Blue Rugs

Choosing the shade of a blue rug

Blue can feel crisp, calm or cosy depending on the shade, so start with the light in your room. A deep navy anchors a large, bright space and sets off pale walls and furniture. A paler blue keeps a small or north-facing room feeling open, and it looks gentle beside oak and other light woods. If your sofa or walls are already blue, a rug a shade lighter or darker gives contrast without clashing. Every design on this page has blue in it, though not always on its own. We stock rugs that pair blue with cream, grey or green, which makes them easier to place in a room that already has a colour scheme. Several carry a touch of white, which keeps the look fresh.

Modern, traditional and vintage blue rugs

We stock modern, traditional and vintage blue rugs, so you can match the rug to the room rather than the other way round. A modern design with bold blocks and curves suits a clean, uncluttered space. A traditional or vintage design, such as a medallion pattern, sits comfortably with older furniture and period rooms. We also stock floral designs, which bring a gentler, more relaxed feel. Several have abstract patterns, good for adding movement to a quiet room. Some are geometric, a neat match for sleek furniture. If the rest of the room is already busy, a simpler design lets it breathe; if it is pared back, a patterned rug can carry the colour for you.

Pile and texture in a blue rug

Pile is the height of the fibres, and it decides where a rug will work best. We stock low-pile and flatweave blue rugs. A low or flat pile is the practical choice where a door has to open over the rug or chairs are pulled in and out, and it is quicker to vacuum. A few have a shaggy pile. A shaggy rug is the soft choice beside a bed or in front of a sofa, where you want something deep to sink your feet into, but it takes more patient vacuuming and is happier away from the busiest routes through the house. If you are torn, a low pile is the safe middle ground.

What our blue rugs are made from

Most of our blue rugs are polyester, a soft synthetic fibre that suits printed patterns. We also stock rugs in polypropylene. As a fibre, polypropylene does not soak up liquid easily, so it is worth a look if spills are a worry. Several are wool, if that is the fibre you prefer underfoot. In a busy family room, a synthetic fibre is the easier choice to live with, while wool suits a calmer room. If you need the exact blend, read the material details on the product page before you order.

Size and shape for a blue rug

Almost all of our blue rugs are rectangular, the easiest shape to line up with a sofa or table. Some are round, which softens a room full of straight edges. We stock runners too. A runner's long, narrow shape suits a hallway, a landing or the floor beside a bed. For size, think about the furniture rather than the floor. In a living room, choose a rug large enough for at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs to rest on it, so the seating feels joined up. Under a bed, the rug should reach beyond the sides so your feet land on it when you get up. Measure your space, then check the sizes listed on the product page.

Blue rugs for the living room and bedroom

We stock blue rugs for the living room and the bedroom. In a living room, a blue rug gives the seating a calm centre and pulls cushions, throws and curtains together. In a bedroom, it brings a soft colour and warmth underfoot. Beyond those rooms, some are suited to hallways. Several are kids rugs, made with a child's room in mind. A few are suitable for outdoor use, so check the product details before you lay a rug outside. Wherever it goes, think about the colours it will sit beside, from the walls to the sofa, and choose the shade that links them.

Caring for a blue rug

A little regular care keeps a blue rug in good shape. Vacuum it often, working with the direction of the pile, and use a suction-only setting on a shaggy pile so the fibres are not pulled. Blot spills straight away with a clean, dry cloth rather than rubbing, which spreads the mark and pushes it deeper. If you want a rug you can wash, look for washable in the title and care details, then follow those instructions to the letter. On a hard floor, a non-slip underlay holds a rug in place and keeps the corners flat. Turn the rug round now and then so wear and sunlight even out across the pattern.