The season’s most alluring textures, sized to suit every space

Every year, as we return to the indoors for the colder months, the textures that grace our floors become all the more noticeable. A rug’s pile height, weave and material nuances impact how each room feels, especially depending on how much ground it covers and where it sits. Discover how the season’s most alluring textures—shag, high-low and plush—reach their full effect at different scales, and learn how to size and style them for the bedroom, living room and home library, from the hearth to the reading nook.

Shag rugs are the most decadent of all—they’re exceptionally soft with long, deep fibers, making them exactly the kind of rug you’d like to feel beneath your feet as you wind down for bed or gear up for the day ahead. Alya, our newest shag rug, is crafted from a luxurious blend of wool and cotton fibers that are carefully washed for enhanced softness. Another shag rug, Nora, is hand-knotted from pure wool with a cut inspired by traditional Moroccan styles. Your feet will sink right into either of these rugs, especially if you opt to add a rug pad for extra cushioning underfoot.

When it comes to sizing shag styles such as Alya and Nora for the bedroom, consider first the placement of the rug and the resulting experience. We recommend placing it beneath your bed and your nightstands so your feet land directly upon it when you step out of bed. So when you’re measuring to determine the right size, don’t stop at the edges of the bed. Instead, extend your measurements 24 to 36 inches beyond the foot of the bed to leave room for a bench or chaise, and far enough on either side to fit your nightstands. If your bedroom is large and the walls sit far beyond your nightstands, give the rug an even bigger surface area within the room so that it reads like an expansive textural oasis rather than a small backdrop for your furniture.

Remember that deep-pile rugs like Alya and Nora add height to your floors, so check how much clearance your bedroom door has above the floor to be sure you can open and close it with ease.

High-low rugs are a great way to bring dimension to large spaces such as living or family rooms. With raised and recessed areas, they catch the eye and add rich tactility underfoot. Gemma and Amos, both made from a blend of wool and cotton, are the latest additions to our collection of high-low pile rugs. Gemma boasts a maze-like pattern formed by artfully mixing cut and loop weaves, while Amos has an abstract, linear pattern formed by mixing plush and flatwoven sections.

Rugs with patterns created through pile height variations come to life when they span generous surface areas. In mid-size to large rooms, place all of your furniture on top of the rug to underscore their size and the openness of the space; in smaller rooms, let just the front legs sit on the rug—this keeps the room feeling spacious. Leave about six to eight inches between the rug’s edges and the walls or baseboards.

High-low rugs are also compelling in front of living room fireplaces, particularly styles with directional patterns like Amos’, which will draw the eye directly to the hearth if its lines are oriented to do so. Consider requesting a custom fireplace cutout that frames the hearth perfectly.

Plush rugs have a dense, patterned surface texture that invites you to slow down and be still, making them perfect for home libraries or reading nooks. Dawson is a new style with a linear texture woven from soft, marled wool yarns that add visual intrigue. Another new style, Essie, is woven from pure wool with a geometric shape cut into its pile. Though both have varied heights, they’re denser than high-low styles like Gemma and Amos, with subtler patterns that suit more intimate spaces well.

Place your plush rug beneath the primary seating area and center the arrangement in front of the room’s architectural focal point, whether that’s inset shelving or a window. If your space has a desk and chair, the furniture should sit directly atop the rug, centered in front of another focal point, like a painting on the wall. Extend the rug 24 to 36 inches past the edges of the desk and chair. When measuring, pull your chair out to where you actually sit, so it stays on the rug as you move in and out. Leave six to eight inches between the rug and the walls, built-in shelving or cabinetry so the rug and furnishings are framed within the space. 

Many home libraries also have alcoves, such as bay windows or recessed reading nooks. These charming features often give the room an irregular shape. Consider getting a custom rug shape that flows seamlessly from the primary area of the room into the alcove, so the whole room looks and feels cohesive.

This season, fill your home with textures you’ll look forward to walking upon all year long, starting with samples of our custom-sized rugs. If you’ve already found a texture you love, customize the size to suit the dimensions of your home and get in touch with us if the layout of your room calls for a unique angle, curve or cutout. We’re here to create custom shapes, conduct on-site fittings and ensure the final placement is exactly as you envisioned it.