Rug buying guide

Rugs can be used to add style, practicality and comfort to the home. Use our guide to find the right rug for you.

A brown rectangular rug on a round coffee table.

Choosing a style

A good place to start is by considering whether you want a plain or patterned rug as this will narrow down your choice of material and finish. If you're really stuck on what style you want, we've picked out a few rugs that best fit with popular decor themes.

Four varieties of rugs rolled and stacked near a wall in a garden.

Which rug is the best for you?

Let’s take a look at different types of rugs.

Plain rugs: Plain doesn't mean boring. A block colour makes a texture stand out and opens up a few more material options, like shaggy and sheepskin.

Patterned rugs: Whether you go for a traditional rug pattern or a more contemporary rug design, they'll create a focal point and are a quick and easy way to transform the look of a room.

Modern & glam: Love the luxe look? Champagne, blush, and mink are key colours here, with equally opulent finishes like crushed velvet and faux fur.

Classic & country: We are channelling cosy country cottages when we picked out these lovelies. Neutrals or warming reds come to mind and check prints of course feature.

Scandi & simple: Grey, mustard, more grey. Block colours and a few playful prints feature in our collection of rugs inspired by Scandinavian style.

Shop by size

Shop by shape

Round rugs

Make your space look bigger.

Rectangular rugs

Tie your room together.

Novelty and animal shaped rugs

Add uniqueness to your space.

Runners

Protect your floors in a stylish way.

Looking for colour options?

Trendy grey rugs

Gorgeous green rugs

Pretty pink rugs

Bold black rugs

Brilliant blue rugs

Regal red rugs

Sophisticated brown rugs

Colourful rugs

Your favourites

Rugs by room

Looking for a rug for a particular room? We'll help you find the right size, material and construction to suit the space.

A sofa and a small office set up in living room with modern country interior.

Living room rugs

Your living room or lounge is likely to be one of the busiest rooms in your house. To avoid wear, choose a durable material, like polyester or wool.

Shop living room rugs

How to position your living room rug

Birds eye living room diagram showing small rug placed under coffee table.

If you just want something that is a bit decorative and more of a comfort for your feet, opt for a smaller rug that sits centrally in your room.

Shop small & medium rugs

Birds eye living room diagram showing medium rug placed under front legs of all sofas.

If you've got a smaller room where furniture is up against the walls, opt for a rug that sits underneath the front two legs of your sofas.

Shop large rugs

Birds eye living room diagram showing large rug placed under all furniture.

If you have a large room with a 'floating' seating area, pick a rug that is big enough to sit underneath all of the key furniture.

Shop extra large rugs

A grey wool rug near a bed and a bedside table in a bedroom.

Bedroom rugs

You're likely to be walking around with bare feet, so the texture is important. Soft rugs with a longer pile and shaggy effects are ideal for the bedroom.

Shop bedroom rugs

How to position your bedroom rug

Birds eye bedroom diagram showing two runners on either side of the bed.

If your bed is up against a wall, have a small runner on either side of it, for added comfort when you get up in the morning.

Shop long rugs

Birds eye bedroom diagram showing small rug placed at the end of the bed.

Another option you could try is to place a smaller rug at the end of your bed. This is really handy if it's a well used walkway in the room to prevent carpet wear.

Shop small & medium rugs

Birds eye bedroom diagram showing large rug placed underneath bed and bedside tables.

If you have a sizeable bedroom, try picking a rug that sits underneath the front of your bedside tables, and spans your entire bed.

Shop large rugs

The Habitat Bloomsbury geometric rug in a dining room setting.

Dining room rugs

For the dining room, pick a rug that's wider than your table, with a bold pattern or decoration around the border, to really make the space pop.

Shop dining room rugs

How to position your dining room rug

Birds eye dining room diagram showing small rug placed under dining table.

If you want to spruce up your dining area but don't have much space, try a smaller rug that sits beneath the dining table and the chairs when they're tucked in.

Shop small & medium rugs

Birds eye dining room diagram showing medium rug placed under dining table.

If you have a bit more space to make a statement, choose a rug that will sit beneath your table and chairs, even when they're pulled out.

Shop large rugs

Birds eye dining room diagram showing large rug placed under dining table.

Go big and bold with a rug that fills most of the dining space or room. These are better suiting to larger dining areas that have 6 or more seats.

Shop extra large rugs

Rugs for other areas

Hallway rugs

Hallways tend to be high traffic areas where shoes may be worn, so pick a runner or rug with a shorter pile for a more durable and easy-clean option.

Shop hallway runners

A Habitat round outdoor rug near a garden bench.

