Low-pile rug

A low-pile rug is usually 5 to 15 mm thick; a flat-woven kilim is at the lower end of that range. The thinner the rug, the neater it looks under the dining table and the better suited it is for underfloor heating.

That depends on the room. For high-traffic areas, the dining table and underfloor heating, short-pile is the better choice; for a soft, cosy feel in a quiet living room, long-pile is the better option.

Polypropylene feels less warm, does not regulate moisture and is more likely to flatten in high-traffic areas than wool. That is why we mainly use 100% pure wool in this collection.

Yes, it’s better than a deep-pile rug. The wheels and brushes make even contact with the rug over a short pile or no pile at all, and the edges of a flat-woven rug don’t catch, so the robot glides smoothly over it.

Yes, the dining table is a very suitable place. Because the pile is short or non-existent, chairs glide smoothly across it and crumbs stay on the surface, where you can easily vacuum them up.

It feels different, though not necessarily less comfortable: firmer and more responsive underfoot rather than soft and springy. With underfloor heating, a short-pile rug also allows more heat to pass through.

Vacuum the rug regularly, following the direction of the pile, on a low setting. Blot stains immediately with a damp cloth and a drop of pH-neutral wool detergent. Low-pile and flat-woven rugs are generally easier to clean than high-pile ones.

Yes, better than a shaggy rug. The thinner and shorter the pile, the less heat it traps and the more efficiently the underfloor heating works.

Yes. A short-pile rug traps less dust, sand and street dirt than a long-pile rug, as the particles remain on the surface rather than sinking deep into the pile. This makes the rug easier to keep clean when subject to heavy foot traffic.

Not necessarily. A tightly woven, low-pile or flat-woven rug can actually be more hard-wearing than a loose, high-pile one, because it’s the weave density that matters: there are fewer loose wool fibres that can wear away.

The low-pile and flat-woven rugs in the Houseify collection are hand-knotted or hand-woven, just like the traditional high-pile rugs. The only difference is the pile height.

Over the years, the colour of dyed wool will fade when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. Turn the rug half a turn regularly to ensure the colour remains even.

By definition, a kilim is flat-woven and has no pile. ‘Short-pile’ is a broader term that also includes knotted rugs with a short-cut pile.

Use a thin, non-slip mat made of felt or rubber that is slightly smaller than the rug, so that the edges do not curl up and the rug does not become unnecessarily thick.