Already a fan of Ruggable’s original two-piece system, I was keen to try one of the brand’s tufted all-in-one rugs, which comes with an integrated non-slip backing. The rug in question is the Morris & Co Montreal natural jade tufted rug, a traditional floral design based on an 1890s carpet pattern by John Henry Dearle. With its trailing vines, leafy motifs and muted mix of beige, moss green, soft blue and gold, it boasts a grandmillennial feel.
One of the biggest improvements with this newer style is that there’s no separate rug cover and pad. Here, the rubbery non-slip backing is already attached, so you unroll the rug and flatten it out. Despite one little kink where it had been folded, it quickly sat neatly on the floor without slipping around, and I found it so much easier to position than the older system. The non-slip backing worked well on my hardwood flooring, and there was no curling at the edges.
Compared with the flatwoven Ruggable styles I’ve tested before, this one felt noticeably softer and more luxurious underfoot. The tufted finish adds more depth, while the 7mm pile has enough cushioning to make it comfortable in spaces where you spend a lot of time standing, such as the kitchen or hallway. My spaniel Claude seemed to approve too, having adopted it as his new favourite napping spot within about 10 minutes.
I spilt coffee across one corner of the rug, blotted it with a kitchen roll and then left the rest to the washing machine. Claude also contributed his fair share of paw prints after a particularly muddy walk. The rug washed surprisingly well. Once dry, there was absolutely no trace of the coffee stain and no muddy marks left behind either. The colours stayed the same, the backing still gripped the floor properly, and the tufted texture did not go rough or matted.
The only thing to bear in mind is size. Smaller rugs will easily fit in most washing machines, but once you get into larger dimensions, you may need to head to the laundrette. While this is not a huge inconvenience, it is worth factoring in as it does somewhat detract from Ruggable’s whole USP.