Outdoor rugs

Give your garden or deck a quick luxurious makeover with a stylish rug. It's an easy way to spruce up your space, protect the floor from spills, and provide comfort to your bare foot.

Shop outdoor rugs

A Habitat kids rainbow tufted flatweave cotton rug.

Kids' room rugs

Rugs in kids' rooms are an inexpensive way to protect your flooring from food, toys, stray felt tip pens... Opt for colours or characters that match their decor.

Shop kids' room rugs

Texture & materials

100% wool rugs

Add some flair to your home with our stylish and super cosy wool rugs. Whether you prefer polished prints and patterns for making a statement, or a simple bold colour, to liven up the whole space. Our range of short cut pile, 100% wool rugs, has something to suit all spaces.

Shop 100% wool rugs

A close up corner shot of a synthetic rug.

Synthetic materials

Polyester, acrylic, nylon and polypropylene are the main players here. Synthetic rugs are available in a wide range of styles and textures, and their durability means they're a great choice for high traffic areas.

Why they're great:

Wide variety of styles and finishes
Very durable
Shorter piles are especially easy to clean and wash, and great for allergy sufferers

Just consider:

They may not be as smooth as some natural fibres, but quality synthetic rugs will still be really soft underfoot

Shop synthetic rugs

Natural materials

Cotton and wool can be used on their own or combined with synthetic fibres like polyester for extra properties, for example to make the rug more easily washable.

Why they're great:

Very durable
Wool has excellent insulating properties, and will help make the room feel cosier
Natural texture and feel

Just consider:

These fibres tend to be very absorbent, so it can be trickier to clean up stains, especially cotton, and shouldn't be used in rooms that may get damp.
For households with young children and pets, a wool-mix option may be preferable due to being easier to clean.

Shop natural rugs

Jute

Get closer to nature by adding a jute rug to your space. Made from dried plant fibres, they're an eco-friendly way to treat your feet.

Why they're great:

Easily recyclable and biodegradable
Very durable
Timeless look

Just consider:

Jute rugs are vacuum-friendly so you can clean them regularly.
The fibers are quite absorbent, so try and clean any stains or spots as soon as possible. A quick tip - blot the stains with equal parts water and white vinegar using a small towel.

Shop jute rugs

A close up shot of Habitat studio geo flatweave cotton rug

Short pile/flatweave

Think of the texture of a flat carpet. Typically fibres are tightly woven or cut close. While they won't feel as luxuriously fluffy underfoot, they're easy to vacuum and very durable, making them a smart choice for high traffic areas. Patterned rugs will typically have a shorter pile so you can see the intricate designs.

Great for:

Homes that host a lot, have large families or have high traffic areas.

Shop short pile rugs

A close up shot of Habitat plain and cosy recycled long pile rug.

Long pile/shaggy

Uber indulgent shaggy rugs and faux furs fall into this category. The fibres are long and soft, which are great for human feet but a little trickier for paws (their claws might get caught). They can be harder to vacuum, so are not the best choice for high traffic areas, but they make an oh-so-cosy accent to a country snug or glam boudoir.

Great for:

Rooms where you enjoy reading a book or playing on the floor.

Shop long pile rugs

Jargon buster

A Habitat Scandi floral rug in a living room.

Let's lay down the terminology...

Pile: If you were to stroke a rug, you'd be stroking the pile. The longer the pile, the shaggier the rug.
Hand-made: Part of the rug is crafted by hand. It doesn't necessarily refer to the whole rug - machines may be used for some parts of the process.
Hand-tufted: A popular and affordable method of making a rug where yarn is stitched onto a backing and fixed in place by a layer of durable material.
Hand-carved: Describes a technique where the pile of the rug is cut to different levels to produce a decorative pattern.
Heat-set: A heating process that can be applied to the synthetic material polypropylene that creates the appearance and texture of wool.

Measuring for your rug

Measuring correctly for your rug makes ordering easy, and prevents taking home a rug that's unexpectedly too large or small. The dimensions of each rug we sell are shown in the product information.

Grab a tape measure...

...and some newspaper or masking tape, mark out the size of the rug you want to buy where you will position it. This lets you see how the rug will fit with the rest of your furniture. Clever eh?

Most of our rugs come tightly rolled so it's easier for you to take home or have delivered. All you need to do is unroll and position in its new home.

At first wrinkles and curling are to be expected. Smooth out as best as you can and leave for a day. The fibres will relax, leaving you with a perfectly presented rug.

Corners still curling up? Fold them under for a day so that the curve is bent the opposite way. This helps the corners to settle in their place.

Many rugs have a non-slip backing sewn into them to prevent the rug moving on wooden flooring. Some woven rugs don't have a backing, but you can purchase a separate underlay to stop movement and wrinkling.