Rugs and carpets can make or break a scheme. Indeed, the late great Robert Kime famously said that he always started a room’s decoration with the rug. But what happens when an old rug is no longer fit for purpose, or if you simply have no floor space left for your latest antique find? The answer is to get creative and repurpose old rugs to add a sustainable, affordable and characterful touch to your interiors.
Flatwoven, pile-less rugs originating in Turkey, Central Asia and the Middle East, such as kilims and jajims, are particularly well suited to being repurposed for upholstery as they are much less bulky and can be used much like a piece of fabric (not dissimilar to the ways in which we use suzanis and kente cloths). The same is true of many Swedish flatweave rugs. However, it is probably a good idea to consult a professional upholsterer to get the best results, and to avoid wasting the rug. If you want to repurpose old rugs with a relatively thick pile, your options might be slightly more limited, but there are still interesting things you can do with it.
It’s also worth remembering that rugs don’t need to be old or worn out to justify using them in a different way. In fact, it’s often the most beautiful antique examples that are far too delicate or precious for the floor of your house and need to be used in a different way. Whatever state your rug is in, or whatever space you have to fill, these five examples will provide you with plenty of inspiration.
Hang it on the wall
Hanging a rug on the wall can be an excellent way to showcase a particularly beautiful design or a precious antique find. Even the aforementioned Robert Kime, who often started his room schemes with a rug, liked to display additional carpets from his collection on the walls. In the entrance hall of his London flat, two intricately patterned antique rugs used to hang alongside art from his collection, above antique chairs and another antique rug on the floor.
These rugs were hung from traditional picture rails, which usually involves sewing a fabric casing to the back of the rug to which rings or clamps can be attached. (These can also be attached directly to the rug if it is not especially precious or delicate.) For flatwoven rugs or carpets that aren’t as heavy, you can use Velcro or tack strips to affix them to the wall, or you could even consider framing a favourite piece. Never use nails or pins as these can cause irreparable damage to the fibres of your rug. Wall hangings are a wonderful alternative to traditional artwork, as they add texture and softness, introduce pattern, and can be displayed on uneven walls. We also like the idea of hanging them behind a bed in lieu of a headboard. Which brings us to our second idea.
Cover a headboard
Large rugs and carpets can be used to transform an old headboard or to make a new one. This might be a task best left to the professionals, but if you’re feeling brave you could give it a go with a staple gun and a simple wooden frame. If the rug isn’t big enough to cover a full headboard, a smaller panel attached to the wall behind the bed is an excellent alternative. This is exactly what Maria Speake of Retrouvius has done in the Barbican flat pictured above. ‘Don’t be afraid to use rugs on headboards,’ she wrote in her recent dos and don’t of decorating piece. ‘Not only are they cost effective and hardwearing, but there are also so many different colours and patterns available that will add to the overall room scheme.’
Make some cushion covers
This is probably the best solution for rugs that are a little worse for wear and can provide only a small section of viable textile. For instance, a rug that has been attacked by moths, or has been subject to heavy footfall in a high-traffic area like a hallway. Thick pile rugs won’t be your friend here, as the resulting cushion would be too bulky, unforgiving and rather scratchy. Kilims, on the other hand, are very often the perfect thickness and tend to come in subtle, earthy colours and patterns that will blend seamlessly with your existing sitting room scheme.
If you don’t have a suitable rug, or would love to emulate this look without any of the hassle, there are many individual makers and brands that sell cushions covers made using repurposed old rugs, or featuring kilim-inspired patterns.
.png)
.png)
Transform a chair or sofa
If you have an old rug and an old piece of furniture ripe for reinvention, you might be able to kill two birds with one stone. Much like with smaller cushions, the covers on seat and back cushions can be completely transformed by reupholstering them in a vintage textile like a rug. Re-cover both sets of cushions for a complete transformation, or do only the seat cushions to introduce some contrasting colour and pattern. This is especially effective when said sofa or chair is in a plain or neutral fabric.
Alternatively, you could have the chair or sofa itself – rather than just the cushions – reupholstered using a rug. If you have a rug big enough to cover the piece of furniture (or at least one half of it), you can take them both to an upholster and get them to work their magic. Or you could visit some antique fairs and markets to seek out the perfect rug for the job if you don’t already have one to hand.
Revive an ottoman, footstool or bench
An ottoman or footstool often serves as the centrepiece for a sitting area, around which the rest of your furniture is arranged, so it is important that it looks the part. A traditional ottoman can be covered or re-covered in its entirety in a repurposed rug, or you can use smaller panels for the top or sides. Similarly, if you’ve got a wooden footstool or bench – whether in the sitting room, at the end of a bed or in a hallway – a new seat can be made from an old rug.
The look and feel of a time-worn rug lends itself to an antique wooden piece, while a slightly more contemporary design will enhance a more modern ottoman. We’ve seen many designers use this trick for ottomans, footstools and benches of various shapes and sizes, always with very satisfying results. The effect is often enhanced when a rug-covered ottoman or footstool is positioned on another patterned rug, creating a lovely layered scheme.
