15 of the best minimalist monochrome rugs

Rugs are so often an afterthought in interior design, but for me they’re an essential feature that ties everything else together. They add cosiness and texture, and they make spaces feel instantly more inviting. They also anchor a room, giving focus and definition – and, in open-plan spaces, they can be used to break up the floorplan and ‘zone’ areas with different functions.

Me me being me, I have a particular fondness for pared-back designs in neutral colours such as black, grey, cream and white, and I’ve picked out 15 of the most stylish options currently on the market. All create subtle interest without overwhelming the space as a whole, and they’re ideal if you want a scheme that’s minimalist yet welcoming. As always I’ve tried to cover off every budget, so prices range from £10 to £925; there’s also a wide variety of sizes, from narrow runners to large rugs measuring 3m or more, and some of the below are available in several different dimensions. Plus, scroll down to read a few handy tips on how to choose the right rug for you and your home…

1. Black and cream short-pile cotton rug, 140 x 200cm, £115, Rose & Grey
2. HAY ‘Peas’ dark-grey textured wool rug, 140 x 200cm, £449, Made in Design [AD – affiliate link]
3. ‘Cecily’ off-white and grey shaggy rug, 160 x 230cm, £199, MADE.com [AD – affiliate link]
4. ‘Blocks + Bands’ black, grey and white flat-woven wool and cotton rug, £126 for 76 x 213cm, £244 for 152 x 244cm or £499 for 244 x 305cm, West Elm
5. Hübsch monochrome tufted cotton rug, 96 x 180cm, £99, Trouva [AD – affiliate link]
6. ‘Fatouh’ ecru and black deep-pile rug, £99 for 120 x 170cm, £199 for 160 x 230cm and £299 for 200 x 290cm, La Redoute [AD – affiliate link]
7. ‘Solid’ cream and black flat-woven wool rug, £365 for 150 x 245cm, £460 for 185 x 275cm or £740 for 245 x 305cm, Nordic Knots
8. Ferm Living ‘Kelim’ black and grey flat-woven wool rug, 140 x 200cm, £175.20, Amara [AD – affiliate link]
9. ‘Caixa’ back and white flat-woven wool rug, £99 for 70 x 200cm or £249 for 170 x 230cm, MADE.com [AD – affiliate link]
10. ‘Loscan’ black and ecru flat-woven PET indoor-outdoor rug, £99 for 120 x 170cm, £180 for 160 x 230cm or £280 for 200 x 290cm, La Redoute [AD – affiliate link]
11. ‘TÖRSLEV’ black and cream flat-woven cotton rug, £10 for 60 x 90 cm or £17 for 80 x 150cm, IKEA
12. Ferm Living ‘Way’ off-white and black-blue flat-woven recycled polyester indoor-outdoor rug, £119 for 70 x 180cm or £299 for 140 x 200cm, Made in Design [AD – affiliate link]
13. ‘Tiger’ cream and black flat-woven wool rug, numerous sizes available from 125 x 185cm to 275 x 365cm, £225-£925, Nordic Knots
14. Normann Copenhagen ‘Oona’ grey short-pile wool rug, 90 x 200cm, £230, Amara
15. ‘Lenni’ black, grey and cream flat-woven wool rug, £150 for 120 x 180cm or £195 for 140 x 200cm, Habitat [AD – affiliate link]

A few rug-buying tips

Always buy the biggest rug your budget and space will accommodate – I use floor-planner software to check, but marking the size out by sticking masking tape to the floor works just as well. And always try to position the rug beneath furniture to prevent it from floating aimlessly in the middle of a space (runners and kitchen rugs are generally the only exceptions). The below examples give you a rough idea:

Before making a final decision, it’s worth checking how easy it is to clean the rug you have in mind. Stains can normally be removed using a damp cloth, but some rugs require dry-cleaning or specialist attention – and deep-pile designs are often tricky to vacuum, so you’ll need to take them outside for regular shakes. If you’re buying a rug for high-traffic areas or rooms where you eat, it’s worth looking for a machine-washable option so that you can easily deal with any footprints, stains and spillages. Both the Rose & Grey rug and IKEA’s ‘TÖRSLEV’ design listed above can be bunged in the machine, and I have them in my living room and kitchen respectively.

The best-quality rugs are generally hand-crafted designs made from 100% wool. They’re more expensive than cotton or cotton and wool mixes, but so long as they’re properly cared for they’ll last for decades to come. One of my favourite sources is Swedish company Nordic Knots, which has a fantastic range of minimalist designs – I have its ‘Solid’ rug in my dining room (pictured at the top of the post), and I love the way it looks and feels. What’s more, its products are all Goodweave-certified, meaning they’re made by artisans working in good conditions, with no child labour (Nest is another similar certification scheme to look out for).

For a particularly sustainable option, look out for rugs woven from fibres made out of recycled plastic bottles – La Redoute’s ‘Loscan’ design and Ferm Living’s ‘Way’ rug are great examples. They also have the added benefit of being suitable for outdoor use, as they’re durable and water-resistant.

Finally, always use an underlay to prevent slips and trips – IKEA’s ‘STOPP’ version is great-value at £2.50 a roll and can be cut to size with a pair of scissors.

Please note this post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting sales. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly.

Final image and cut-out photos via the brands named above; all other photography by Abi Dare