Dining rooms with a long wooden table need something calm underneath, and taupe does that job well. This jute rug brings a soft grey-brown to the floor, framed by a border.

The weave is flat. A rectangle like this fits under a dining table, in front of a sofa or along the kitchen units, which is why it appears among our Dining Room Rugs. In the lounge, a taupe rug sits quietly with cream walls or dark wood. It suits underfloor heating.

Beneath the colour is 80% jute and 20% cotton, woven by hand in India, with a felt backing carrying PVC nubs. This taupe piece belongs to our Jute Rugs and has a sisal look. On smooth floors such as tiles, add an underlay.

Masking tape on the floor shows where the edges will fall, and our advice on rug sizes helps you pick from the sizes on offer.

The rug care tips for jute ask you to keep this taupe rug out of damp rooms such as a bathroom. Take it outside now and then to beat it over a railing, and keep a slightly smaller anti-slip mat beneath it. Its flat surface gives dust very little to cling to.