Silmena Plain High Pile Rug - Ivory

Silmena is a plain ivory rug with a high pile of long, silky strands that fall in loose, tousled drifts across the whole surface. Those strands have a gentle sheen that catches the light as you move through the room. There is no pattern at all: the texture is the design. The pile is 100% polyester, soft and deep underfoot, and we offer this rug in three sizes, 120 by 170cm, 160 by 230cm and 200 by 290cm.

A high pile like this is at its best where people sit, lounge or step out of bed barefoot. The 120 by 170cm size suits the side of a bed or the space in front of an armchair. The 160 by 230cm rug sits comfortably under the front legs of a sofa and a coffee table in a typical living room, and the 200 by 290cm size is large enough to hold a whole seating group together in a bigger room. Ivory is an easy partner for pale wood floors, white walls and warm neutrals, and it brightens a darker floor without adding colour.

The pile stands 8cm high, and the maker gives the rug's thickness as 3cm, the figure to check against the gap under any door that opens over it. The maker's care is all dry: vacuum often with the floor tool attached or brush the pile gently, refresh it with a dry shampoo when needed, and leave deeper cleaning to a specialist. Keep it away from water. When it arrives, roll it the opposite way and leave it lying flat for 24 hours so it settles, then give it a shake to lift the strands. Mark the outline with masking tape before choosing a size, and on a smooth floor an underlay helps keep the rug in place.

Does the ivory look more white or cream?

It is a soft, warm ivory rather than a bright white, so it sits happily with cream, oatmeal and natural wood, and the sheen on the strands makes it look a little paler where light falls.

What colour is the backing?

The backing is grey. From above you see only the ivory strands, and the grey shows only if you turn the rug over or lift a corner.

Will the strands flatten where people walk most?

A long pile can lie down along a busy path, and the maker's remedy is a gentle brush and a shake, which lift the strands and keep the surface looking even.

Can this rug go in a bathroom or kitchen?

We would keep it out of both, because the maker asks for it to be kept dry, so it is a rug for dry rooms such as a living room or bedroom.

How does a polyester pile feel underfoot?

Polyester can be spun into fine, glossy strands, so this pile feels silky and smooth when you run a hand or a bare foot through it, rather than coarse or wiry.