By Kira Frech on July 16, 2025
In a world where much of design is shaped by algorithms, trends, and mass production, authenticity stands out. There is a kind of freedom in creating something that feels personal and true, something that reflects not just beauty, but meaning. Custom rugs offer designers the opportunity to anchor that authenticity in space. A custom piece can pull from a client’s personal palette, from artwork, or from nature. It might reflect boldness or be a subtle accent in the space.
Every project is different, and rugs should be too. When designers embrace custom work, they create space for individuality.
In that way, custom rugs serve as narrative anchors. They remind us that design is not only about style, but about voice. And when that voice is authentic, the entire space feels more alive.
How Designers Can Let Rugs Speak
To design with authenticity, begin with curiosity. Ask your clients what stories or symbols matter to them. Look to their personal collections, travels, artwork, or family traditions for inspiration. Consider pulling a rug’s color palette from a meaningful photograph, or echoing the lines of a landscape they love. Texture can also carry intention. Softness can signal comfort, sculpted pile can create movement, and materials like wool, silk, or jute can reflect both aesthetic and ethical values.
This piece was created with the client's experiences in mind.
Based on the rocky coastline of their favorite vacation destination, this rug is not only entirely personal, but ties an important piece of this client's life and their favorite place back into their decor.
If you're designing for a brand or hospitality space, ask yourself what kind of experience the rug should hold. What is the guest meant to feel the moment they step onto it? What memory should it leave behind? A custom rug gives you the power to answer those questions with beauty, depth, and specificity.
