Pale grey with a faded, worn-in pattern: the Noah has a calm, lived-in look. The vintage look comes from the design itself rather than from any ageing. Light grey keeps a room calm and works with oak, white walls or darker sofas.

The pile is short and flat, which makes this a true low pile rug. Chairs slide over it without catching, and the flat surface is easy to keep tidy. Crumbs are easy to spot and brush away.

The pile is 100% polypropylene, a synthetic fibre dyed all the way through, and the backing is jute. Noah is machine-woven in Turkey on a jacquard loom, so the lines of the pattern stay crisp from one end to the other. It is suitable for use over underfloor heating, though hot pans and irons should stay well away from it.

Rectangular, it suits many rooms. Under a coffee table it anchors a living room seating area. Beneath a table, the grey Noah works like any of our dining room rugs when the chairs still sit on it once pulled back, and a few strips of masking tape help you pick the size that allows for that. In front of the worktop it makes a tidy kitchen rug, and in a nursery it adds a calm, flat surface for play.

On the light grey Noah a spill sits on the surface for a while, because polypropylene takes in hardly any water, so you have time to blot it with a cloth. Then work over the mark with a little soapy water from the sink and a dab of clean water, as our care guide sets out for synthetic rugs. A non-slip pad slightly smaller than the rug stops it creeping and keeps the rug lying flat.