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10 best wool rugs that look as good as they feel

These statement carpets will offer warmth in the winter without feeling stuffy once the weather improves

Ali Howard
Tuesday 16 February 2021 13:02 GMT
<p>Whether you’re looking to layer up a bedroom or bring warmth to a stone floor, a statement carpet is the way to go</p>

Whether you’re looking to layer up a bedroom or bring warmth to a stone floor, a statement carpet is the way to go

A well chosen rug has the ability to bring a room together, anchoring our furniture choices while adding colour and character. Whether you’re looking to layer up a bedroom or living space that’s already carpeted or bring warmth to your stark stone floor, a statement carpet is the way to go.

Unlike its synthetic counterparts, natural wool offers cosy in the colder months but never feels stuffy once the weather improves, making it the ideal choice of material for year-round comfort and style. For areas with a heavy footfall such as the hallway, look for durable flat-weave designs that will withstand a lot of wear.

Tufted rugs with a deeper pile require more maintenance, so follow the care instructions to the letter to make sure yours is kept in tip-top condition – and bear in mind that some of the higher-end designs require a professional clean only.

Read more: 9 best wardrobes for getting organised in the bedroom

Wool rugs can be expensive with certain styles reaching well into four figures once you decide on an extra large carpet to fill your open-plan living space. But where some are veritable artworks in their own right, others are purse-friendly, design-led pieces that pack a punch in the style stakes.

We put our top ten wool rugs to the test, looking for great design and durability, softness and sustainability, and that all-important affordability underfoot.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Dunelm pebble wool rug

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Named after its pebbly texture, this homely/hygge rug is a joy to run your bare feet over. It’s woven from 100 per cent wool and boasts a thick and heavy makeup, which ensures it stays firmly flat on the floor without those tell-tale curly edges sometimes seen in cheaper carpets. Available in eight different sizes, we were impressed with amount of choice, meaning we could find the perfect spot for it – but do bear in mind that its price goes up steeply along with its dimensions. With deeply textured wool rugs like this, it’s best to use the rotating brush extension on your vacuum cleaner.

  1. £49 from Dunelm.com
Prices may vary
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Housecosy Ziggy wool rug, multi

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Made from 100 per cent hand-tufted wool, the Ziggy is a contemporary statement piece with its sharp geometric patterning. But that’s where the Bowie reference ends – there’s nothing Stardust about this calming, earthy colourway of mellow yellows and dusty blues. With its supple 8mm pile, it feels luxuriously soft underfoot. And it’s finished to a high standard too with its hard wearing binding underneath. Available in medium, large and extra-large, this one offers a big impact in any size.

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The Rug Seller Moderno Gigi geometric woven rug

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A modern rug for design lovers, this statement carpet, in 100 per cent woollen pile, features a series of interlocking circles and semi-circles with cleverly contrasting weaves to accentuate the arresting geometric pattern. This gives the rug a wonderful depth as well as visual interest, and in natural beige, the plain colour lets the pattern do all the talking. As with all of The Rug Seller’s products, this is a top quality carpet. Team it with an angular mid-century coffee table in warming walnut for the full effect.

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Rigg & Furrow 03 lavender rug

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This is another beautifully crafted contemporary flat-weave rug in 100 per cent wool. Designer Gill Thorp incorporates graphic shapes with vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines, offering eye-popping interest and a rich visual depth. We loved the daring mix of colours, from zesty tangerine on a soft lavender background, to vibrant blue on blush pink. As with many of Floor Story’s carpets, this one offers a good amount of choice at checkout: pick from two sizes or go bespoke in increments per metre. The design is also available as a tufted carpet if you’re after a softer feel underfoot.

  1. £650 from Floor Story
Prices may vary
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Think Rugs 100% wool rug with subtle geo design

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Our pick from Think Rugs via La Redoute similarly allows its sharp geometric patterning to shine in simple monochrome. The carpet is available in a choice of seven shades – go bold with bright ochre, teal, green or terracotta, or choose a calming colour to complement your cosy living space: beige, grey or pink. Hand-tufted using the finest wool, this one proved tangibly high quality with its supple, short thick pile and its exacting finish. Striking geometry with the softest touch.

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Loaf Casbah rug in ash grey

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Loaf’s offering is a plush Berber-style rug crafted from 100 per cent New Zealand wool with a strong cotton backing. Its longer pile awards it a shaggy look and feel, while its minimal interlocking diamond design keeps it pleasingly fuss-free and contemporary. Available in sizes small, medium and large, this is a wonderfully homely rug that suits bedrooms and living rooms alike. Its neutral colourway of ash grey and warm cream awards it versatility – this one will blend beautifully in any scheme.

  1. £435 from Loaf.com
Prices may vary
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Ligne Pure Rise blue rug

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This Belgian brand is known for its exquisitely crafted carpets and so it was no surprise that the Rise rug in blue proved a hit in our house. Hand-woven from 100 per cent wool, this is a beautifully crafted flat-weave carpet that promises durability in areas of the home with a high footfall. We loved its subtle graduation in shade from light to dark, not unlike a watercolour canvas, and within that, its mottled variation in tone – the devil’s in the detail here. The rectangular rug comes in two sizes and two further colourways, brown and pink.

  1. £599 from Woven.co.uk
Prices may vary
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My Furniture Verdell rug

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Bringing a vibrant splash of biophilic design to our living space is this arresting statement rug from My Furniture. Featuring a pattern of overlapping tropical leaves on a warm, cream background, it brings colour, depth and an unapologetic touch of opulence to the floor. The hand-tufted round rug is made from 100 per cent wool and has a dense, short, soft and thick pile. If you’re a sucker for symmetry, this circular carpet looks great under a perfectly centred round coffee table.

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Made Isola hand tufted wool rug, large

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We loved Made’s Isola rug for its arresting design with its Matisse-like cuts outs and its warm and earthy colourway. Designer Kit Agar has mixed salmon pink with sage green and deep mustard with smoky grey – and the result is truly striking. The rectangular rug is made from 100 per cent hand-tufted wool with a 100 per cent cotton backing and has a soft, short pile that feels lovely and dense underfoot.

  1. £349 from Made.com
Prices may vary
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Villa Nova dotty sorbet rug

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This playful, spotty rug is made from 100 per cent hand-tufted wool with a durable, 100 per cent cotton canvas backing, making it pretty and practical in equal measure. Its gentle colourway of sorbet shades on a warm cream background awards it a wonderfully homely feel, while its soft, short pile is a delight to sink your toes into. This one comes in just two sizes, small and medium, and we found, makes an ideal rug for a cosy bedroom.

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The verdict: Wool rugs

Dunelm’s pebble wool rug won us over for its high quality of materials, its craftsmanship and its deeply textured design. While it does require a little more maintenance when it comes to hoovering, it’s more than worth it for the luxurious foot massage you get. At the higher end of the price range, we also loved Floor Story’s Rigg & Furrow 03 lavender rug. It’s a beautifully crafted carpet that marries centuries-old flatweave techniques with striking, modern design.

For more home comforts, read our round-up of the best Seventies-inspired homeware pieces to shop now

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