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As we’ve complained about before, finding a nice, soft rug that’s affordable is challenging, especially because there are so many online outlets — many with very similar names and often identical products — that each offer thousands of styles that vary wildly in price and quality. But over the years, I, along with several Strategist staffers, have sifted through the mire to uncover a few really great rugs that are not only well made but feel plush underfoot — and also look fantastic. From solid color rugs to a ubiquitous seagrass one that designers swear by to kid- and pet-friendly floor coverings you can throw in the wash, here are the best rugs for every décor scheme and budget.
Update on September 26, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all other products.
What we’re looking for
Material
Area rugs come in a range of materials, but the most common ones are wool and cotton or other natural fibers like sisal, jute, and seagrass. (All of these materials can be blended with fibers like polyester and viscose, too.) Deciding what material to go with depends on what your needs are. If you want something plush that feels luxurious underfoot, go with wool. For high-traffic areas like hallways and kitchens, opt for something more durable like sisal, which will feel more like a mat than a rug. If you want something thin and more low-maintenance that you can throw in the wash, consider a cotton flat-woven rug — or a washable one made from polyester.
Style
The material of the rug usually determines its style. Wool rugs will typically be hand-loomed with cut pile or knotted. Cotton rugs are usually flat-woven and will be thinner than a wool rug. Sisal, jute, and seagrass rugs will be woven or knotted and can vary in thickness.
Size range
Many rug retailers offer a range of standard sizes, typically from three by five feet to ten by 14 feet. Some manufacturers even offer customization options, though ordering one will require a longer processing time. When choosing the size of your rug, think about the furniture that’s already in the room, whether you want the furniture to sit outside or on top of the rug, and how much of the floor you want the rug to cover. A good way to visualize an area rug in your space is to mark the outline with masking tape.
Best rug overall
Material: Wool | Style: Hand-loomed cut pile, 13mm thickness | Size range: 5’x’8 to 10’x14’
If you’re looking for a plain wool rug in sophisticated colors, some of which can function as neutrals, consider Nordic Knots’ Grand rug, which at least three Strategist staffers own, including myself. I first wrote about them last year as an area-rug alternative to crimson wall-to-wall carpeting that I’d seen crop up in the homes of folks like Laila Gohar and designer Pali Xisto Cornelsen. Its brick-red color is more subdued but still provides a similar effect. (Other stylish people, including CAP Beauty co-founder and CEO Kerrilynn Pamer and interior designer Madelynn Furlong Hudson, also prominently feature the brick-red rug in their homes.)
After two of my colleagues, Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens and associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell, bought the rug (Kitchens in Leo, a brownish gold, and Milliner-Waddell in red), I was convinced to check one out myself. I requested the Milano Green color, a gorgeous, hunter-olive tone, to put in one side of my living room. I’ve had it for three months now and love how it instantly elevates the space. It’s hand-loomed in a cut-pile style from New Zealand wool and feels incredibly nice underfoot. It has a thickness of 13 millimeters, making it not too thick or thin, and a satisfying plushness that’s extremely inviting not just for walking barefoot, but for sitting and lying down on. There has been some shedding, but a quick vacuum takes it all up and leaves it looking like new. While it’s on the expensive side, it truly feels luxurious — and like something I’ll have for a long time.
Best (less expensive) rug overall
Material: Wool and viscose | Style: Flatweave, .60 inch thickness | Size range: 2’x3’ to 12’x15’
While the Nordic Knots Grand rug is very nice, it’s on the expensive side, especially if you’re looking to cover a larger room. Kitchens went on the hunt for similarly solid and soft rugs with a lower price tag than Nordic Knots’ and came across this collection of wool-viscose blend rugs from a Rugs USA collaboration with interior designer Arvin Olano that has the closest-matching colors, especially in Verdant Green and Brick. Executive editor at the Cut, Marisa Carroll, got it in green, and Kitchens in red. “It’s very soft — just a hair less soft than the Nordic Knots rug,” says Kitchens. It has a slight white flecking effect that keeps it from looking identical to the Grand rug, but it “picks up light in a nice way and sort of changes when the room gets darker,” she adds. Comparing the bottoms of both rugs, Kitchens says that the Rugs USA rug is very similar in construction and thickness. “The Nordic Knots is the softest of all the rugs I’ve tried, but this surprised me,” she says. And you can’t beat the price: The Rugs USA rug is $833 for a nine-by-12-foot rug — nearly a third of the price of the equivalent size at Nordic Knots.
