Grey does a lot of quiet work in a room. Set the Omen against a warm oak table, a charcoal sofa or a few mustard cushions and it settles in without taking over. The faded, worn-in pattern is part of the design, which is why it suits the many people who like vintage rugs but want something tidy underfoot.

This is a machine-woven rug made in Turkey. Its pile is 100% polypropylene and the backing is jute. Polypropylene is a synthetic fibre that is dyed right through, and it takes up hardly any water. That makes the Omen a sensible low pile rug for places where life gets a bit messy.

Because the pile is short, chairs slide back without catching. That is handy under a table in the dining room, and just as useful in the kitchen. Kids can park their toy cars on it, so it works well in a nursery, and the grey is easy to live with. Planning a living room scheme? The rectangular shape fits in front of a sofa. Make sure at least the front feet of the sofa and armchairs rest on it, so the seating reads as one group. The Omen can go over underfloor heating, and like our Synthetic Fibre Rugs in general, it is dyed right through the fibre.

Under a table it does the same job as our Dining Room Rugs, and with the size guide you can pick a length that leaves room for the chairs.

Spills stay on top of the fibre for a while, so blot them with a clean cloth, then work on any mark with a little mild soapy water and dab with clean water. A brush vacuum is fine on this short pile, and if the pile gets flattened, brush it upright again. A non-slip pad slightly smaller than the rug stops it creeping, and our cleaning advice covers the rest. Simple.