Fireplaces, once unloved and blocked off out of sight, have become the period feature every homeowner covets these days.
Newly purchased homes with one have had them cleaned off, polished down and made the heart of the home again, whether they pump out heat or are purely ornamental.
And why not? When it comes to decorating, it's better to work with what you’ve got than to plaster over it and force a look that’s never going to work. With the right care and styling, a fireplace can make the home feel cosy and welcoming - yes, even in high summer.
Whether you’ve got a functioning fireplace or it’s simply somewhere to light your collection of candles, a head-turning fireplace needs a small but necessary entourage of accessories.
A grate is non-negotiable if it can burn wood, to keep embers from sneaking into the room. A small wood store or log holder will also mean you’re not having to traipse back and forth to the garden or wherever you keep your larger store. Fireplace tools to keep the flames stoked will undoubtedly come in handy, and a hearth rug to protect your floors, carpets and home from wayward sparks.
While many fireplaces come with extended hearths, usually made from non-flammable brick or stone, some do not. In these cases, it’s wise to put down some sort of fire-retardant rug to stop wafting embers, hot cinders and even alight pieces of timber from rolling out and ruining hard floors or carpets - or worse.
What to look for in a hearth rug
The most effective hearth rugs should be made from fire-retardant materials, the most popular of which we’ve listed below:
- Wool: naturally stain-resistant and with famously low flammability, wool is a natural textile that’s long-wearing and easy to keep clean.
- Polypropylene: renowned for its fire tolerance and durability, polypropylene hearth rugs can stand up to high traffic, stains and spills, keeping it looking newer for longer.
- Nylon: holding up well against daily wear and tear, the sheer variety in nylon designs as well as fire-safe options make it an easy choice.
- Jute: a favourite for living rooms and hallways, jute rugs are finished with natural, fire-resistant oils. Seagrass is another low-maintenance alternative.
Even if your fireplace cannot burn logs, putting a fire-retardant rug in place is a sound measure; not only aesthetically to frame the fireplace, but also to catch any sparks from spluttering candles.
If you’re looking for a hearth rug to lay in front of your fireplace, we’ve rounded up the ones that pair fashion with function to form an edit of the very best. We’ve tried to include a range of prices so there’s one for every budget as well as every style of home.
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William Morris Seaweed Floral Rugs 28008 in Ink
The timeless work of Arts & Crafts master William Morris makes it perfect for all styles of homes. This wool rug is finished with a statement floral print, which will not only give your fireplace the grandstand that it deserves but will hide any stains and marks easily amongst the pattern. It’s available in three sizes and can be delivered in as little as two days with Express Delivery.
Buy now £444.50, The Rug Seller
Dunelm Squiggle Berber Rug
With a warming palette of colours and the cosy texture of shaggy Berber pile underfoot, Dunelm’s polypropylene rug is perfectly suited to typically chilly British homes.
The pattern offers a refreshingly modern design detail while the backing is made of jute which should remain stable if laid on top of a fitted carpet.
Available in four sizes.
Buy now £39.00, Dunelm
World Menagerie Bohannon Tufted Red Rug
Made from a winning mix of polypropylene and jute, this vintage-look rug is perfect for adding a sense of worldly flair to your fireplace. It's available in a range of sizes, the biggest of which is a generous 240 x 330cm.
As well as fire-retardancy, the rug is also stain-proof and has a low yet soft pile, meaning it's easy to keep clean.
Buy now £63.99, Wayfair
Dunelm Grace Jute Rug
You can’t move for scallop trims in interiors these days, but please, don’t for one minute think we’re complaining. We can’t get enough of the frilly trim, but if you’re looking for a subtle way to incorporate the trend into your home, this jute rug has the right idea.
It juxtaposes the delicate style on a famously hard-wearing textile for a covering that will stand up to the high footfall of a living room or the kitchen. A border stripe lifts the piece and makes it easy to pair with the rest of your room’s palette.
Choose from white, pink, grey and green and three sizes.
Buy now £129.00, Dunelm
Harissa by Harlequin Rosita Stripe Wool Rugs
Stripes can help widen narrow rooms and lengthen wide ones, with the pattern offering an optical illusion to help balance awkward spaces. In a rug, they also inject colour and texture to the floor quickly. Made from 100 per cent wool, this rug is striped with earthy tones, offering a subtle infusion of colour that you’ll love looking at, whether a fire is lit or not.
Buy now £555.00, The Rug Seller
Modern Style Rugs Venus Spanish Tile Trellis
Mimicking the look of Spanish tiles, the pattern on this 100 per cent polypropylene rug gives it house-wide appeal. It will look good in any room but its large 120 x 170cm size means it’ll fare best beside a living room fireplace.
While the top layer is fire-resistant, the jute backing is too, meaning your floors and home are protected from every angle. Available in duck egg blue and grey colours.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
Half Moon Semi Circle Non Slip Machine Washable Hearth Living Room Fireside Rugs
Available in a riot of block colours, this half-moon-shaped hearth rug is made from 100 per cent polyamide and backed with non-slip latex to keep it stable underfoot. It's easy to vacuum and machine-washable, meaning it'll be easy to get rid of stubborn stains when you want to refresh it.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
John Lewis Starburst Wool Rug, Dia. 100cm, Plaster
Crafted in India, this hand-tufted wool rug is made for upping your fireside ante. It comes in a fetching mustard yellow too, and is made from 100 per cent wool measuring 100cm across.
Buy now £65.00, John Lewis
Toast Fiesta Organic Jute Braided Rug
This beautiful jute oval-shaped rug has been hand-braided by Bangladeshi craftswomen and is an instant spotlight stealer. The organic piece is teeming with colour, meaning it will slot nicely into a wealth of interior schemes.
Buy now £105.00, Toast
