Scandinavian Rugs
Scandinavian rugs solve a problem the north invented: how to make a hard floor warm without making a room dark. The answer, worked out over a century of long winters, was flat, light and washable rather than deep, heavy and precious.
Pappelina weaves in Sweden from plastic yarn, which sounds like a compromise until you have put one through a washing machine. Nothing soaks in, so nothing stains. The weave is flat enough that a door clears it and a chair slides over it, and the colours are clean and graphic in a way that reads as Scandinavian from across a room. Brita Sweden works the same material into geometry that sits quietly under furniture.
That combination is why these rugs end up in the rooms where a wool rug would be an expensive mistake: kitchens, hallways, a terrace, a child's bedroom, the narrow strip in front of a sink. They are the rare floor covering you can be careless with, which is the whole Scandinavian argument about design and daily life in one object.
Pictured: Gittan Woven Plastic Rug by Brita
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VERA Lemon & Vanilla Runner RugVERA Lemon & Vanilla Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 250.00
- Sale price
- $ 250.00
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VIGGO One Black & Vanilla Runner RugVIGGO One Black & Vanilla Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 80.00
- Sale price
- $ 80.00
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EDIT Linen & Vanilla with Stone Metallic RugEDIT Linen & Vanilla with Stone Metallic Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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EDIT Beige & Vanilla with Beige Metalic RugEDIT Beige & Vanilla with Beige Metalic Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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FRED Beige & Vanilla Runner RugFRED Beige & Vanilla Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 150.00
- Sale price
- $ 150.00
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OTIS Mustard & Vanilla Runner RugOTIS Mustard & Vanilla Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 80.00
- Sale price
- $ 80.00
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CARL Granit & Storm RugCARL Granit & Storm Rug
- Regular price
- $ 150.00
- Sale price
- $ 150.00
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KOI Stone Runner RugKOI Stone Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 640.00
- Sale price
- $ 640.00
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FRED Black & Vanilla Runner RugFRED Black & Vanilla Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 150.00
- Sale price
- $ 150.00
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MONO Blue Fog & Dove Blue RugMONO Blue Fog & Dove Blue Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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VERA Ocean Blue Runner RugVERA Ocean Blue Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 250.00
- Sale price
- $ 250.00
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DANA Coral Red & Piglet & Vanilla RugDANA Coral Red & Piglet & Vanilla Rug
- Regular price
- $ 90.00
- Sale price
- $ 90.00
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OTTO Clay & Linen RugOTTO Clay & Linen Rug
- Regular price
- $ 230.00
- Sale price
- $ 230.00
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EDIT Dove Blue & Blue Fog with Stone Metalic Rug1 reviewEDIT Dove Blue & Blue Fog with Stone Metalic Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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STEN Warm Grey & Fossil Grey Runner RugSTEN Warm Grey & Fossil Grey Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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STEN Ochre & Vanilla Runner RugSTEN Ochre & Vanilla Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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VERA Ochre & Vanilla Runner RugVERA Ochre & Vanilla Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 250.00
- Sale price
- $ 250.00
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Gerda Woven Plastic RugGerda Woven Plastic Rug
- Regular price
- $ 172.00
- Sale price
- $ 172.00
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VERA POP Pale Orange Runner Rug1 reviewVERA POP Pale Orange Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 80.00
- Sale price
- $ 80.00
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EMM Vanilla/White MetallicEMM Vanilla/White Metallic
- Regular price
- $ 290.00
- Sale price
- $ 290.00
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OTTO Grain & Cream RugOTTO Grain & Cream Rug
- Regular price
- $ 230.00
- Sale price
- $ 230.00
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MONO Coral Red & Pale Orange RugMONO Coral Red & Pale Orange Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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EFFI Black & Warm Grey with Vanilla RugEFFI Black & Warm Grey with Vanilla Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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EFFI Dark Red & Coral Red with Vanilla RugEFFI Dark Red & Coral Red with Vanilla Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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EDIT Black & Charcoal with Granit Metalic RugEDIT Black & Charcoal with Granit Metalic Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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EDIT Fossil & White with White Metalic RugEDIT Fossil & White with White Metalic Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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EDIT Charcoal & Warm Grey with Stone Metalic RugEDIT Charcoal & Warm Grey with Stone Metalic Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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EDIT Mud & Vanilla with Linen Metalic RugEDIT Mud & Vanilla with Linen Metalic Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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PIX Mustard & Vanilla with Pale Yellow Rug1 reviewPIX Mustard & Vanilla with Pale Yellow Rug
- Regular price
- $ 350.00
- Sale price
- $ 350.00
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ILDA Brick & Vanilla RugILDA Brick & Vanilla Rug
- Regular price
- $ 200.00
- Sale price
- $ 200.00
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KOTTE Army & Sage Runner RugKOTTE Army & Sage Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 80.00
- Sale price
- $ 80.00
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CARL Blue Fog & Dove Blue Runner RugCARL Blue Fog & Dove Blue Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 150.00
- Sale price
- $ 150.00
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MOLLY Ocean Grey RugMOLLY Ocean Grey Rug
- Regular price
- $ 170.00
- Sale price
- $ 170.00
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VERA Beige & Vanilla Runner RugVERA Beige & Vanilla Runner Rug
- Regular price
- $ 250.00
- Sale price
- $ 250.00
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OTIS Linen & Vanilla RugOTIS Linen & Vanilla Rug
- Regular price
- $ 80.00
- Sale price
- $ 80.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Scandinavian Rug?
A Scandinavian rug is a flatweave built for light, practical northern interiors rather than for display. It is typically woven rather than tufted, low in pile so doors and chairs clear it, and patterned in clean geometry or simple stripes. Swedish makers such as Pappelina and Brita weave in plastic yarn, which gives the look of textile with none of the absorbency, so the rug can live where a wool one could not.
Are Scandinavian Rugs Washable?
The woven plastic ones are, which is most of their appeal. Smaller sizes go in a washing machine at 30 degrees; larger ones can be hosed down outside or scrubbed where they lie. Hang or lay flat to dry and never tumble dry. Wool Scandinavian rugs are a different matter and should be cleaned like any wool rug.
Can They Be Used Outdoors?
Yes. The same qualities that make them washable suit a terrace, a balcony or a boat. They will fade slowly in constant direct sun, as any dyed material does, so bring them in over winter if you want them to hold their colour for years rather than seasons.
What Size Rug Do I Need?
In a living room, aim for a rug large enough to sit under at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs; anything smaller makes the room look smaller. Under a dining table, add 24 inches on every side so chairs stay on the rug when pulled out. In a hallway or kitchen, a runner should stop short of the walls by a few inches at each end.
Do I Need an Underlay?
On a hard floor, yes. Flatweaves are light and will travel on polished wood or tile. A thin anti-slip underlay cut slightly smaller than the rug fixes it and adds a little softness underfoot.