The Best Rugs Bring Your Sad Floors to Life

Look up, close your eyes, and ask the heavens: Is it even possible to write about the best rugs without dropping the line from The Big Lebowski? (Evidently not.) Luckily, that doesn’t really matter. What does matter is finding you, dear reader, the best area rugs, bath mats, runners, rug mats, and shag carpets in the game. If you’ve never gone rug shopping before, you might be in for a little sticker shock, but rest assured that you’re paying for quality. (Plus, we popped in some great affordable options, too.) We skipped the dubious materials that comprised the gnarly dorm-room rugs of yesteryear and swapped in some of our favorite pieces from across the web.

We’ve got washable rugs, living room rugs, kitchen rugs, dining room rugs, stain-resistant rugs, and everything in-between. So, join us on our quest to dress your floors in sweet, sweet fabric and at long last, tie the room together.

The Best Rugs, At a Glance

Best Bedroom Rug: Nordic Knots Grand Rug

“Prior to owning this rug, I had a simple, inexpensive medium-pile rug from a brand that also happens to sell meatballs,” Gerald Ortiz, GQ Recommends Style Commerce Writer, says. “Needless to say the difference is massive. Where cheaper rugs made of synthetics feel, well, synthetic, this all-wool rug feels naturally soft and cozy under my feet. In fact, my fancy sherpa house shoes don’t get as much wear these days because the Nordic Knots Grand rug feels so good. In the bedroom, it’s the perfect rug to start your sleep routine and the best thing to feel when you first get out of bed in the morning. You’ll have to deal with some shedding in the first couple of weeks (like any handmade rug), but it’s smooth sailing after that. My only word of caution? The darker colors show everything, so opt for a lighter color unless you like vacuuming every other day.”

Best Runner Rug: Revival Dahl

“Runner rugs are tricky for brands to nail because they often go in highly trafficked areas, so they need enough heft not to slip and slide and they should be intricately woven so that they don’t look or feel compressed at any point,” GQ Recommends Associate Commerce Director Ali Finney says. “This rug toes that line impeccably, staying in place without giving too much when folks walk atop it.” Hand-knotted in India, you can’t go wrong with this stunner of a runner.

Best Bathroom Rug: Quiet Town Home Reyes Night Ride

“Quiet Town has really great options when you don’t want a boring-old bath mat, and you can choose from a standard size or a runner if you have a more open space,” Finney says. “I tried the brand’s Reyes bath mat, which worked perfectly in a retro gold-and-black tiled bathroom at my house. It did a good job of soaking up water from stepping out of the tub. When it started showing wear, I could throw it in the washing machine and it came out good as new.”

Best Outdoor Rug: West Elm Woven Cable Indoor/Outdoor Rug

“I never thought I’d have a need for an outdoor rug, but my new place had a spacious patio built for outdoor entertaining,” Tyler Chin, GQ Recommends Associate Commerce Editor, says. “The ground itself is, erm, kinda ugly, so it was nice to cover it up with something that added a bit more pizzazz—and hid the bird poop. My only problem with it is that the corners don’t really lie flat and unless you weigh it down, the wind can blow it up, so I’m constantly having to go outside to unfurl it.” Luckily, you can use this rug inside, too, and its durable, easy-to-clean construction makes it a top choice for people with pets, too.

Best Entryway Rug: The Citizenry Asha Handwoven Runner

Well, if I had an entryway in my tiny Brooklyn apartment, that’s where I’d put this beauty. However, The Citizenry’s Asha Handwoven Runner does just as good of a job under my Ikea shelving, and looks great with pretty much any and every interior design aesthetic. It’s also available in two different measurements and made from 100-percent New Zealand wool. Pro Tip: This sucker could definitely use a rug pad, since it’s a little bit slippery on hardwood floors.

