A parent's guide to children's rugs: How to choose the right one for every room
Choosing a children's rug sounds like a straightforward exercise but if, like us, you have found yourself stood in a room with a tape measure, a mood board on your phone and strong opinions from a four-year-old who has just decided their favourite colour is "every colour at once”, then it can become a rather challenging endeavour.
Gone are the days when your only options were cartoon-print nylon or beige berber. Today, there are beautifully designed, independently crafted, and washable, hardwearing children's rugs to suit every room, every age and every interior style. Here's our curated guide to the best of the best.
The nursery: softness first
In a nursery, the rug is less about aesthetics and more about feel. Your baby may spend a significant amount of time on it; tummy time, rolling, sitting - so the pile needs to be soft, safe and free from harmful chemicals. Look for rugs made from natural fibres (wool or organic cotton) with a GOTS or OEKO-TEX certification ideally. A non-slip underlay is non-negotiable on hard floors but this isn’t needed so much on a carpeted room. For style, you really can't go wrong with a simple ivory or oatmeal wool rug, it photographs beautifully and won't date.
Brands we love for nursery rugs: Lorena Canals, Next, Ruggable, Little Dutch
The toddler bedroom: washability is everything
Once your child is mobile and eating independently, washability moves to the top of the priority list. Machine-washable flat-weave rugs are the heroes of this stage and age. Cotton or recycled fibre rugs from brands like Lorena Canals or ferm Living can go in the washing machine, emerge unscathed, and still look lovely. Avoid long pile at this stage; it harbours crumbs and small Lego pieces.
ferm Living rug
The school-age bedroom: invest here
By the time your child has a proper bedroom of their own with a ‘big’ bed, books on shelves, and a developing sense of their own taste, it's worth investing in a rug that will grow with them. A hand-tufted wool rug in a classic pattern (stripes, geometric, or a simple design) will serve beautifully from age five all the way through to the teenage years. These rugs are built to last, they soften with age, and they bring a warmth to a room.
Brands we love for kids' bedroom rugs: Zara home, OKA, Anthropologie
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Zara home kids’ rug
The playroom: go bold, go practical
The playroom is where you can afford to have a bit more fun, but also where you need to think practically. A large, low-pile rug in a bold colour or a fun geometric pattern will define the space and hold up to serious foot traffic. Or, look for rugs with a flat weave and a tight construction -these are much easier to clean and won't fray or bobble under heavy use. Avoid pale colours unless you have nerves of steel and a professional carpet cleaner on speed dial. We also love a padded, washable number such as those in the brilliant range from Totter & Tumble.
Totter & Tumble kids playmat
The bottom line
The right kid's rug is a genuine investment in a room that your child will spend a huge amount of time in. Buy the best quality your budget allows, think about washability and durability for the age and stage you're in, and don't be afraid to bring your own aesthetic to the room. The best children's bedrooms are the ones that evoke childhood, fun and nostalgia - a beautiful rug is often the piece that pulls it all together.
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