Edition 10: Rugs to Roll Around On
An primer on shopping for the most difficult item in your home
Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my new weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.
This week, Meagan in NYC is on the hunt for something I have especially strong opinions about: “A rug to go under my desk! “Office rugs” are too boring and plain, but I need something a rolling chair can sit on (I don’t move the chair around much but don’t want huge carpet indents?) I love the idea of soft blues or sage greens”
Dear Meagan,
Rugs are such an important decor item! When I was moving into my first apartment in New York, my mom told me to budget for a nice rug and to pick it out before anything else. It’s easy to find furniture you love to go with a rug, but harder to find a rug you love to go with your furniture. And she was right! From my experience it pays to take your time to find and invest in a really good rug. One thing I think is always important to ask yourself when bringing a new object into your home is: “How will I dispose of this item if/when I am finished with it?” and rugs are no easy thing to dispose of or recycle! All of that said, your needs will be totally different when it comes to utility areas, like under desk, in a kitchen or in a bathroom, because whatever you choose will inevitably get totally flattened by your wheels and also needs to be especially durable. Before we go any deeper, let’s go over different types of rugs:
Knotted rug - The nicest type of rug money can buy is a hand-knotted rug. They’re typically one-of-a-kind and the most durable option. Each piece of yarn is literally knotted by hand on a giant loom. “Turkish”, “Oriental” and “Persian” rugs are all different techniques of hand-knotted rug.
Tufted rug - This is what you see on Instagram and Tik Tok, where there’s a tool that punches yarn through a canvas. They can look similar to a hand-knotted rug but often have a higher pile (thickness of fibers), lesser quality materials, and don’t last quite as long because the fibers aren’t tied into place. For example, the ever-popular rugs by Cold Picnic are full pile tufted rugs. They look great when they’re new but tend to snag and pill easily and just typically aren’t going to last you forever.
Power-loomed rug - These are entirely machine made and are the most cost-effective rug type. They’re usually made of synthetic fibers and are ideal for high traffic areas. The trade off is that they tend to look cheap.
Woven rug - There are lots of types of rugs that fall into this category. Flat weave rugs, sisal rugs, indoor-outdoor rugs, etc. Woven rugs are typically easy to fold up and move around and tend to be thinner, which means that it’s likely to bunch up under your desk chair.
Braided rug - Literally, a braided rug. These make great kitchen rugs or door mats but tend to have too bumpy a texture for a rolling chair. (Note: if you’re looking specifically for an American-made rug, there are lots of domestic companies that make really nice braided rugs).
A couple of years ago, I was looking for a rug for my bathroom that was larger than a bathmat and not thick or shaggy (they’re so gross! Please, let’s stop using fluffy bath mats). I didn’t want something precious because I knew it’d get wet, would need to be cleaned often, and would be walked over a lot — so I looked for something purposely cheap and durable, against all of my principals when it comes to shopping for a rug. What I landed on was a power-loomed rug with a short-as-can-be pile from Anthropologie for about $300, which after several years, still looks great and serves its purpose perfectly.
Important criteria for your office rug:
Ideally power-loomed
Short pile (so you won’t have to worry about it flattening over time)
Patterned (to hide dents and dirt from you wheels)
Minimal texture (so your wheels move smoothly)
And as I’m not sure of the size you need or the style you’re going for, I’ve chosen options that seem desk-sized, or come in many sizes:
The Overdyed Albufera Rug from Anthropologie ($398 for a 5’ x 8’). This pattern will hid anything and the pile is just the right height to feel good on your feet but survive the abuse of your wheels.
Or how about this cute one by Rifle Paper Co. ($300 for a 5’ x 7’) Generally, I think that the world have become over-saturated with Rifle Paper Co. aesthetic, but their floral patterns really lend themselves well to rug designs. Check out the other ones available, too!
Also from Burke Decor, something a little modern $370 for 5’ x 7’. Aren’t these colors nice? I like this option because it’s non-traditional, but doesn’t have large areas of solid color like many more modern alternatives do. Who on earth can live in a house with solid colored rugs and keep them clean!? Do you not spill anything?!
Kind of an odd size, but this one from Revival is gorgeous (and vintage!) for $287. Buying a refurbished vintage rug if by far the best way to get an heirloom quality rug on a budget! This color is so pretty and would brighten up any room.
I’d love to recommend a place for you to go and check out rugs in person in NYC, but there just aren’t a ton of options right now. If the big ABC Carpet shop was still open, I’d send you there to rummage through their sale basement (formerly a favorite activity of mine). If you’re ever looking for a nice hand-knotted masterpiece, Carpet Culture on Broome Street is great and has sales often.
Online, Burke Decor is a great option for quality but still affordable machine-made rugs, as is Loloi Rugs. And for anyone looking for a more sustainable rug to invest in, Revival sells restored vintage rugs — this is where I’ll be buying a new rug for my dining area!
I hope I’ve helped you narrow your options a little bit! Personally, I think rug shopping is the MOST frustrating home item to hunt for because there are so many ugly rugs to sort through, and so many factors to consider. But, all good things are worth waiting for, and I’m sure that with a little patience you’ll find something that satisfies all of your criteria.
QUICK ANSWER
Lisa in NYC wants a “Business card holder. Now that we’re back to in person meetings, I want a stylish business card holder. I have a small Muji one but it gets scratched easily. On the other hand, I’m drooling over a Bottega Veneta one but it feels obscene to spend $450 for something like this. Any recommendations? Only requirements are that it has to look sleek/cool/elegant and under $200.”
Lisa, I am so happy you asked this question because I can confidently recommend an alternative to that stupid beautiful Bottega holder. Several years ago I fell down a major rabbit hole looking for the exact same thing before attending my first trade show. The problem with so many business card holders is that, in addition to being ugly, they aren’t big enough to fit more than 10 cards, especially if they’re printed on nice heavy paper. I recommend The Smythson Folded Card Case, which is towards the top end of your budget at $190. It’s holds up beautifully, looks fancy, comes in fun colors and has plenty of space for cards. In general, I love Smythson leather goods because they’re so elegant and though still expensive, they’re the same/better quality than big big name designers, but usually half the price.
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Many years ago, I went on a vacation to Costa Rica and had ALL of my luggage stolen on the second day. It was traumatic, but also a huge lesson in how to pack, and how little I can actually live with. Now, I never bring more than a carry-on size bag, and am especially strategic about the clothes that I bring. Mostly: nothing irreplaceable, everything in the same color palette, and no more than one of each type of article. One item that I bought last year that I am obsessed with is the black Fleetwith Romper from Patagonia. It’s comfortable, lightweight, flattering, stretchy, and can be worn for a hike and then also dressed up for dinner. It’s by far the most versatile item in my suitcase and I can’t imagine traveling without it.
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I’ll be taking next week off because I’ll be on a family vacation (subscribe to my general newsletter to hear about it!), but I’ll catch you in two Fridays! xo Caroline