Jute rugs: the summery touch you can enjoy all year round

There’s no doubt that rugs are a versatile decorating accessory, ideal at any time of year. It’s true that in summer, the main thing is to choose uncomplicated, lightweight materials, which will prove cool and make spaces more welcoming. But, why change rugs each season? Designs in natural fibres such as jute are also the perfect choice for the colder months of the year. And there are many reasons to grace your floors with jute rugs. That’s why, to help you get the most out of their beauty and practicality, we have some advice for you and good decorating ideas that are sure to inspire you when it comes to enhancing the floors of your house.

How to choose your jute rug

The first thing you should consider is the size of the room where you’re going to put it. If we’re talking about a sitting room or large bedroom, an XXL model could be ideal for covering the area, rather like a fitted carpet, creating a sense of continuity. On the other hand, in smaller rooms, what suits them best is a rug in proportion to the area you wish to cover, to avoid making the room look overly cluttered.

And as for how it will work with the rest of the décor, you’re unlikely to go wrong. Jute is a natural fibre with an attractive, unique aesthetic. Its woven texture adds an organic touch to the décor and helps enhance the style of any space. While it’s true that we normally associate them with rustic interiors, jute rugs suit any decorating scheme. Their natural tones are perfect for creating harmonious, serene, elegant atmospheres, although it’s possible to find designs coloured with special dyes to add a livelier touch to the décor.

Another factor which you will doubtless bear in mind when it comes to choosing a rug is the structure and finish of the floor. Now, jute rugs suit all types of flooring perfectly (wood, laminates, tiles, micro-cement…). The same goes for colour. If you have a light floor, a jute rug, with its natural colour and warmth, will provide a pleasant, gentle contrast, not at all overwhelming, while if it’s dark, it will create a visual balance, as well as helping to lift the space, so that it looks bigger and brighter.

Above, the sitting room set up by IMediterránea at the Gancedo store in Madrid, the floor enhanced by a jute rug by the textile company.

Plain or patterned?

As well as the traditional plain and simple designs, you will find jute rugs in a wide range of differently patterned options: from plaited models to geometric designs such as herringbone and diamond shapes. In this line, Gancedo offers the Rombitos model, seen above.

This variety means that jute rugs can be adapted to suit different spaces and decorating styles, as well as adding a uniquely different touch to each room. A plain rug is perfect for décors which are minimalist, rustic or Nordic in style, where the aim is to create a relaxed, natural atmosphere. If modern, contemporary or eclectic interiors are more your thing, where the idea is to add design and character to the décor, go for a patterned model.

How about putting one rug on top of the other?

As we mentioned at the start of this article, jute rugs work at any season of the year. During the summer, they cool areas down, while, when the coldest months of the year arrive, they help create cosier spaces.

In winter, if we want to lend rooms an extra touch of warmth, putting one rug on top another really works well. That’s what Pete Bermejo did in this space at the Gancedo store in Madrid. The interior designer combined two of the company’s rugs: an animal print model and another in natural jute, toning down the daring look of the leopard print and lightening the final effect.

And, by the way, did you know that since ancient times vegetable fibres have been used to enhance the floor as well as the walls? What’s more: the handmade mats typically found in Andalusia, Catalonia, and the Balearic and Canary Islands, which were originally used as rugs and blinds, are the forerunners of the modern fibre rugs which decorate our homes nowadays. It’s fascinating how these traditions have lasted and evolved over time, along with their inherent crafting, a cultural heritage passed down from generation to generation.