Published January 2024 | Updated August 2024
The addition of a modern wool rug into any design style is a great way to connect traditional and contemporary décor while offering the warmth and comfort that we expect from wool. This simple update transforms a room and offers an excellent avenue for self-expression, as wool rugs come in an array of colors, patterns, and textures.
As a leading source of classic and design-forward wool rugs, we created this guide on modern wool rugs and high-end options from around the world. Read on to learn why wool remains one of the most treasured natural textiles on the market.
What makes a wool rug “modern”?
The qualifier “modern” has a few different meanings in this context. It refers to a rug created in the modern age, manufactured with industrial techniques like tufting (as opposed to hand weaving), and lastly, to the rug’s aesthetics.
Modern Methods Traditional rug production methods include hand knotting and hand weaving, a slow but precious process that creates unique, artisan rugs. Modern manufacturing methods like tufting produce rugs and carpets quickly and consistently, supplementing human labor with industrial machines.
New production processes also allow for a blend of natural fibers and synthetic materials. This advance in textile technology resulted in a variety of new textures, pile heights, colorways, and patterns.
Modern Style The world of art and culture changed dramatically throughout the 1900s and continues to embrace new modes and aesthetics. One major change saw design trends shift away from ornate, intricate motifs toward more abstract forms and/or minimalist design elements.
Modern methods and style are not mutually exclusive: traditional patterns are machine tufted or printed on rugs and cutting edge rug designs are handwoven by skilled craftspeople.
Modern Design & Luxury Wool Rugs
Designed with contemporary aesthetics in mind, today’s modern rugs pay homage to many classic design styles like Mid-Century Modernism, Minimalism, and Art Deco. If you are looking for high end, modern wool rugs to amplify your interior design, here are a few collections that exemplify the modern wool rug.
Monasch
Monasch, a Best Wool Carpet brand, offers designer-inspired rugs crafted with pure New Zealand wool dyed in dynamic colorways. Fingers Crossed Flavoured is a contemporary wool rug with a whimsical style, saturated colors, and looped texture. Let It Rib, a luxury wool rug with plush woolen rows, is perfect for a minimalist interior.
Limited Edition
Belgium’s Limited Edition consistently creates modern rugs that transform beloved motifs and ornamentation into contemporary and refreshing art pieces for your floor. Fiber blends that complement one another, like wool, linen, and cotton, find harmony in soft wool rugs. And delicate yarns woven or tufted together bring new perspectives to the modern wool rug market.
Jacaranda
If you are looking for a plush wool rug, then the Jacaranda collection is a great place to start. Indulgent textures and vibrant hues coalesce into modern textile masterpieces. Plus, Jacaranda weaves are GoodWeave™ certified, so you can rest assured that your luxury rug is ethically crafted. Jacaranda offers pure wool rugs as well as rugs that blend wool with TENCEL®, a modern natural fiber created from wood pulp.
Tretford
Resilient and durable goat hair is woven into wool, dyed incredible colors, and fusion bonded to create tretford® rugs and carpet. This collection is a high end, minimalist offering that has enduring style and substance, perfect for residential and commercial spaces. Tretford®’s ribbed construction has a modern look as well as modern durability.
Pure Wool
Nothing is more modern than a focus on sustainability and natural products. The Pure Wool collection provides 100% natural, chemical-free wool carpet for the consumer who values a healthy indoor environment. The plush wool piles and neutral colors add a soothing element to contemporary aesthetics like Danish Modern and Hygge, Scandinavian, Asian Zen, Mid-century Modern, and transitional style.
Care & Maintenance of Your Wool Rug
Modern or not, a wool rug or carpet needs basic maintenance to keep its value and its luxury look. All of our rugs come with basic care guidelines that are located under the Care tab on each product page. To learn about our basic rug care tips, head over to our comprehensive Cleaning & Care Guides page.
Custom Wool Rugs
Thanks to modern techniques, our high quality wool rugs are customizable to fit your exact needs. Choose your color, border options, and the just-right size to suit your space and your preferences.
Our Rug Buying Guide is a one-stop shop for gathering all you need to know about buying a rug, from selecting the best material for your lifestyle to the delivery of your new rug.
In summary, a modern wool rug incorporates innovative techniques, embraces current design trends, and focuses on sustainability. Our collections feature inspired designers who aim to create beauty in the home with heirloom rugs and support the earth in the process. Plus, these rugs are designed to complement modern interiors of all kinds for an instant refresh.
The latest…
- FLEXIBEL™: Modular Carpet for Commercial Spaces
- Why SynSisal® Outperforms Other Synthetic Sisals in Every Category
- Rug & Carpet Glossary
- How do I care for my new rug or carpet?
- Shipping, Delivery & Preparing for Your New Rug or Carpet
Christy is the Flooring Content Specialist at Curran and sisalcarpet.com. She writes about flooring products with a focus on design and sustainability. For 5 years, her blog posts, technical guides, and product descriptions have led customers along the path from purchasing to maintaining their flooring investments. Her favorite natural flooring? A sisal rug, of course.
