Art for the floor: How Designer Rugs define luxury interiors in Australian homes

“Rugs don’t just have to be thrown under a dining table or under a lounge and be forgotten about. They can serve as a stunning centerpiece that immediately captures attention when people enter the room,” says Designer Rugs’ Ammie Marshall.

It’s a shift driven by a broader movement in interior design: a desire for spaces that feel personal, expressive and layered. When custom-designed, rugs and carpets offer a unique opportunity to achieve this. More than something to simply tie a room together, their scale, shape, texture and colour can be used to influence the entire atmosphere of a room. 

Designing from the ground up

Just like an artwork that hangs on the wall, there’s no need for one rug to be the same as another. Central to Designer Rugs’ approach is its custom offering; an accessible, collaborative process that invites clients to become co-creators. 

Guided by a team of experts, clients start with a consultation, discussing dimensions, inspiration, and a feel for the space they’re hoping to create. From there, the Designer Rugs in-house team develops design concepts, guiding decisions around colour, material, shape and scale. 

“There’s a sense of apprehension sometimes when it comes to choosing a rug… People think, ‘I’m not a designer, I don’t know how to design a rug,” says Ammie. “But part of our role is to help them bring their vision to life. It can actually be a fun, exciting journey.”

Another common misconception is cost.

“People sometimes think custom means complicated or expensive. It actually doesn’t mean that. It’s the same per-metre cost, regardless if it’s custom or not.”

The result of the custom process speaks for itself: a considered piece tailored to its environment and designed and made to endure. 

Unlike mass-produced alternatives, these pieces are created to last decades, often becoming heirlooms passed between generations. Each rug is handmade by talented artisans, using centuries-old techniques. 

“Our rugs aren’t manufactured on a machine. They’re all handmade. It’s timeless artistry that has been handed down through families for many centuries. That quality and unique artistry is very rare, and we pride ourselves in it.”

Going beyond the ordinary

Designer Rugs’ custom process means designs are open to the imagination. Colours can be bold, edges can be sculpted, textures can be layered, and the shape of the rug itself can be more than the typical rectangle or circle. 

“Rugs can be any shape and any size, even treated like wall art. It’s about creating something unique for the space,” says Ammie. 

A space to truly experience

With the range of possibilities, there’s nothing like experiencing rugs and carpets in person. Running your hand across the surface, feeling the way the fibres interact with one another, how the surface rises and falls, how colour shifts in different lights… In Designer Rugs’ Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne showrooms, clients can fully appreciate the quality and unique exclusive designs. 

“Choosing a rug is like choosing a piece of art,” says Ammie. “Being able to experience it in person makes all the difference.” 

It’s also where the team’s expertise can be fully utilised. Some with decades of knowledge to share, it’s a level of guidance that can’t be experienced online. 

“If you’re going to spend money on a beautiful piece, why not make it unique and make it yours? Create stunning designs with ease, you just need someone to help you along that journey.”