A room without a rug is a room without love, a wise man in Persia once said. An area rug is a powerful thing indeed; it can make a bold statement as a focal point and can also set the tone for the overall decor of the room. As this feature can be so central to the feel of a home’s main spaces, it’s important to get it right. Rug style trends constantly shift and evolve with the times, so for those wanting to keep their domestic domain ahead of the curve, here are 5 IDEAL on-trend rugs for 2018.
HAND-KNOTTED RUGS
As a wider general trend moves towards the purchase of handmade and handcrafted goods in preference over the mass-produced, so too are rugs moving in this direction in 2018. Hand-knotted rugs can be softer, thicker and more durable than their mass-produced counterparts and can become a talking point in your room design too. A rug should do more than attract attention, it should be a true feature, to be sprawled across, sat on and enjoyed. A hand-knotted rug can make this piece of furniture one that is worth talking about as well as basing your room design around. Hand-knotted rugs, especially shag, will see an increase in popularity in the coming year, make no mistake.
PICTURE RUGS
Wall art? Na. 2018 is all about floor art. More and more creative, contemporary rugs are being designed to mimic a piece of art, and that’s great news, we think. Just like a portrait or a landscape painting, these rugs are meant to be viewed as an entire ‘picture’. Although rugs with repeating patterns will always be a simple and stunning way to stylise any room, picture rugs are a more of a bold statement and an ideal way to express your sense of style, taste and self. The rugs by Nourison are a good example of this; many of the rugs they produce create an image that catches your attention as soon as you enter the room.
NATURE INSPIRED RUGS
Bring the outdoors in with nature inspired rugs this year. There is an overall trend in the interior design industry which is moving towards bringing nature into the home. Studies have shown that making the home and even the workplace more natural can enable you to feel more comfortable and relaxed in the room. We’re not talking about rugs with clunky, in-your-face pictures of trees on them, rather rugs that are inspired by, and use, the colours of nature. Think a rug with warm brown and copper tones, using abstract patterns to represent autumnal leaves or an area rug representing an aerial view of a rugged mountain surrounded by waters, again in an abstract kind of way.
STRIKING FLORAL RUGS
Bright and striking floral rugs are also on-trend for 2018. The use of large and colourful flowers helps to give direction to the room as well as simply drawing the eye. The upstanding directional nature of a floral rug can help control the flow through the room and the bright colours can add some style too. Matching floral wall borders or furniture can also create a bold and striking floral theme that is on-trend for 2018.
ROUND RUGS
Rectangular rugs are always great, and the norm, but round rugs are becoming ever more popular. The mainstream awaits. It’s like we’ve only just realised how this surprisingly versatile shape can really change the feel of a room. A round rug can create a pocket of comfor in an open plan, hardwood floored room which is all the style these days. An isolated chair on a round rug can be a refuge in a wide open plan space and serves to create comfort and homeliness in an otherwise vast expanse. Plus, most spaces in the house are filled with rectangular shapes and sharp edges; a round rug can help soften those edges, making any living area feel more inviting. You can’t go wrong with a comfy circular rug in you want to add a relaxed vibe to your kitchen.
Rugs trends vary from year to year, but 2018 is set to be a year that sees a resurgence of some styles and the introduction of newones. Round rugs, hand-knotted rugs and floral rugs are all making a return while picture rugs and nature-inspired rugs also look set to increase in popularity.