Vintage Rugs

A vintage rug brings character that no contemporary rug can replicate – decades of soft underfoot wear, naturally faded plant-dyed colours, the slight irregularities of hand-knotting from another era. Our collection covers Persian, Turkish and Eastern European pieces sourced and authenticated by the Heal's buying team, each one-of-one and dated to the period of production where possible.
  • Out Of Stock
    Vintage Afshar Rug 168 x 228cm Vintage Afshar Rug 168 x 228cm
  • Out Of Stock
    Vintage Afshar Rug 158 x 245cm Vintage Afshar Rug 158 x 245cm
  • Out Of Stock
    Vintage Afshar Rug 180 x 256cm Vintage Afshar Rug 180 x 256cm

    Vintage rugs (typically 50-100 years old) and antique rugs (over 100 years) carry decades of natural patina that contemporary production can't replicate – the colours have softened to muted, plant-dyed tones, the surface has the slight irregularities of long use, and the construction reflects techniques specific to the period and region. The best ones become heirloom pieces over generations.

    Most are – vintage rugs that have already survived 50-100 years of use have demonstrated their durability in a way new rugs can't claim. Quality wool fibres maintain their integrity for centuries when properly cared for. Inspect each piece for any specific concerns (worn patches, damaged edges) before placing in a high-traffic area.

    The Heal's buying team works with provenance documentation, regional production knowledge and recognised vintage-rug experts to verify each piece. Each comes with a description of region, approximate age and any known history. Authenticity matters because the vintage rug market includes mass-produced 'vintage-style' pieces that are not actually old.

    Vacuum on a low setting with the rotating brush off (the brush damages older wool fibres). Rotate every six months to even out wear. Spot-clean with cold water; avoid steam cleaning, which can shrink and damage older fibres. Professional cleaning every 5-10 years extends life by decades. Vintage rugs are surprisingly resilient when treated as living, breathing pieces rather than fragile museum objects.

