A grey rug is easy to live with, because it sits quietly between a wooden table, a linen sofa and whatever cushions you own. The Lorena in Grey is a low-pile rug with a worn-in look that goes with both light and dark furniture.

• Pile: 90% polypropylene, 10% polyester
• Jute backing
• Machine woven in Turkey
• Low pile, rectangular
• Suitable for underfloor heating

The vintage pattern comes from the design, not from age. Because it is machine woven, the lines stay crisp and the grey is the same across the whole surface. Synthetic fibre takes up hardly any moisture, which is handy if you want a kitchen rug under the sink or a spot by the dining table. It also suits a playroom or a child's bedroom, and it is just as easy to care for there. Laid in front of a sofa, the grey Lorena gives a lounge the same lived-in feel as our other living room rugs, and a strip of masking tape on the floor helps you decide which size to pick.

Looking after the grey Lorena

A brush-head vacuum cleaner is fine on short pile. If a spill lands, there is time to blot it before you rinse the spot with a little gentle soap in water, the order our cleaning advice recommends. Where furniture has pressed the pile flat, a brush lifts it again, and the rug stays flat on the floor if you put a non-slip pad, slightly smaller than the rug, underneath.