Interior Design Guide Trends

Ask the Expert: Under the Rug, Surfacing Humanitarian and Design Trends

September 13

Interview with: Paige Sowden
Interior Resources

National trends in interior design have trickled down into the rug industry bringing originality, vibrant colors, and eco-friendliness to rugs. “Designers are no longer looking for rugs to simply fill a space. They are craving bold, artistic statements, to brighten a room from the floor up”. Paige Sowden of Interior Resources, a Dallas based flooring company most known for its unique rug inventory, discusses the most outstanding trends in the rug industry.

The most exhilarating trend is the move from traditional rugs to bold, bright colored graphics and prints. “The days of heavily patterned fabrics are fading. Designers are using subdued textures and shades on furniture, allowing a spirited rug to energize the room,” says Sowden. Floor pieces with elevated degrees of color encompassed by neutral-colored furniture and accessories make a room modern, sleek and young. Colors like citron gold, royal purple, fuchsia, rich corals, teal, lime green, and cherry red demand attention.

Continuing on the non-traditional trend, designers are searching for innovative ways to spice up an interior. Rex Ray, for example, is an accomplished graphic design artist based in San Francisco who’s talents are emerging in the flooring arena. His original art pieces are being skillfully translated into brilliant hand knotted floor art. “Interior design is ever-changing. In place of art as the focal point, rooms are being brought to life with dramatic rugs,” says Sowden.
A more economical way to purchase a rug with beaming color is using ‘Patchwork’. These are antique rugs that have been stripped and redyed into brightly saturated colors. Rugs are then woven together with contrasting stitching to accentuate the panels. “It’s simply recycling: a previously unsellable antique rug is transformed into a beautiful statement piece to create a sleek and fresh interior,” says Sowden. “It’s less expensive than weaving a new rug and the longevity is still great because wool is such a resilient fiber.”

Environmentally friendly living has also made an impact on the rug industry. Manufacturers are using vegetable dyes and materials low in metal composition in an effort to make rugs more eco-friendly. Humanitarian programs, such as Goodweave, work for sustainable practices in the rug industry and also regulate child labor practices in the factories. Certified “No Child Labor” rugs are increasingly in high demand for socially conscious designers and their clients. A percentage of sales from certified rugs contributes to the efforts to end child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia.

Rugs with sophisticated drama, woven in socially acceptable manufacturing practices, translate into an interior you can enjoy and feel good about.

Interview with: Paige Sowden
Interior Resources