Hard floors are having a moment.
Whether it’s laminate panels covering new build floors, polished marble tiles as part of renovations, or restoring genuine timber planks by sanding and staining, the UK has fallen for hard floors. In fact, data from Dyson found that three-quarters of UK households have hard floors, also reported by the Telegraph.
The appeal is obvious: hard floors are much easier to clean, especially if you live in a home with pets or anyone with long hair. Instead of being trapped inside carpet fibres, debris, dust and spills are clear to spot and deal with right away.
Does that mean it's curtains for carpets? Well, not exactly.
What are the benefits of carpet floors?
Carpets and rugs make sense in many areas of the home, like the bedroom and lounge where the textiles muffle noises from the TV and the clatter of footsteps.
They also add a layer of insulation to homes, a feature that comes in useful the moment the temperature drops. And if you choose a thick pile, the pleasure of burrowing toes into the carpet makes getting out of bed in the mornings much easier.
The trouble with carpet is that it can be pricey to buy and fit, with high-traffic areas such as the hallway, stairs or bedside showing wear quickly.
Choosing a hard-wearing carpet or rug to lay over hard floors means your new purchase will last longer. Amid a cost-of-living crisis, this can only ever be a good thing.
What are the best textiles for long-lasting carpets?
Wool is an incredibly robust fibre and is an excellent starting point if you're searching for a hard-wearing carpet. Not only is it natural and sustainable, but its natural springs mean it can stand up to high footfall and heavy furniture being placed upon it. There's also the bonus of a delightful softness underfoot that makes it a joy to pad barefoot over.
Another durable choice is sisal. Ideal for areas like hallways, landings, stairs and kitchens, the woven texture is usually flat and easily vacuumed.
Synthetic anti-stain carpets or rugs are also a solid choice for large family homes where stains and spills are part of daily life. They can be easily banished with carpet cleaner and vacuuming.
Is it hard to fit carpet?
While it’s best to seek out a professional to get a seamless finish, there are plenty of guides and how-to videos online for DIY enthusiasts who fancy giving it a while themselves. If you’ve already got hard floors, adding a rug for extra texture and soundproofing can give you the effect of carpet without the expense or effort of having it fitted.
We’ve rounded up the best hard-wearing carpet below to help inspire your search for the perfect floor covering.
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Twist Carpet Pinehurst
The stain-resistant pile is pet-friendly and easy to clean, even with a bleach-based solution and can be used in dry rooms and sunny spots without quibble. Crafted on a specialist machine and spun 12,000 times to recreate the effect of three years' worth of footsteps, it can be paired with underfloor heating but gives a 1.48 carpet tog, so it's naturally cosy anyway.
It comes with a 10-year manufacturer threadbare guarantee.
Buy now £27.99, Tapi
Twist Carpet Glendale
Available in a host of warm neutral tones, the Glendale carpet is a nice choice for bedrooms, living rooms and dressing rooms if you're lucky enough to have one. The UV-resistant design does well in sunny areas and won't discolour in strong sunlight. It's been through a three-year footsteps test, passing with flying colours.
It comes with a 10-year manufacturer threadbare guarantee.
Buy now, Tapi
Dunelm Grace Jute Rug
You can’t move for scallop trims in interiors these days, but please, don’t for one minute think we’re complaining. We can’t get enough of the frilly trim, but if you’re looking for a subtle way to incorporate the trend into your home, this jute rug has the right idea.
It juxtaposes the delicate style on a famously hard-wearing textile for a covering that will stand up to the high footfall of a living room or the kitchen. A border stripe lifts the piece and makes it easy to pair with the rest of your room’s palette.
Choose from white, pink, grey and green and three sizes.
Buy now £129.00, Dunelm
Mercury Row Henegar Flatweave Grey Rug
If you've always longed for patterned kitchen tiles but don't have the cash or if you rent, the permission, to redo your floors, a rug is a great stand-in. This flatweave design brings the beauty of tiles to your kitchen floor without any installation time. Available in four sizes, including runner dimensions, the rug is stain-, water- and fade-resistant.
Buy now £37.99, Wayfair
John Lewis Diamond Jute Rug, Neutral
This flat finish jute rug measures L240 x W170cm making it ideal for covering large areas and high-traffic rooms. Since it's made from natural fibres, giving it a vacuum after you've unfurled it is a prudent measure. It's also sold without an underlay, so best to buy one to stop yourself from skidding over hard floors. Strong and durable, the diamond patterns adds an interesting texture.
Buy now £300.00, John Lewis
Dunelm Aster Aztec Indoor Outdoor Rug
Made for outdoor use as well as indoors, this multi-hued and-printed rug is made to go the distance. The easy-care Aztec design has been made with 100 per cent polypropylene and will wear well, even in heavy-traffic areas. It is designed for everything the British weather has to throw at it (within reason) so no need to find storage space for it come the winter.
When it comes to spills, stains and marks, Dunelm recommends hosing down with water. Easy peasy.
Available in a choice of three sizes.
Buy now £189.00, Dunelm
Wade Logan Rundle Orange/Brown/Beige Rug
A runner is the perfect shape for a standard hallway, and this Egyptian-made option feels soft underfoot yet is hard wearing enough to resist the worst of muddy paw, dirty shoes and general stains. Not only does it hide horrible marks, but it can be used on homes with underfloor heating too.
Buy now £36.99, Wayfair
Dunelm Braided Jute Oval Rug
Available in three sizes, Dunelm's jute rug is ideal for warming up the floor using an organic-feeling textile. Handwoven and braided by North Indian craftspeople, the 100 per cent jute rug is reversible, so when the stains become too much of an eyesore, you can simply flip to over to enjoy a new-looking rug.
Buy now £69.00, Dunelm
Oliver Bonas Cecily Handwoven Scalloped Pink Wool & Cotton Rug
Clashing sunshine colours are spirit-lifting. With scalloped edges, this wool and cotton design is ideal for placing next to the sink, offering a mood boost even if it's your turn to do the washing up. Measures 120 x 80cm.
Buy now £65.00, Oliver Bonas
Ruggable Maia Oatmeal Re-Jute Rug
Ruggable has focused its rug brand around one golden, shining USP: all its designs are machine washable.
How? Every one of the 150+ designs comes in two parts, with a padded anti-slip rug bag that sits beneath the patterned upper rug cover portion which holds together with a light velcro-type backing (termed Cling Effect technology).
When it’s time to get stains out or keep your rug looking, smelling and feeling fresh, peel back the cover (about the thickness of a heavy blanket), and stick it in the washing machine. Once dry, fix it back onto the pad. As well as its own collection, Ruggable offers collabs with big brands like Jonathan Adler, Keith Haring and Disney to offer stunning designs you won’t find anywhere else.
Our pick? This Maia Oatmeal Re-Jute Rug is elegant enough for most spaces with a subtle pattern that won't overpower.
It's available in a variety of sizes.
Buy now £179.00, Ruggable
