Having pets that we treat like humans means that the rugs in our home take a serious beating. They are frequently trampled on, used as personal back and stomach scratchers, and graced with the occasional site of unwanted body fluids. Should I have clarified further that it’s the dogs doing this and not me? Probably.
But no matter how well-behaved your pets are, accidents happen. And those accidents can either be categorized as “NBD” or “catastrophic.” I prefer to live in the land of NBD, so I have given up my beloved jute rugs which are not pet-friendly—they actually don’t recover from any moisture, even a glass of water being spilled on them—and settled on filling our home with ultra-durable vintage rugs. To keep them stain-free, you only need to invest in a bottle of Folex (a life-changing spot remover everyone should have) and a once-yearly visit from a carpet cleaner.
You may think a vintage rug will set you back thousands of dollars. And while these works of art definitely can be that much, I have found insanely affordable options on eBay and Etsy. Yes, it requires a bit of hunting, but your savings account will thank you later.
My tips for shopping? First, concentrate your search on vague terms like “tan overdyed rug” or “tan vintage rug” and be ready to flip through a lot of pages. Don’t use size or color filters, because it will eliminate a lot of options. Second, know what size you need and be willing to compromise. Measure your room and know how high or low you are willing to go. Most vintage rugs are handmade and come in odd sizes, so knowing your size range will help keep the search process short. Third, don’t be afraid to ask for a discount or haggle on the price. Yes, even on eBay and Etsy. I’ve never had an issue getting a deeper discount on a large rug as long as I message the seller. And last, don’t be discouraged if you don’t find the perfect rug on your first day of searching. Bookmark your favorite stores, follow their inventory, and have patience—you’ll find the right option in time.
To get you started on your rug search, I’ve rounded up a few favorites I spotted on my last Saturday morning deep dive. Happy shopping!
Vintage Rugs on Etsy
Small
Runner
Large
