recent Cut article, including Berber Moroccan Rugs based in Marrakesh. You’ll find classic diamond styles as well as more intricately patterned ones in bright colors and designs, and you can choose just about any size you like. I also likethis storethat’s based in Marrakesh.

Material:Wool |Style:Flatweave, Swedish |Size range:Various, plus custom sizing

If you want a woolen rug that’s not tufted or cut-pile, opt for a flatweave style, which can be easier to maintain and more durable. Layered, a Swedish homewares company, makes flatwoven rugs in patterns inspired by traditional Scandinavian folk traditions. I tested this runner made of 100 percent wool, which has a pile height of about a quarter inch, and love the geometric pattern and blue-and-neutral colorway. It is interesting without being too bold and adds just the right amount of visual texture to the hallway. The rug itself is handwoven and feels nice on bare feet. The Röllakan pattern is available in different color options and styles, including Marigold and Spring Grass, a pink-and-green version of the blue one I have.

Material:Cotton |Style:Loom-hooked |Size range:2’x3’ to 12’x18’

If you don’t want a rug made from wool, consider a cotton rug, which can feel soft in a different way. Kitchens recently bought one of these organic all-cotton rugs from Hook & Loom for a walk-in closet she wanted to cozy up. She chose the undyed style, as she was going for a more natural look (even though she loves all of the color options available), and appreciates how nice it feels. It is handwoven in India from freshly spun GOTS-certified organic cotton fiber on special looms and is one of the thicket rugs the brand offers. “It really would be a perfect rug for a baby room,” Kitchens says. “It feels like a really soft cotton carpet.” In addition to handloomed styles, Hook & Loom offers flatweaves too. All rugs are available incotton,wool, oreco-blendsthat incorporate recovered textile fibers like polyester.

Material:Cotton |Style:Hand-loomed |Size range:2’x2’ to 2’x10’

Here’s another cotton rug to consider, from Willaby, a small textile company based in Athens, Georgia. It’s made from strips of GOTS-certified organic cotton gauze that has been cut for weaving “without the use of electric machines,” according to the brand, and then manually woven in the U.S. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang recently bought a six-foot-long runner for a hallway and appreciates how sturdy it feels for a rag rug. She notes that it’s fairly cushy underfoot too. She got it in the Dusk color and was worried that it would be too plain at first, but it has a nice visual texture to it that compliments her wood floors.

Material:Recycled fibers |Style:Handwoven |Size range:Various

For something more artistic and surprising, check out these handwoven rag rugs by WebWorks, a Madison, Wisconsin–based textile artist who we first wrote about inSecret Strategist.Strategist writer Erin Schwartz went on a deep dive to find the most interesting and masterful weavers and found this maker who uses a vintage loom from 1942. “Her use of color and pattern is incredible,” says Schwartz. “Not only is she doing really interesting compositions like color-blocking andplaids, she also sometimes alternates the colors of the warp yarn toadd another layer of complexity.” Schwartz recently bought a pink-and-red one to use as a bath mat and says it’s soft and absorbent, thanks to how densely woven the fabric is. You can choose from a variety of styles, sizes, and colors to suit your needs.

Material:Sisal |Style:Flatweave |Size range:6’x’9’ to 12’x15’

Rugs made of sisal, jute, and other natural fibers are a bit more affordable than ones made from wool, though they won’t feel as soft to the touch. They’re also very versatile given their neutral colors and durability, making them great for high-traffic areas like entryways, hallways, and living rooms. They’re also great for layering with other rugs of different materials. This expert-approved rug from Crate & Barrel is my pick forbest overall sisal rug, as it has a textured bouclé weave that gives it an elevated touch to set it apart from other standard sisal rugs.A six-by-nine rug costs $599.

Material:Seagrass |Style:Flatweave |Size range:2’x3’ to 9’x12’

This seagrass rug has also beenmaking the rounds in the world of interior designthanks to its simple yet visually interesting pattern, and more importantly, its very affordable price point for its size. (The style, which has been around since the ’70s, is also known as seagrass mats.) It’s been featured in shelter magazines and shows up in the homes of stylish people with various décor schemes, from mid-century modern to cottage. While it’s scratchier than a sisal or jute rug, it’s easy to style and customize. Made of spiraling square panels stitched together in a diamond pattern, two rugs can easily be sewn together to create a bigger one. Each square can also be removed if one needs to be replaced. Prices start at $165 for a runner, and a five-by-seven goes for $195.