Best sisal rug
Material: Sisal | Style: Flatweave | Size range: 6’x’9’ to 10’x14’
Rugs made of sisal, jute, and other natural fibers are a bit more affordable than ones made from wool, though they won’t feel as soft to the touch. They’re also very versatile given their neutral colors and durability, making them great for high-traffic areas like entryways, hallways, and living rooms. They’re also great for layering with other rugs of different materials. This expert-approved rug from Crate & Barrel is my pick for best overall sisal rug, as it has a textured bouclé weave that gives it an elevated touch to set it apart from other standard sisal rugs.
Best seagrass rug
Material: Seagrass | Style: Flatweave | Size range: 3’x9’ to 9’x12’
This seagrass rug has also been making the rounds in the world of interior design thanks to its simple yet visually interesting pattern, and more importantly, its very affordable price point for its size. It’s been featured in shelter magazines and shows up in the homes of stylish people with various décor schemes, from mid-century modern to cottage. While it’s scratchier than a sisal or jute rug, it’s easy to style and customize. Made of spiraling square panels stitched together in a diamond pattern, two rugs can easily be sewn together to create a bigger one. Each square can also be removed if one needs to be replaced. Prices start at $165 for a runner, and a nine-by-12 goes for $425.
Best jute rug
Material: Jute | Style: Flatweave, chunky | Size range: 4’x6’ to 7’x10’
Jute rugs tend to be more expensive than sisal rugs because they’re slightly softer. Tammy Price of the Los Angeles–based interior-design studio Fragments Identity recommends this all-jute one from Ikea for a more affordable option. She says it’s super versatile and works all over her house. “I generally use this one as a layering piece and put a smaller rug with an interesting pattern over it,” Price says, like the smaller vintage Persian rug she uses in her living room.
Best washable rug
Material: Polyester with polyurethane barrier | Style: Flatweave or woven| Size range: 2’x3’ to 10’x14’
Ruggable makes some of the most popular washable rugs, and we’ve named its rugs the best overall in the category. Ruggable rugs come in two parts for easy washing: the patterned cover made from a synthetic chenille fabric that looks like a pile rug, and a pad that keeps the rug in place. When it’s time to wash the rug, you simply take the cover off and throw it in the washing machine. They come in a bunch of sizes and designs and are especially great for high-traffic areas like kitchens and hallways.
Best vintage rug
Material: Various | Style: Various | Size range: Various
If you’re looking for affordable vintage, antique, or one-of-a-kind oriental rugs, Rug Source is a great place to start. Strategist writer Kitty Guo and I both bought rugs here and are extremely satisfied with them, especially for the price we paid for them. Five years ago, I bought a vintage nine-by-12 oriental rug for around $700, which is a great deal for that size. Because my older son was a baby then, I didn’t want a fancy rug that would inevitably get dirty, and a secondhand option was something I’d be okay abusing. Because of its pattern, stains are barely noticeable. Now that both kids are older, I would like to replace it with an upgrade, and because it wasn’t too expensive to begin with — or new — I don’t feel as bad getting rid of it. Guo was on the hunt for a plush, colorful Moroccan rug and found a couple of styles she liked on Rug Source — after scouring thousands upon thousands of rugs of all types on the site. While there are over 48,000 options to choose from, the website is easy to navigate based on size, color, material, origin, age, pattern, and pile. Rug Source is also constantly running sales, so you’ll always be able to score a deal. You can find some truly gorgeous rugs if you have the patience to do.
Best Moroccan rugs
Material: Wool | Style: Beni Ourain | Size range: Various
Finding an authentic, ethically sourced Moroccan rug can be intimidating, but there are plenty of reliable places that make it easy to shop for one in a variety of sizes and styles. The first one I purchased came from the Anou Cooperative, an artisan-owned-and-managed collective of over 600 weavers in Morocco. Each rug’s product description includes information about the weaver in addition to details like size, weight, material, and weaving style.
When the one I had my eye on was sold, I was able to get it custom-made by the same weaver. The Anou provided updates every step of the way, from progress photos straight from the loom to a countdown of days until shipment. Shipping was easy, and the rug I received was identical to the first version I saw. Made with dyed wool, it has abstract designs and shapes in bright colors like pink, blue, and purple on a white background, and it feels plush and textured. It is also reversible to the cotton-warp side for when the weather gets warmer. I had it in the living room for five years before putting it in my younger son’s room, where it feels incredibly festive and cozy. You can find hundreds of rugs in Beni Ourain, flat-weave, and other styles in a range of colors, patterns, and sizes — or you can get something custom-made if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for.
