Jermaine Gallacher • August 2024
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about rugs. It’s hardly surprising, given I’ve spent the last 18 months working on a rug collaboration—which, sadly, I am not at liberty to disclose yet. But what I can tell you is that I’m feeling fully brushed up on my knotty knowledge, and am finally equipped to offer some insider tips and tricks of the trade on how to get the best out of your rugs.
I grew up in a house where rugs were absolutely forbidden. Our abode was all about stripped-back bare pinewood floors, seemingly always stained the wrong shade of orange. So, naturally, the first thing I did when I moved out and got my own place was to head straight to every car boot sale and charity shop in London and snap up every rug in sight. Much to my poor housemates’ dismay—they were both graphic design students and didn’t appreciate my layered approach to interior design, which, by the time I had finished with the place, looked like a cross between the basement of Liberty’s in the 1980s and a Moroccan souk.
The truth is rugs really do have the ability to instantly change a room—or in this case, an entire three-bedroom South London student flat. In all seriousness? I cannot think of a single interior element that is more versatile—and dare I say, life-enhancing—than the humble rug.
It goes without saying that rugs come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and materials, meaning there really is something for everyone. But the sheer abundance of choice also means choosing one can feel a little overwhelming. So before unlocking your wallets, there are a few first things to consider. Firstly, what is it exactly that you want from your rug? Is it merely there to serve as decoration, or because (like me) you have a drab floor that needs masking? Even worse, is it because you have petty neighbors who insist on complete silence and are trigger-happy with their noise complaints, even on a Saturday morning when you’re only listening to reruns of The Archers on the radio? The good news is that laying down the right rug can offer a solution to all of the above.
Personally speaking, I am a big fan of the flat weave: meaning rugs made on a loom and without a pile, making them sleeker and lighter than your average carpet. There are a few reasons I love them: the main one being durability. I think they’re better suited to us busy, carefree metropolitans who are prone to knocking over the odd glass of wine, or perhaps for young families. More importantly, I believe they’re more versatile: they work with all types of furniture and can be easily placed in any room, even the kitchen. (Side note: I love rugs in kitchens.)
Good news for us vintage lovers: flat weaves are easily picked up at car boots and reputable dealers. Currently, I am in love with design dealer Jess Maybury’s selection of world textiles and rugs, which includes sensational dhurries, soumaks, and kilims. I recently bought an Iranian sofreh zigzag rug for my sitting room, having searched high and low for almost 10 years, and I now have my eye on a cheeky ’90s abstract wool number—if I haven’t already snapped it up by the time this is published, then someone else really should.
Hallways are a no-brainer—it’s flat weave every time for me. (Let’s face it: who wants a filthy shag pile runner?) I am really into the Waver, a collaboration between Vanderhurd and Adam Bray. Available in a smorgasbord of colorways, I particularly love the modernist green and black combo: I think as a rule of thumb runners always look best with a border and a plain solid base. Using a rug with a border will emphasize and extenuate the shape of your hallway and make it look longer than it actually is. Oh, and don’t be afraid of dark tones. It’s an enduring myth (and absolute nonsense) that light floors make a room look bigger; in reality, darker colors are grounding and make for a better backdrop.
Which leads me nicely to my next point: the importance of pairing your furniture with your rug. If there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s seeing a tiny rug floating in the middle of a room with no thought to how it looks with the furniture around it. Furniture should be on the rugs, whether it’s the legs of a chair or the base of a dining table. And for me, this is when rugs really get interesting. It’s the ideal moment to really play around with shape, color, and pattern. An example? I’m a vocal champion of the round rug—and even better, a round table on a round rug. It’s such a glamorous, delicious combination and always puts me in mind of David Hicks, who, frankly, was a master in the art of using rugs with dramatic effect.
Who can resist that kind of drama? Try placing light furniture on dark, for example, like a white round table on a dark red rug—or, even a juicer, a dark glossy black chair on a cream carpet. (Very Andrée Putman.) Round rugs can be quite tricky to find, but The Rug Company has a wide selection in strong solid colors. Buying second-hand is always a great opportunity to introduce some patterns. The older faded designs are much more forgiving and work well in contemporary interiors—just remember to look out for moth holes. The relatively newly opened Woven Place just off London’s Pimlico Road is awash with both antique and contemporary rugs—and if nothing else, it’s a great place to visit to get some inspiration, as the space itself is quite something.
Now, finally, to the bedroom. This is the moment you can really let your hair down and go for that shag pile you’ve always secretly wanted. In fact, there really is something quite lovely about a deep pile between your toes first thing in the morning, but I would err on the side of caution if you’re leaning towards a really deep pile. Frankly, I dread to think of what might get lost in them. Why not go for a cut pile instead? It offers the best of both worlds, and is much safer all round. I used a cut pile carpet in a recent barrister’s office project, and it’s a great way of playing with shape and texture: Pierre Frey does the most exquisite (and exquisitely expensive) cut pile carpets, while Nordic Knots offer similarly delicious styles at more palatable prices.
But for a real curveball? I actually have a leather rug in my bedroom, and I have to say, it’s pretty damn sexy. Bill Amberg has an amazing selection of printed leather rugs, but my current favorite leather rug is by Madeline Thornalley, who is a milliner by trade. Thornalley has recently turned her hand to occasional homewares; her bright purple leather cross rug is stonkingly good and available at a store owned by yours truly. Whatever you decide is the right rug for you, just make sure you have fun finding it—as that may be the best part of all.
Resource: https://www.vogue.com/article/rugs-interior-design-advice
