Summer Rugs: How to find the right rug for warm climates
Nothing beats an Aussie summer! Long afternoons at the beach that roll into balmy evenings, sun-drenched barbeques and rose in the sunshine. *Sigh* we’re pretty damn lucky! It’s easy to see how our overabundance of sunshine has influenced our lifestyles but it also has a huge effect on how we design and decorate our homes, with rooms flooded with natural light and blurred boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.
But when it comes to thinking about one the most important design pieces in your home (a rug of course!), it can sometimes be tricky to reconcile a hot climate with the traditional idea of a warm and cosy rug. However, a well-chosen rug can add design flair and comfort to your home all year round, even though those scorching Aussie summers.
A floor rug adds an extra layer of insulation to your home and just like the insulation in your walls and ceiling, it works two-fold. In the winter time a rug will help to keep your room warm and toasty, and in summer it will work to hold the hot air out while helping to retain the cool air-conditioned air inside.
So what should you look for when choosing a rug for a warmer climate?
When looking to choose a rug for a sun-kissed climate, opt for low pile styles such as flatweaves and dhurrie rugs that won’t absorb and hold too much heat, and beautiful natural fibres including cotton, wool and jute that breathe and feel deliciously light and cool underfoot.
In our Summer Collection, we have curated our very favourite rug styles for sun-blessed lifestyles. Crafted to suit warmer climates, this curation captures the sun-drenched joy of summer and brings it into the home through natural textures, coastal-inspired colour palettes and hard-wearing materials.
To help make choosing your new fave summer style rug a total breeze ;) here is our Summer Collection.
Jute Styles
A longtime favourite for coastal retreats and Byron inspired interiors, gorgeous natural style jutes have recently elevated to trend status as a coveted design piece to mix and match with modern decors. Loved for its lustrous golden tan colour and tactile natural texture, Jute rugs are a great way to add an element of refined nature to your space.
Typically woven in a low-profile style from eco-friendly dried jute, jute rugs feel natural, smooth and cool underfoot, perfect for warm climates. Available in a diverse range of sizes, shapes and textures, try a rectangular style under the dining table, a round shape to welcome guests in your entry or take the texture to the next level with a woven diamond or tribal design.
A real super fibre, Jute is generally sustainably grown using only rainwater and without the use of pesticides, making it a great choice for the environmentally minded. It is also a very durable, hard-wearing material that holds up well in busy spots of the home and under furniture, while also being easy to clean with a quick vacuum.
Our Summer Collection picks:
Kochi Hand-Braided Round Jute Rug
Embu Tribal Jute Floor Rug (pictured above)
Natural Wool & Cotton
As the mercury rises, we swap our winter woollies for our fave cotton tees and linen dresses and just as these breathable natural fibres are the perfect outfit go-to for warm days, the same goes for rugs!
Beautiful natural fibres such as cotton and wool are a perfect choice for those barefoot summer days when you don’t want to sacrifice on a lush, soft underfoot feel just because it’s heating up. Woven by hand, our Summer Collection natural fibre rugs have been meticulously crafted by skilled artisans and because each style has been made by human hand, they feature beautiful natural variations that make your rug completely unique to you!
For a perfect summer style, we recommend a low profile wool blend or flatweave cotton style with tufted details to add some gorgeous natural texture to your space.
Our Summer Collection picks:
Malaga Stone Wool Blend Transitional Rug
Banepa Ivory & Grey Tribal Rug
Polypropylene
If you would rather spend more time lounging by the pool and less time cleaning the house this summer (obviously that is 100% all of us!), then polypropylene rugs are the easy living option you have been dreaming of. Silky soft to the touch, this synthetic material has been engineered to be super hard wearing and stain resistant, making it a great kid-proof, pet-proof choice for busy family homes.
Our Summer Collection features some simply gorgeous polypropylene styles in calming neutral tones and subtle tribal designs, proving once and for all that you never have to choose between function and beautiful design.
Our Summer Collection picks:
Arsuk Ivory & Grey Distressed Transitional Rug
Nile Grey Diamond Ivory Distressed Rug
Outdoor Rugs
Sun-kissed days and balmy summer evenings were made to be spent in the great outdoors and with the warmer months upon us, it’s a great time to invest some energy into elevating your back deck or patio into a beautiful entertaining space to share with friends and family.
Traditionally, rugs may be the last thing that comes to mind for your outdoor spaces but thanks to modern advancements in fibre technology there is no reason why you can’t bring the same design touches and comfort of interior design to your alfresco areas. A well selected outdoor rug can help to zone your outdoor spaces and add a pop of colour and texture to this often overlooked part of the home.
Rugs made from fabulous PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) are a wonderful choice for outdoor use. Soft and light to the touch like cotton, you would never believe that this eco-friendly fibre is actually made from recycled plastic bottles! But the reason PET is so ideal to take on the harsh Aussie elements is its super hard wearing and durable nature. Quick to dry, stain resistant and easy to clean, a beautiful PET rug is a perfect way to add a little low-maintenance luxury to your summer lifestyle.
Colour & Pattern
Summer styling is all about bringing the sun-drenched joy of the outdoors into the home through beautiful natural materials, patterns inspired by nature and organic colour palettes.
A classic coastal-inspired decor is a great way to achieve this, transforming your home into an everyday oasis that transports you to your dream tropical getaway. Think ocean-inspired tones in sandy beige, stones grey and calming blues, and classic nautical stripes. Check out our tips on how to bring a little coastal style into your home.
For a more refined take on summer styling, look to luxe touches and design elements that celebrate the raw beauty of nature. When selecting a rug, find inspiration in the gorgeous natural tones of undyed wool, cotton and jute, such as our stunning Benapa Rug. These styles will create a grounding foundation for your decor and beautifully complement other luxurious natural materials such as light wood and stone.
On the other end of the colour spectrum, bright sunny days can inspire you to explore vibrant and happy bursts of colour and we are 100% here for it! Dare to be bold with a contemporary design or tribal inspired beauty like our Topanga Rug, featuring magenta, burnt orange and inky blues, and keep the summer vibes going all year round!
Our Summer Collection picks:
Natchez Textural Tribal Wool & Viscose Rug
Majorca Grey Striped Cotton & Wool Rug
Topanga Ivory and Multicolour Tribal Pattern Rug
Adjusting to the seasons
The styles in our curated Summer Collection make a beautiful addition to the home all year round but if you are looking to add an extra element of warmth and plush texture over the cooler winter months, rug layering is a great design tool that allows you to transition your pieces throughout the year.
Start with a larger scale summer style rug such as a natural jute or flatweave style and when the temperature starts to drop just layer a smaller, plusher style rug on top. We would recommend pairing a quite neutral toned base rug with a more vibrant and textured top rug for contrast. This little trick is a great way to add some high impact design to your space and that plush underfoot feel that we crave in winter, without having to completely swap out all of your favourite rugs.
Our Summer Collection picks:
