Areas like living rooms, dining rooms and hallways demand rugs that can withstand constant use while still elevating the look and feel of the space. In these settings, a good rug should be durable enough to withstand wear while offering ease of maintenance.
Wool rugs are the perfect choice high-traffic areas. Wool fibres are coiled, which allows them to bounce back after compression. This means they hold their shape in busy spaces, offering comfort underfoot whilst being exceptionally durable. Wool also offers a degree of natural stain resistance, so many spills can be treated with ease.
An Authentic Tabriz Persian Rug
Living Room Area Rugs
Living rooms are often the busiest part of a home; the hub of family life and sometimes prone to the odd spill. A living room rug should therefore be durable enough to withstand daily use, but still be soft and inviting.
Wool rugs with a medium or thick pile work especially well in these spaces, offering warmth underfoot and the resilience needed for heavy footfall. Textured wool rugs can also add depth and interest without relying on bold patterns. For a calming, grounded effect, earthy or neutral tones in muted designs work beautifully.
We've outlined a few of our favourite living room rugs below.
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Blasket Grey: Featuring a soft, bubble texture, this minimalist piece is handwoven from wool and cotton promising softness and comfort underfoot.
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Shall Rugs: Expertly handknotted in Afghanistan from pure wool, these rugs showcase bright, warm tones and intricate detailing; the perfect centre piece for living rooms. Plus, these rugs are exceptionally durable and easy to clean and maintain.
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Marimekko Collection: Renowned for bright cheerful tones and bold, contempory styles, Finnish design house, Marimekko has launched a colourful collection of rugs in collaboration with Brink & Campman. Handtufted from soft, cosy wool these rugs are perfect for adding warmth and character to any space.
Marimekko Iso Unikko Yellow Rug
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Rugs.ie x Geri Designs Provence Olive: Part of the Rugs.ie x Geri Designs Collection, the Provence Olive rug is handwoven using responsibly sourced wool and recycled cotton. This rug offer a sense of depth and brings the outdoors in with its tonal colour palette. Plus this piece is reversible, perfect for busy family homes.
Rugs.ie x Geri Designs Provence Olive Rug
Dining Room Rugs
A dining room rug needs to be both functional and elegant, anchoring the dining table whilst being easy to clean. Low-pile or flatweave rugs are the most suitable here, allowing for the chairs to move across the rug with ease.
Patterned or distressed designs work well in dining spaces, as they can easily disguise signs of wear. Size is equally important: the rug should extend at least 60 cm beyond the dining table on all sides, so chairs remain comfortably on the rug even when pulled out.
For detailed advice on selecting the right design and dimensions, explore our dedicated dining table rugs guide.
Our favourite dining room rugs:
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Rugs.ie x Geri Designs Manhattan: crafted from wool and recycled cotton, this rug is part of our exclusive Rugs.ie x Geri Designs Collection. Showcasing a playful monochrome pattern that works beautifully beneath a dining table.
Rugs.ie x Geri Designs Manhattan Rug
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Crucial Trading custom rugs: dining tables come in many shapes and sizes, and a custom rug can be the best way to achieve the right fit. Crucial Trading offers made-to-measure rugs in wool, sisal and jute that can be stain-treated for ease of cleaning.
Jute rugs are also popular choice for dining rooms, thanks to their natural, earthy charm. If you're looking for a wool rug with the same rustic aesthetic as jute, our Dingle rug may be the perfect fit. The understated chevron pattern in soft beige tones is the perfect way to introduce depth and texture whilst being easy to clean and maintain.
Wool Hallway Runners
A hallway rug or runner protects wooden floors and tiles while also making an often-overlooked space feel more welcoming.
Low to medium pile or flatweave rugs are most suitable here. Since hallways often have limited natural light, colourful or brightly patterned rugs can help brighten and lift the space. If the layout allows, a larger rug such as 160 x 230 cm or 140 x 200 cm often works better than a runner, as this gives the entryway a more intentional look.
An underlay is always recommended to keep the rug in place and protect the floor beneath.
Top picks for hallways:
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Afghan Kilim Runners: handwoven from wool with flat, durable piles and bold geometric patterns that bring instant life to a hallway.
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Bokhara Runners: handknotted from wool, these Oriental rugs come in earthy shades including soft blues and greens. They’re exceptionally durable yet soft underfoot, with a relatively low pile that makes them ideal for hallways. Each piece is unique, and some runners are available in extra-long sizes of up to four metres.
Design Consultation Services
Finding the right balance between functionality and design is important when choosing a rug for any high traffic area.
If you'd like help finding the perfect piece for your space, our team will be delighted to help. Contact us or visit our store in Douglas, Cork where we have an extensive selection of durable rugs and runners.
We also offer complimentary Design Consultations with our resident Interior Designer, Cormari. Appointments can be booked online, in-store or via email. To begin, book your complimentary design consultation today.
Panorama Wool Dark Brown Multi
