When you bring home a carpet or a rug, not only does it adorn the floor you’ve chosen for it but it often brings with it a cultural heritage and a legacy that generations can carry forward with pride. In the Indian context, the cotton dhurrie is considered the quintessential Indian rug. Until pretty recently, rug collectors in the country would wait for a new Shyam Ahuja piece to arrive in stores. The designer, who has been in the business for over 50 years, is known to have put dhurries on the global map. His flat-weave rugs have elevated the homes of both the elite and the eclectic around the world. These days, with increased accessibility, you are spoilt for choice with cotton, jute, silk, viscose and woolen rugs, and options that suit every budget.

A Shyam Ahuja creation

An area rug helps to define a space within a room. For example, if you share your workspace with your living room, a well-chosen rug will demarcate the workspace. If you have an eclectic living room setting, a rug helps to tie in all the varied pieces of furniture in the room. Likewise, a rug will delineate the dining space area from that of the kitchen in your studio apartment. An area rug lets you carve out smaller, more intimate corners within a room.

A rug can easily be an investment, therefore it is important to know how to go about choosing one. Here is Discern's guide to choosing rugs that will have the most value, and how to decipher the current trends in the market.

How to select: Trends and tips

The use of your space determines the purpose and thereafter the selection of the rug. You may want to choose a flat-weave patterned rug to visually liven up your living room seating area. In your study, where you may often find yourself spread out on the floor while reading, you are better off placing a dense or high-pile rug. A Turkish kilim is a good investment, and will easily match most interior decor schemes.

If you entertain people a lot and your living room is exposed to wining and dining (followed by much spilling and dropping!), a flat-weave, low pile rug would reduce the damage as it is easier to clean and maintain through vacuum cleaning. For your bedroom, a high-pile rug matching the decor is a good choice as long as it surrounds the bed area or even one side of it, and not the entire space. How about a cotton flat weave depicting intricate motifs of curlicue leaves? A traditional Indian weave, it will add to that classic finish in your bedroom.

If you live in a coastal area and want a beach house look, natural fibre area rugs in single shades will help impart a relaxed, boho-chic vibe. This type of rug will also work well for a weekend home. A handmade rug in white and blue shades is also a good choice for a beachy look. Pay attention to colour during the selection. If your room is a motley collection of colors and patterns, a single-colored rug is what you should opt for; if you have neutral shades in your home, a primitive print with geometric styles would work well for your modern interiors.

Pattern, pattern, pattern — you can never ignore this criterion. Want to experiment with country home living in your apartment or are you keen to replicate the polished look of a London apartment? Floral design rugs enhanced by the sheen of viscose are a good choice. For a classic yet contemporary look, try an ikat-patterned rug, or tribal prints for a dash of culture.

Size does matter. A rug should ideally fit the size of your seating area; an oversized one for a small space will look out of place. Similarly, a rectangular rug for a square room is not a good idea and a round rug at the Centre of a rectangular room will not provide the look you want.

Who says rugs are for floors only? Mounting a rug on a wall is in vogue again. Pay attention to wall color while mounting. A neutral wall will benefit from a rug in bold shades. If you have a Persian rug that is a family heirloom, we suggest you display it on your wall.

​Recycled rugs are good options for homes with either a contemporary or industrial look.

Shop these show stopper rugs

Navajo

We love the Navajo kilim - it’s rich, handwoven in wool, and like us if you are a culture vulture with the fierce love for Aztec prints, you’d know this is a good buy to accentuate the wooden interiors of your living room. This rug will complement a leather sofa set in your living room as well.

Discern Tip: Hang a kilim in primitive prints on a wall. It will go well with wooden interiors.

Avon

Intricate floral motifs bestow this rug with a boho-chic appearance. It’s handwoven in wool and lends an opulent finish to a simple, modern apartment space. It’s available in four colors — light blue, light green, rose and beige.





Avon

Discern Tip: Flat-weave rugs are a practical choice for modern apartments, where inhabitants are used to having people over often. The rugs look good and are easy to maintain.

Reo

Whether it’s your studio where your day is spent in creative pursuits or your living room where you entertain people, the Reo rug adds the polished touch you so desire in your home.



Reo

Hazen

Spruce up your white and blue interiors with the Hazen rug. It’s calm, breezy and effervescent.





Hazen



Basic - 3006

Bring the beach indoors with this handmade, blue and white striped rug. Colors of the Mediterranean work best in a room that has minimal decor and is decorated in mostly neutral shades, with white being predominant. If you don't have white furniture, another way to achieve this look is by buying (or making!) furniture with a distressed wood finish - the rustic, beachy look will be complete.





Basic

Brio Rug

It’s young, it’s trendy (after all, jeans will always be in fashion!), and above all, it’s made of recycled materials! This option is sure to steal the thunder in your room. A great choice for a bachelor pad.





Brio