So, you like my striped rug?
I found some other good ones
‘Where is your rug from?’
A question I’m asked every time I share a photo of my flat. The chances are so high that when The Rug appears in the background of an Instagram story, I have my answer ready to paste into a DM. Who knew a multicoloured striped flatweave would whip up such enthusiasm?
Let me state for the record, it’s from Rug Vista. I bought it in early 2019, and it’s a wool flatweave from their ‘kilim modern’ section. It’s a useful size at approx 2x3 metres (though, if you ask me, 2.5x3 metres is most optimal for a versatile rug), and it was £650.
It’s both wild and annoying how much rug prices have leapt up since then. I assume import charges have gone up too, but Rug Vista don’t sell anything similar at that size for such a reasonable price anymore. In 2025, I think you’d be looking at £1000 for the same thing. Twice that if you buy from a more curated, ritzy website. I noticed yesterday that a one-off rug I featured in an edit back in 2023 is still available now, albeit at over £400 more than just two years ago. Ouch.
Gird your loins if you’re shopping for a decent-sized rug these days, because it’ll cost you!
One useful tip: websites like Rug Vista and Nain Trading (the latter is my total fave for striped flatweaves) have discounts and deals constantly, so the price on their site could change at any given moment. If a rug isn’t discounted when you first see it, chances are it will be within a week or two.
Vinterior is also worth a look, also 1stDibs or Chairish if you’re in the US. If you’re the intrepid explorer type and you travel often, the best deals will be via an inside contact in places like Turkey or India, as you’ll cut out the middleman. It’s less insane than it sounds if you have a large empty suitcase – they do fold well.
Etsy has an occasional decent vintage flatweave, though you have to rifle through a lot of bang-average new cotton rugs on there. If I’m being fussy (and I always am), I actually prefer Etsy for vintage Moroccan or Swedish rugs, not stripes.
On that note, cotton rugs are much more affordable for sure, but because the colours and the texture are flatter and more uniform, they’re just not as lovely as wool, in my opinion. They don’t have the same character or variation.
My rug was a one-off and it’s six years old, but try these search terms if you’re not sure what to Google, they’ll likely set you off in the right direction. At worst, you’ll end up coming across a site with an enormous amount of choice, so you can take it from there and figure out what you’re most drawn to.
Striped kilim
Striped flatweave
Turkish flatweave
Kilim Fars
Jajim rug
Stripe Dhurrie
Antique striped rug
Vintage striped rug
Some striped rugs that spring to mind…
Vincent’s Antwerp home is one of my fave ever living room references. He’s got a lot of stuff, but it feels uncluttered because the palette is tonal and gentle – neither too bright nor too stark. He uses this simple kilim in a brilliantly large size, and I think it’s perfect. For years, IKEA has made a wool flatweave like this, but it’s a crisp black and white. Cream and brown are much easier to decorate around.
I always think of this photo when I’m picturing my ideal neutral area rug. I love it for a couple of reasons: the stripes aren’t uniform in size or repetition, and the other is the specific beige/brown/pinkish combination. It’s so soft and versatile and will go with everything. It’s easy to find brown and cream striped rugs, but the addition of that elusive soft pink is much harder.
Designer Heidi Caillier is a prolific striped rug user in her projects, and she’s placed blue striped rugs in sitting rooms more than once. Antique blue Dhurries like this are always priced in the thousands, especially in large sizes. There are a few on 1stDibs, but in the UK, I also keep an eye on the spoils of Francesca Gentilli’s buying trips.
This is Soane Britain founder Lulu Lytle’s flat, and although it’s way too extra for me, this particular flatweave rug most reminds me of the colour combinations in my own. I have white walls as I’m in a rental, but think it’s a good example of how much pattern and colour a room can actually handle, if maximalism’s your style.
21 rugs I’d use in my flat, if I had the right space
Things to know about the rugs behind the paywall:
These are not the same (or even particularly similar) to my rug, as I couldn’t find anything in a palette close enough to show you. I’ve seen various very similar ones in the past, but not when I was looking this week.
I’m based in the UK, and that will affect my search results
I didn’t choose a broad mix of styles and price points like I would if I were curating an edit for a publication. I only chose designs that I’d buy for myself.
The price points range from £371 to £5,017 but they’re mostly around £1k
Most are one-offs, so when they’re gone, they’re gone
I’ve included three runners, but they’re also available in area rug size, if that’s what you need
