It looks as if it has spent thirty years in a Victorian terrace. In fact it is brand new. Our vintage rugs pair classic ornaments with a deliberately washed-out look, and that contrast works surprisingly well next to modern furniture.
All of them are machine-woven with a flat pile, most from 100% polypropylene with a short pile, some from polypropylene with a little polyester added, and one flat weave that stays very low. A few designs mix 60% viscose with 40% polyester. According to the product data they are made in Turkey.
How do you spot the vintage style rug look? The patterns seem faded and worn, as though decades of feet had walked over them. Colours are washed out, outlines uneven, transitions soft. Medallions and borders are often only hinted at. You get the feel of an old oriental piece without any knotting. If you want the real handcraft, hand-knotted from wool, look at an oriental rug instead.
Vintage rugs in a new-build living room
Use the distressed look as a counterweight to clean-lined furniture. Especially in new builds with white walls and smooth floors it adds the patina the room otherwise lacks. Plain sofa, sleek surfaces, few accessories. Then pick one colour from the pattern for cushions or throws.
Most sizes sit between 80 x 150 cm and 200 x 290 cm. In front of a small sofa 160 x 230 cm fits, while a three-seater wants 200 x 290 cm, since there is no 200 x 300 cm. A large vintage rug of 240 x 340 cm exists in a handful of designs, and three go up to 300 x 400 cm. For planning the seating area, browse our living room rugs. In the room next door a flat-woven kilim from our kilim rugs works nicely, or a natural jute boho rug.
Under the desk chair and the dining table
Thanks to the low pile these rugs cope where life gets busy, so desk chairs roll more easily on them than on deep pile, and the very flat weave lets dining chairs move without catching. For the hallway, two designs come as runners, from 60 x 180 cm up to 80 x 400 cm.
With children and a dog
Polypropylene takes up hardly any moisture. Blot spills. Vacuum. Done. Because the patterns are irregular on purpose, small marks and walkways show up less than on a plain rug. That counts with toddlers and pets. The viscose blends need a little more care, so dab stains dry at once and never rub.
Beige is the most common colour. It shows pattern and still stays calm, which suits pale wood and a Scandinavian look. Grey is cooler. It gets on with concrete, metal and black furniture. Red is warmer. It likes wood and houseplants, and blue or turquoise look fresh beside white and cognac. The multicoloured ones need plain furniture around them, otherwise it all gets busy.
Beside the bed
Here a vintage rug is less cosy than wool or high pile. If you want it soft by the bed, put a small wool rug beside it and let the patterned rug cover the rest of the room.
Frequently asked questions
Are these rugs old or new?
New. The name only describes the look. Pattern and colours appear faded, as if worn for years.
Is there a vintage runner for the hallway?
Yes, two designs come as runners. Both are polypropylene with a short pile and easy to live with in a hallway.
Does the worn look go with Scandinavian style?
Yes, if you choose a light shade such as beige or light grey. The faded pattern takes the edge off a minimalist room without cluttering it.
