I am a bit of a rug “collector” with about 30 of them in my home - 12 are actually in use and the others rotate in and out of storage. I grew up with wall-to-wall carpeting so I guess that’s partly the reason. Rugs feel like home. But they also have some unexpected benefits besides enhancing the overall space and I’ve partnered with Lorena Canals to explain these benefits and to talk about easy rug care.

Rugs change an entire room. The right one can impact the space visually, we know, but can also add warmth, pattern, introduce a new shape, break up hard lines, add color, create cozy vibes, and provide absolute comfort.

But there’s more.

four more unexpected benefits from rugs:

1/ A rug can provide a financial benefit in cooler climates by lowing heating costs in the winter because they insulate a room by keeping heat in the space. I notice that when my drapes are open in the winter, the sunlight warms up my wool Berber rugs and the wool retains the heat all day.

2/ Rugs have acoustic benefits too - if you live above neighbors, it can help reduce sounds and vibrations, making life for those living beneath you much more comfortable. This is great if you know you’re a “hard walker” (my former neighbors are small people but they walk so hard that my ceilings would move whenever they were in motion - they have no rugs, just 100 years old wooden floors… Some rugs would have made my life so much nicer during those years. Also, rugs can act as a buffer to reduce sound in your own home as rugs absorb vibration and noise all around you, from bass that comes from your speakers to conversations, and of course movement like dancing, walking, and the occassional toddler meltdown.

3/ Rugs divide larger spaces so they make “sense” and perform better. A large room can double as a dining and living space simply by adding a rug beneath the dining space and another rug beneath the living space. This visually creates two “rooms” even when walls are not present. If you don’t believe me, try it with and without your rugs. You won’t believe the difference!

4/ Rugs act as a foundation for your overall room design. They can create a fixed area in which to arrange furniture on and around to ground the space and make it feel finished. For instance, let’s say you have wood flooring and an empty room where you intend to create a living space for hanging out and entertaining friends… For instance, with a sofa, coffee table, tv, etc. A rug beneath the furniture will ground everything - it will visually group your pieces so the overall look feels unified, connected, and "finished”. The rug becomes the foundation upon which all other things are arranged. This creates balance and harmony.

Now let’s discuss rug care, as this topic comes up often, particularly if you have pets and/or children.

What happens if your dog has an accident or your child spills there juice? In most cases, you’ll need to have the appropriate cleaner and tools at hand to return the rug to its former glory. Or, it may need to be visited by a professional cleaner or be sent out for cleaning.

Imagine if you could just toss it in the wash…

Normally, this isn’t an option due to many reasons. It may be too big or the colors can bleed. BUT there are rugs that you can wash in the machine because I have a few of them and they are by Lorena Canals.

Lorena Canals rugs come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors and some are even created for outdoor use. For the past 20 years, the brand has evolved to become one of the most beloved and best-known brands for washable rugs - in both cotton and wool. I have two of their rugs in my home, the Enkang in my hallway leading to our sleeping rooms, and the Pine Forest (140x200) in my son’s bedroom. He loves to play on it, it’s comfortable yet the pile is not too thick for legos. His former rug had a thick pile and he kept losing lego pieces in it which eventually ended up in our vacuum cleaner. Not fun!

How do I wash my Lorena Canals rugs? I’ve washed both (separately, without anything else) in my washing machine on a low setting, delicate, and then hung them on a rack to dry for two days. I usually throw them in the dryer after they’re 100% dry from the rack to “fluff” them up a bit with a few fabric softener sheets (low heat, 10 minutes) before placing them back on the floor.

[Note: Since these rugs have no backing or grip and they tend to move around a lot on my hardwood floors, I bought rubber non-slip rug pads (I get mine at Otto in Germany or you can buy eco-friendly ones here). I trim them usually to fit my rugs perfectly.]

So, that’s a wrap! I hope that you’ve enjoyed my spotlight on rugs today and I wish you a lovely weekend!

Love,

Holly

(This post is unpaid, however, both the Pine Forest rug and the runner were gifted to me and my family by Lorena Canals on the assumption that I would post if I was happy with these rugs after several months of testing and washing them - and I love them!)