    • Rug Buying Guide
      Buying Guides
      Rug Buying Guide
      From bold patterns to minimal designs, our wide range of sizes and styles can provide the missing link to tie your interior scheme together or create a visually striking focal point around which to frame the décor.
    • How To Clean Sheepskin Rugs
      Care Guides
      How To Clean Sheepskin Rugs
      Before purchasing one, it’s worth considering how to clean sheepskin rugs. Genuine sheepskin rugs are actually very easy to care for. Washing your rug using the proper methods can make it look as good as new. It’s important to note that every sheepskin rug is different and that submerging your rug in water normally leads to some shrinkage. So, it’s always best to consult any instructions that arrived with your rug or the brand’s website before beginning. Prepare your sheepskin rug for cleaning Step number one is to prepare your rug for cleaning. You want your sheepskin rug to be in the best possible condition before washing it. Start off by shaking it outside to dislodge any dust, dirt and animal hair. Give it a light ruffle using your hands as well. Don’t worry about removing every molecule of dust; this step should just remove any large pieces of dirt. Next, use a wide-tooth comb or a sheepskin brush to remove any knots or tangles. This is also a good way to remove hair and extra dirt from the rug. Be sure to work slowly so as not to damage the sheepskin. If you have a pet, using a clean grooming brush for this step could work. Wash your sheepskin rug Step number two is washing your sheepskin rug. The first thing to do here is to check the instructions that accompany your rug. They might be sewn into the rug’s underside, displayed on the brand’s website or enclosed when you receive your rug. If your rug didn’t come with any instructions on how to clean sheepskin rugs then always hand wash, just to be on the safe side. Some rugs should be cleaned by professionals only. If you are washing your sheepskin rug at home, we recommend buying a natural sheepskin detergent and hand-washing it. Hand-washing your sheepskin rug First, choose where you’re going to clean your rug. Depending on the size of your rug, you may use a bathtub, sink or large bucket to clean it in. Second, fill your chosen vessel with the recommended quantity of detergent and cool or lukewarm water. Hot water could damage your rug so it’s important the water isn’t too warm. If you aren’t sure, err on the side of caution and make the water colder. Third, use your hands to move the rug around in the water for about five minutes. This should be long enough to dislodge any dirt. Use this time to target any stubborn stains you might have using a clean rag. Do not wring it and try to be as gentle as possible so you don’t create lots of knots. Finally, drain the water and refill the container with cool, clean water. Swish the rug around the clean water to remove any excess detergent or dirt. Repeat this process as many times as it takes until the water runs clean. The drying process When drying your sheepskin rug, tumble dryers are out of the question. The most important thing to do it let it dry flat. Whilst it’s drying, regularly brush out any knots that may have been created in the cleaning process. This helps your rug be as fluffy as possible once dry. Be careful not to wring or twist the rug as this may affect its shape. Instead, squeeze it or blot it using a towel. Leave the rug to dry flat in a warm environment. It should be out of direct sunlight and not directly next to a heater. Looking after your sheepskin rug Once it’s clean, there are a few things to remember when it comes to everyday maintenance of you sheepskin rug. All rugs like a bit of TLC every now and then, so treat it well to get the best out of it. Consider where you are placing your rug. Never position it on a damp surface as this can encourage rot over time. Long-term exposure to sunlight may discolour your rug. To avoid this, turn it every couple of months so that all corners are regularly exposed to sunlight. Arrange it carefully alongside your furniture. Coffee table and sofa legs will leave indentations on rugs and crush the carpet fibres. To avoid damaging your rug, add some form of protection under the legs and move your furniture around regularly. Protect it from insects. More specifically, protect your sheepskin rug from moths. Moths love to eat natural fibres. Lift your rug every six months or more regularly if possible. This will discourage insects from settling. How not to care for a sheepskin rug Don’t place heavy items of furniture on it. If you must, make sure you move both the rug and the furniture regularly to avoid damaging its natural fibres. Never use biological washing powders when cleaning a sheepskin rug. Only use specialist shampoo. Try to wash it as rarely as possible. Washing a sheepskin rug can lead to shrinkage so only wash it when it’s essential. If there are small marks, try spot cleaning them instead of cleaning the whole rug. Never dry your sheepskin rug in hot places, like on top of a radiator, in bright sunlight or in a tumble dryer. Our sheepskin rugs are crafted by The Organic Sheep. To discover more about the brand and its heritage, read Behind the Design: The Organic Sheep.
    • The 16 Most Instagrammable Rug Styles
      Latest Trends
      The 16 Most Instagrammable Rug Styles