Material:Jute |Style:Flatweave, chunky |Size range:4’x6’ to 7’x10’

Jute rugs tend to be more expensive than sisal rugs because they’re slightly softer. Tammy Price of the Los Angeles–based interior-design studioFragments Identityrecommendsthis all-jute one from Ikea for a more affordable option. She says it’s super versatile and works all over her house. “I generally use this one as a layering piece and put a smaller rug with an interesting pattern over it,” Price says, like the smaller vintage Persian rug she uses in her living room. Rugs start at $100 for a four-by-six.

Material:Polyester with polyurethane barrier |Style:Flatweave or woven|Size range:2’x3’ to 10’x14’

Ruggable makes some of the most popularwashable rugs, and we’ve named its rugs the best overall in the category. Ruggable rugs come in two parts for easy washing: the patterned cover made from a synthetic chenille fabric that looks like a pile rug, and a pad that keeps the rug in place. When it’s time to wash the rug, you simply take the cover off and throw it in the washing machine. They come in a bunch of sizes and designs and are especially great for high-traffic areas like kitchens and hallways. A rug that measures two by three feet starts at $89.

Material:Various |Style:Various |Size range:Custom

Rugs are not one-size-fits-all, even if a brand offers multiple sizes. Ernesta takes the headache out of ordering custom-size rugs — and at a more affordable price point than most. Retailers like Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn offer customizable sizes, but Ernesta lets you choose dimensions down to the inch, a feature that Yang appreciated when she was looking for a run for her dining room.She went with a sisal rugthat she likes for its texture and durability (it gets a lot of wear and tear from her two kids plus cat and dog).

Companies that offer custom sizing usually only carry rugs in natural fibers like sisal and jute. When I was looking at Ernesta’s sample swatches, I was pleased to see the range of materials available. Options include100 percent wool,cotton-wool blends,natural fibers like sisal and jute, as well assynthetic performance fibersandindoor-outdoorrugs. You can choose a rug based on construction, too, including flatweave and different pile heights. I also like that Ernesta offers patterned rugs, which gives you even more customization options. Prices start at $275 for a two-by-two-foot rug.

Material:Wool-cotton blend |Style:Patterned, hand-tufted |Size range:Various

Finding a woolen rug with a non-cheesy pattern without paying a ton of money is challenging, but Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo and Jerden both found one in this wool-and-cotton rug from Rugs USA. Corsillo got it in the Olive Green color, while Jerden bought a runner size in Sand. They each came across it independently, a testament to its appealing style. Corsillo wanted a rug that felt “cozy and stylish” to delineate the small space in her son’s room where she keeps her desk. She chose this floral pattern because she “wanted something slightly feminine but that still acted as a neutral” and found that this stood out among the many rugs she sifted through in her search as “not cheesy and kind of vintage-inspired without looking like a New England fever dream.” Both Corsillo and Jerden agree that the medium-pile rug feels soft and durable, thanks to its tight hand-tufted weave. Jerden bought several more patterned rugs from the brand, including thisWoodlandstyle, apaisley-and-floralnumber, and the darkFolkloreoption, all of which are made of wool or a wool blend (a fact that Jerden appreciates for how durable they all feel).

Material:Various |Style:Various |Size range:Various

If you’re looking for affordable vintage, antique, or one-of-a-kind oriental rugs, Rug Source is a great place to start.Strategist writer Kitty Guoand I both bought rugs here and are extremely satisfied with them, especially for the price we paid for them. Six years ago, I bought a vintage nine-by-12 oriental rug for around $700, which is a great deal for that size. Because my older son was a baby then, I didn’t want a fancy rug that would inevitably get dirty, and a secondhand option was something I’d be okay abusing. Because of its pattern, stains are barely noticeable. Now that both kids are older, I would like to replace it with an upgrade, and because it wasn’t too expensive to begin with — or new — I don’t feel as bad getting rid of it. Guo was on the hunt for a plush, colorful Moroccan rug and found a couple of styles she liked on Rug Source — after scouring thousands upon thousands of rugs of all types on the site. While there are over 46,000 options to choose from, the website is easy to navigate, thanks to its extensive filtering system, which includes size, color, material, origin, age, pattern, and pile.Rug Source is also constantly running sales, so you’ll always be able to score a deal. You can find some truly gorgeous rugs if you have the patience to do so.

Material:Polypropylene |Style:High pile shag |Size range:Various

When Strategist beauty contributor Rio Viera-Newtonfoundthe shag rug of her dreams — brightly colored, cozy, and large — on a photo shoot, she was stunned to learn that it was under $100. She brought it home and says it completely changed her apartment from a plain studio to alively space. Viera-Newton bought a second version in bright yellow when she moved into her new apartment and says it added a kind of warmth she didn’t even realize her place was missing. It comes in over a dozen colors and both round and rectangular shapes.