Best Under-Desk Rug: Quince Sullivan Hand-Tufted Wool Rug

Quince seems like they’re doing it all these days, from surprisingly soft sheets and futuristic French presses to linen pants, carry-on suitcases, and (of course) rugs. The Sullivan Hand-Tufted Wool Rug was a perfect fit for under my girlfriend’s desk, but we ended up moving it under our kitchen table instead, where it’s been a focal point for what we’re calling our tiny apartment’s “dining room.” Its low pile and 100% pure wool construction feels great underfoot and doesn’t slide around on my wood floors. Plus, it’s available in five sizes and three easy-to-match colorways.

Best Washable Rug: Revival Shell

If you’re looking for value, you can’t go wrong with Revival’s Shell rug. Available in four colorways and a whopping 11 different sizes, you’d be hard pressed to find a space and aesthetic that this rug wouldn’t match. I personally keep an Evergreen version of this bad boy under the coffee table in my living room, and don’t feel even a smidge of guilt when hammering dangerously sauced bowls of pasta on the couch, since I know that when the inevitable spills and stains do happen, I can just whack the entire rug into the washing machine with ease. It also feels incredibly soft, and you can tack on a rug pad to your order for a one-stop rug shopping experience.

Best Area Rug: Crate & Barrel Orly Wool Blend Textured Ivory Area Rug

When it comes to larger rooms, Crate & Barrel’s handwoven Orly Wool Blend Textured Ivory Area Rug is top dog—and one of the brand’s best-selling rugs. With six color options, six size options, and a New Zealand wool construction, you can’t go wrong with outfitting your living room with this bad boy. And, since area rugs tend to be a larger investment, you can order swatches—which ship free and can be returned online or at any store for a full refund—to make sure you’re happy with your color choice, which is a nice touch.

Best Shag Rug: Rugs USA Maren Hazy Swirls Rug

Shag: It’s back. You probably already knew that, though—but what you might not know is just how good (and affordable) some of the shag rug options are today. This Maren Hazy Swirls Rug from Rugs USA is available in five different shapes—oval, rectangle, runner, square, and round—and in various different sizes of each, which makes it an easy choice for any space. The high pile is comfortable enough to sleep on, and the material is OEKO-TEX certified, a.k.a. tested for hundreds of harmful substances.

Best Rug for Dogs: Ruggable Architectural Digest Nerissa Teal & Gold Tufted Rug

Let’s be real: Your dog runs the show in your house. And, to appease your four-legged overlord, we recommend snagging the Ruggable Architectural Digest Nerissa Teal & Gold Tufted Rug. The rug cover is 100-percent machine-washable, water-resistant, stain-resistant, and interchangeable, which makes it ideal for any accidents, spills, or fur buildup. Here’s how it works: When it’s laundry day, just pop the cover off the pad and toss it into the washer and dryer. Then, you just pop it back on, et voila—a perfectly clean rug, ready for your dog to mess it up yet again.

Best Rug Pad: RUGPADUSA Protective Cushioning Rug Pad

Most rugs are only as functional as their rug pads—and if you’re not planning to hang it on your wall tapestry-style (which, sick), we recommend springing for this Protective Cushioning Rug Pad. The natural rubber backing keeps your rugs in one place, and prevents slipping in high-traffic areas, sliding, and wrinkling, while the cushiony top adds soundproofing and insulation to your floors. It’s also available in four thicknesses and more dimensions than we could ever hope to list.

What to Consider When Buying a Rug

When you’re shopping for a new rug, there are a few factors to keep in mind.

1. Size and Shape
   First, you need to determine your ideal rug size and shape—yes, that means breaking out the ol’ measuring tape and taking some specs.
2. Look and Feel:
   Next, you’ll want to figure out what you want your rug to feel and look like: Are you partial to natural fibers like the ones that make up a jute rug? More of a flatweave or hand-knotted fiber rug stan? Looking for something easy to vacuum? These are the questions you should be asking yourself. You also don’t want it to clash with your other home decor, which is why you should take into account pile height, multicolor options, and shape.
3. Where to Shop:
   Don’t be afraid to skip big-box stores like Home Depot and Wayfair, too—there are plenty of DTC brands that have quality rugs in stock.
4. Price:
   When it comes to price, look for value: If your dream rug is a pricey hand-loomed Moroccan jawn, amazing—but there are a ton of brands that offer high value at affordable prices.