Cream ornaments go well with a grey velvet sofa, walnut side tables or a pile of linen cushions. Lay the Nain Diane so that at least the front feet of the sofa and armchairs stand on it, and the seating reads as one group. Choosing the right size gets easier with masking tape on the floor.

Short pile suits a kitchen as much as a living room or a kids' room, and underfloor heating is fine. Synthetic fibre takes up very little moisture. Here the pile is 80% polypropylene and 20% polyester on a jute backing, machine-woven in Turkey, which places this low pile rug among our synthetic fibre rugs and our kitchen rugs.

Spills on the cream Nain Diane wait on the surface for a moment, so blot first, then dab with water and a mild cleaner and rinse with clean water. On a smooth floor, an underlay a fraction smaller than the rug, as our care guide suggests, keeps the corners down. Nothing slips.