      A rug is the perfect accompaniment to any room, they can add character to an otherwise lack-lustre layout. The choice of rug can completely change the tone of a room. There are so many rug options to choose from, It is hard to know which rug type to choose. To make that difficult choice easier, our researchers have compiled a list of the most Instagrammable rugs based on popularity. Plus, our home accessories buyer, Emily Dunstan, offers her top tips. Persian Rug - 203,344 posts Persian rugs are one of the most popular and unique rugs on the market. Plus, they are incredibly versatile in both look and price. Produced by rug artists in Iran, the beautifully intricate designs are great as statement pieces. However, they can also be toned down for a subtle but equally elegant look. Emily’s Top Tip: Patterned rugs like Persians are great in high-traffic areas like living rooms as they wear in a beautifully subtle way. Get the look Moroccan Rug - 76,841 posts Traditionally hand-woven in Morocco, this type of rug was originally made for functional purposes. However, western culture has begun to notice and admire the wonderful colours and patterns. With bold patterns and adventurous colours, this rug choice will add that extra kick to your room. Emily’s Top Tip: Moroccan rugs can also double as wall hangings where they can be admired in full. Get the look Kilim Rug - 69,254 posts Full of unique patterns and textures, a Kilim rug is the perfect statement piece. Kilim rugs are great for high-traffic areas as they are very easy to clean. Plus, most Kilim rugs are reversible which is ideal for busy homes. Emily’s Top Tip: Colour matching the rug to surrounding furniture is key to making busy rugs like Kilims fit in perfectly. Get the look Oriental Rug - 60,844 posts Despite often being thought of in the same category as Persian rugs, not all 'Oriental' rugs are Persian rugs. An authentic 'Oriental' rug will only be made of wool and occasionally with silk too. Beautifully intricate designs fill these rugs, a perfect expression of skilled craftsmanship. Emily’s Top Tip: Try pairing detailed rugs with neutral colours or with other accent colours within the room to create a seamless décor. Get the look Berber Rug - 42,330 posts With North African roots, this traditional rug is full of character and earthy tones. A dense pile provides the ultimate softness and a thick feel, modernised Berber rugs commonly utilise geometric patterns and styles. Emily’s Top Tip: Pairing Berber rugs with earth tones like terracotta can create a rustic and earthy feel. Get the look Runner - 18,091 posts This long thin rug type can be used for both practical and visual reasons. It’s the perfect addition to hallways, walkways or in front of the sink to catch spillages. Emily’s Top Tip: This type of rug is best used in hallways as a runway rug to create the illusion of direction and to open up the space. Get the look Fur - 17,946 posts Real fur rugs are dying out due to their non-vegan credentials, nowadays faux fur rugs are much more popular. Faux fur rugs add extra luxury to a room during the winter months. Emily’s Top Tip: Fur rugs look best when they’re the centrepiece of the room, and are not overshadowed by other furniture. Try placing this rug in areas with little traffic to keep it looking full and fresh. Get the look Shag - 16,010 posts Shag rugs have a deep pile which gives it its textural appearance and high comfort levels. These rugs became very popular during the 60s and 70s and remain a highly sought-after rug even now. The only downside to the shag rug is the difficulty in cleaning it. Emily’s Top Tip: When placing furniture on this rug, remember to use furniture coasters to stop the pile from becoming flattened. Get the look Overdyed - 10,892 posts Overdyed rugs are made by bleaching and dyeing rugs to create vibrant colours. It’s often a great way to revitalise old rugs and brighten up a room. Emily’s Top Tip: Overdyed rugs are a great way to modernize old Oriental rugs and to change up colour schemes. Get the look Woven - 4,415 posts Woven rugs are a great accessory to any room, they can instantly change the décor. The woven rug is a very popular component of the farmhouse style interior due to its rugged and informal look. Emily’s Top Tip: Woven rugs look amazing when they are layered on top of each other for an effortless look. Get the look Abstract - 4,270 posts The perfect expression piece, abstract rugs are popular in modern homes, they can give the room an instant chic feel. Whatever the pattern, these rugs fit very easily into any room. Emily’s Top Tip: This rug deserves admiration in full, avoid placing busy coffee tables or furniture on top or nearby. Get the look Geometric - 1,846 posts Another modern rug, these geometric rugs are often very bright and have crisp lines throughout. This rug looks best in maximalist settings where patterns allow for self-expression. Emily’s Top Tip: Colour matching is key for this rug, choose key colours and feature the same coloured accent pieces to make the carpet pop. Get the look Recycled Rug - 1,470 posts These rugs are perfect for eco-friendly homes and are available crafted in all manner of recycled materials. Recycled pieces have a bad reputation as being boring, these rugs, however, have just as much character as other styles. Emily’s Top Tip: Recycled rugs come in a variety of different patterns and designs. They often look great in gardens. Get the look Ikat - 586 posts Ikat is a dyeing technique which produces bright and beautiful patterns throughout the rug. In recent years, Ikat rugs have become increasingly popular. Emily’s Top Tip: Ikat rugs have complicated colours and patterns. So, stick to using complimenting neutral colours for other furniture in order to keep the rug as the stand out piece. Get the look Trellis - 561 posts These contemporary rugs are commonplace in modern and minimalist homes. Moroccan building domes inspired this pattern. Due to the patterned nature, any surrounding furniture should complement the rug and shapes must not conflict. Emily’s Top Tip: Trellis rugs look great with white and grey rooms, this design screams elegance and sophistication. Get the look Plain - 378 posts Plain and simple, these rugs come in a variety of colours and are the perfect bold addition to a room. Whether you choose a neutral or bright colour, this style is a classic. Emily’s Top Tip: Plainly designed rugs offer pops of colour or neutralise an otherwise colourful room. Get the look