Flatweaverugs, explained.

Instead of tying knots, the weaver passes coloured weft threads over and under the warp threads, packing them down so they cover the warp completely. The colours and the order of the weave make the pattern. Because nothing stands up from the surface, a flatweave is thin, flexible and often reversible.

A kilim is a tapestry-woven flatweave, often with small slits where two colours meet, and usually wool. A dhurrie is the flatweave of India, frequently cotton or wool, and often in simpler, bolder patterns. Soumak wraps the weft around the warp for a slightly raised, braid-like surface, and is stronger and heavier than a kilim.

Kitchens, dining rooms where chairs slide in and out, hallways, sunrooms and layered under larger rugs. They suit casual and modern rooms as well as traditional ones. Keep a pad underneath: flatweaves are light and can slide.