Texture has always been important in interior design. It is often the thing which distinguishes a quality finish from a cheap one. The quality wallpaper may have a subtle velvety texture built into the design which takes a complicated and expensive process to create. The quality fabric might be plain in color on the surface but have a expensive jacquard weave built into it. And the same is true of rugs, texture usually equals quality.

Of course, you can buy textured carpets and rugs where quality is not high on the list of attributes. For example, there are cheap synthetic monstrosities where a texture is burnt into the surface in some kind of veined pattern. That is not the kind of texture we are looking for.

A quality rug will have texture created by the pile of the carpet, the length of the fibers and the way they are made smooth as velvet or twisted together. The longest pile is found in the form of a shaggy rug.

If your whole living room consists of flat smooth surfaces then you really do need to add some texture. You don’t have to do it with rugs. You can add texture with plants and grasses or with cushions or art work. But a shaggy rug will give instant texture to your floor. It looks like it is meant to be touched rather than walked on and most of us want to reach out to stroke the pile on such a rug.

The texture can be further enhanced by the use of materials which have texture in themselves. Whereas a wool or synthetic shag rug will give a certain level of texture you will find these increased when you look at shaggy rugs made from leather or suede. For best results position these rugs on a smooth subtly patterned floor such as marble tiling or simple wood so that the texture of the rug creates a contrast with the floor beneath.