Red is a brave choice for a floor, and Noah makes it look easy. The warm tone sits well beside cream walls, a grey sofa or dark wood. This low pile rug has a faded, vintage-style pattern, so the colour feels lived-in rather than loud.

• Pile: 100% polypropylene
• Backing: jute
• Machine-woven in Turkey
• Low pile, rectangular
• Suitable for underfloor heating

The red Noah is a synthetic fibre rug with polypropylene dyed in the mass. Polypropylene takes up hardly any water, which is good news in a kitchen. It can go in front of the worktop, and the same flat, close surface works under a dining table, where chairs slide back and forth without catching. Under the coffee table it makes a warm rug for the living room, and it suits a children's room too, because a play area needs a surface that does not mind crumbs. Masking tape on the floor shows how much space the Noah will take before you settle on a size.

Spills stay on top for a while. Blot first, then use a little mild washing-up liquid and clean water. A brush-head vacuum is fine on this short pile, and our rug care tips recommend a brush for pressed-flat patches. A non-slip underlay, slightly smaller than the rug, keeps corners from curling.