Material: Wool | Style: Beni Ourain | Size range: Various
The Anou rug I have has a rustic handmade feel and traditional motifs, which I love, but if you’re looking for a Moroccan rug that’s available in modern designs with a more elevated, softer hand feel, consider Beni Rugs. Based in Marrakech, Beni owns the first vertically integrated production facility where rugs are designed, woven, washed, dried, and sold. The rugs are made from live wool sheared humanely from Moroccan sheep in the Atlas Mountains, as opposed to dead wool, which is chemically removed from sheep hide. Live wool is known to be softer, more durable, and prone to less shedding. Beni also uses a proprietary washing and drying process that leaves the rugs incredibly soft. You’ll see this reflected in the price, which is higher than other Moroccan rug purveyors.
I received a sample of the solid hand-knotted wool rug in Oat, a natural, off-white color, with tassels on one end, and the first thing I noticed was just how plush and luxurious it felt. With a higher pile height of between 1 to 1.5 inches, it’s much shaggier than the Anou rug. Walking on it, you feel your feet sink into the rug in an extremely satisfying way. I put it in our bedroom, where it makes me feel like I’m in an Old Hollywood dressing room. I received the rug quickly because it was an in-stock option, but for all other rugs, which are made to order, the lead time is between 12 and 16 weeks. The smallest version of this rug starts at $728 for one that measures three by five feet.
Material: Wool | Style: Beni Ourain | Size range: Various
Etsy is another great source for Moroccan rugs shipping directly from the source. Fashion writer Harling Ross Anton recommended a couple of Etsy stores in a recent Cut article, including Berber Moroccan Rugs based in Marrakesh. You’ll find classic diamond styles as well as more intricately patterned ones in bright colors and designs, and you can choose just about any size you like. I also like this store that’s based in Marrakesh.
Best flat-weave rug
Material: Cotton | Style: Flatweave | Size range: 2’x6’ to 8’x10’
If you don’t want a plush wool rug, a flat-weave rug is a low-maintenance choice. Hook & Loom offers a slew of handwoven recycled cotton-blend rugs that are beautifully dyed and are a great, saturated alternative if you’re looking for a solid color. They’re prewashed for softness and can easily be tossed into the washing machine. The rugs are also quite affordable, with an eight-by-ten going for $290.
Best customizable rug
Material: Various | Style: Various | Size range: Custom
Rugs are not one-size-fits-all, even if a brand offers multiple sizes. Ernesta takes the headache out of ordering custom-size rugs — and at a more affordable price point. I am currently in the process of ordering a custom rug for my living room, and so far the experience has been seamless. What I was most surprised by was just how plush and thick the rug samples are (depending on the style). While I am still trying to decide which one to get, I am in touch with one of Ernesta’s designers, who is helping me with sizing as well as styling. Once you choose a rug, they will create a rendering to help you visualize what it will look like in the room. I really love how soft this chunky, hand-loomed wool rug is, but ivory isn’t the wisest choice for two small kids, and the gray color feels too dark. I will most likely go with this white-and-blue tufted rug that will be better at disguising stains and easier to clean.
Best graphic rug
Material: Wool | Style: Hand-tufted | Size range: 4’x6’ to 9’x12’
For a graphic style that will definitely be a statement rug in your home, I love rugs by Pieces. The brand offers striking rugs inspired by sports like tennis and baseball as well as Italian American locations in Brooklyn. The Salerno rug takes its cues from the aesthetics of Italian design from the ’60s and ’70s, incorporating bold color and 3-D-like effects.
Best shag rug
Material: Polypropylene | Style: High pile shag | Size range: Various
When Strategist beauty contributor Rio Viera-Newton found the shag rug of her dreams — brightly colored, cozy, and large — on a photo shoot, she was stunned to learn that it was under $100. She brought it home and says it completely changed her apartment from a plain studio to a lively space. Viera-Newton bought a second version in bright yellow when she moved into her new apartment and says it added a kind of warmth she didn’t even realize her place was missing. It comes in more than ten colors and both round and rectangular shapes.
Our experts
• Harling Ross Anton, fashion writer
• Marisa Carroll, the Cut executive editor
• Pali Xisto Cornelsen, interior designer
• Kitty Guo, Strategist writer
• Madelynn Furlong Hudson, interior designer
• Simone Kitchens, Strategist senior editor
• Jenna Milliner-Waddell, Strategist associate editor
• Kerrilynn Pamer, CAP Beauty co-founder and CEO
• Tammy Price, interior designer
• Rio Viera-Newton, Strategist contributor
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