Rugs are one of the largest canvases in our homes. Their composition, texture, palette, and tone set the scene for how the rest of the room feels, as well as the guests that fill it. The right rug can transform a space from sterile and generic to inviting and personal. For a space that welcomes authentic life and boosts every mood, designers reach first for vintage rugs. Here’s how to harness the power of vintage-style rugs in your own home with our brand new Founder’s Collection of washable rugs.

Vintage Nostalgia

Rowan Teal Blue & Copper Rug

Vintage doesn’t mean dated. Antique and vintage furnishings continue to rise in popularity as homeowners seek a touch of nostalgia. The familiarity and comfort associated with styles and silhouettes from memories past brings authenticity to any room in the home. Mixing old and new together creates unique, personalised spaces that stand the test of time. But you don’t have to shop estate sales and pre-loved marketplaces to harness the comfort of heritage pieces. Rugs that incorporate a faded, sun-bleached look evoke the longevity and history of a vintage rug, without the maintenance that actual wear and tear from authentic distressing brings. The breadth of hues and variation of tones in the Rowan Teal Blue & Copper Rug were inspired by vintage Turkish rugs. This design marries timeless style with durable comfort, without the pesky maintenance of a pre-owned piece. Style this rug with brass accents, warm wood tones, and marble vessels for a cohesive, cosy space.

Trend-Proof Tradition

Rowan Teal Blue & Copper Rug

Certain trends simply never go out of style. Medallion rugs with intricate borders and hand-worked patterning are mainstays in interior decor. Their lasting power is a testament to their ability to make a space feel welcoming and inviting. Traditional rug designs like Imani Vintage Multicolour are versatile enough to complement nearly any home decor style, with palettes that blend seamlessly into any home. These vintage compositions ensure a space feels established and timeless in design, and won’t require updates and refreshes with everchanging fads and trends. Surrounding vintage-style rugs with potted plants or natural branches will ensure a space feels fresh and lively. 

Impact: Big and Small

Unlike other styles, which may overpower or under support a specific space, vintage style rugs can be styled in any room. Smaller, 60x90 cm vintage rugs can add timeless depth to a cramped bathroom. Larger vintage area rugs ensure living rooms, dens, family rooms, or playrooms are welcoming and inviting for guests of any age. Adding a vintage rug to a bedroom, even just a runner, can provide calming comfort. Due to their versatile and ornate detail, vintage runners are the perfect addition to a hallway or galley kitchen, elongating the space with visual interest. There is no space too small or too large for the versatile impact of a vintage style rug. Ensure your vintage-style rug has exposed flooring on all four sides. This allows the composition to breathe, without feeling forced into a space.

Soft and Subtle or Bold and Bright

Vesper Olive & Gold

Vintage-style rugs don’t have to look faded, discoloured, or over-worn. Because harsh UV rays can damage antique fibres and dyes over time, authentic vintage rugs tend to look more muted and faded over time. But rugs made with durable materials, like designs in our Founder’s Collection, bring the style of a vintage find, with the vibrancy and color depth of contemporary rugs. Our Frances Vintage Teal Blue Rug is a more vibrant interpretation of vintage style, while the Vesper Golden Sapphire Rug provides a more neutral balance with the muted, mushroomy browns found commonly in vintage style rugs. Pair bolder rugs with neutral accents and furniture for an elevated, mature feel. 

The real delight of vintage rugs lies in the details. While their compositions feel like gorgeous tapestries, tying a room together, vintage-style rugs make the greatest impact when discovered up close, relishing in each hand-drawn detail and unique linework. When styling a vintage-style rug, ensure the composition isn’t cluttered or covered by too much furniture. These intricate designs need space to breathe–so you can behold their storied beauty. Take a look at our beloved Founder’s Collection up close, to learn the magic of these timeless styles.