Reversible Rugs: Two Faces, One Rug

A reversible rug is a flat, handwoven rug finished so that both faces can lie on the floor, which means you can turn it over when one side has done its share. At Rugberry, the Sandstorm and Stella Reversible Rugs are made this way, from about ₹24,000 in 5x8 ft.

What makes a rug reversible?

A rug is reversible when it has no pile and no glued backing, so the pattern is woven through and both faces are finished. That rules out hand tufted rugs, which carry a cloth backing, and most knotted rugs, whose back shows the knots rather than a face.

What remains is the flatweave: warp threads held taut on a loom, weft threads passed over and under them row by row. Rugberry describes both Sandstorm and Stella as flat and light with two usable faces, which is the plain test of a reversible rug.

Our earlier post on reversible rugs introduced the idea. This one looks at the current pieces and how to use them through an Indian year.

Which Rugberry rugs have two usable faces?

Two Rugberry rugs are listed with two usable faces: the Sandstorm Reversible Rug and the Stella Reversible Rug. Both are handwoven in recycled and natural fibres, and both can be made in any size and colour to order.

Rug	Construction	Fibre	Stock sizes	From
Sandstorm	Handwoven, two faces	Recycled and natural fibres	5x8, 6x9, 8x10 ft	about ₹24,000
Stella	Handwoven, two faces	Recycled and natural fibres	5x8 ft	about ₹24,000
Masai	Handwoven	Jute	5x8, 6x9, 8x10 ft	about ₹28,000
Pampas	Handwoven	Jute	5x8, 6x9, 8x10 ft	about ₹28,000

Sandstorm is a warm beige ground drawn with pale lines and arcs. Stella is worked in brown and rust, with a pattern that runs down the length of the rug like rain on a window.

The Masai and Pampas Jute Rugs share the handwoven construction but are not listed as reversible, so treat the top as the face. For a home that wants one rug to serve two moods, choose Sandstorm or Stella, because only they are finished on both faces.

Why does turning a rug help through Indian seasons?

Turning helps because the two faces take the year in turns, so neither carries all the dust, sun and footfall alone. A flatweave fades and flattens most where feet and light fall, and turning it moves that wear onto a rested face.

A simple calendar works for most homes:

• Before the monsoon, in early June. Lift the rug, shake it out on a dry morning, air both faces and lay it down with the less worn face up.
• After the monsoon, before Diwali. Turn it again so the fresher face greets guests through the festive weeks.
• At every turn. Also rotate it end to end, so the edge by the window changes too.

In a room with strong afternoon sun through a west window, this matters more than in a shaded bedroom. The face on the floor takes the light while the face underneath rests.

Two faces means the year can be shared: one side for the dry months, the other for the wet.

Where does a reversible rug work best in an Indian home?

A reversible rug works best where a rug needs to be light, low and easy to move: dining rooms, children's rooms, passages and summer living rooms. With no pile to crush, chairs slide over it, and with no backing it rolls up neatly for the loft when the floor is cleared for a puja or a family gathering.

In a 2BHK living room of around 180 sq ft, a 5x8 ft Sandstorm in front of a three seater sofa covers 40 sq ft and leaves the walkway clear. A flat rug also stays closer to the temperature of the stone beneath it, which is welcome in May.

On polished marble or vitrified tiles a light rug can shift, so lay it on a thin pad from the rug underlays range, cut slightly smaller than the rug.

How do you care for a reversible flatweave?

Care for a reversible flatweave by keeping both faces clean, not only the one on top. Fine dust works through a flat weave, so when you turn the rug, vacuum the newly exposed face before it goes down, with suction only and no beater bar.

Blot spills at once with a dry white cloth, working from the edge of the mark inward. Because both faces will be on show one day, a stain left on the underside is a stain you will meet again in six months.

Store it rolled, never folded, with the face you plan to use next rolled inward. In the humid months wrap it in a cotton sheet rather than plastic, so it can breathe.

What should you check before buying a reversible rug?

Check that the listing says the rug has two usable faces, then check the size and the colour of both sides in your own light.

1. The construction: handwoven and flat, with no glued backing.
2. Both faces in the photographs, or a swatch from the swatches range.
3. The size against your room, keeping furniture legs on the rug to hold it still.
4. Whether you need a custom size, since both Sandstorm and Stella are made in any size and colour to order.

The full set sits in the reversible rugs collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is a reversible rug the same as a dhurrie?

A dhurrie is a flatwoven rug, traditionally in cotton, and many can be turned over. A reversible rug is defined by having two finished faces, and the Rugberry Sandstorm and Stella rugs are handwoven in recycled and natural fibres rather than cotton.

Do reversible rugs slip on tiles?

A flat, light rug can move on polished marble or vitrified tiles. A thin rug pad cut slightly smaller than the rug holds it in place and also keeps grit off the lower face.

How often should a reversible rug be turned over?

Twice a year suits most Indian homes, before and after the monsoon, with an end to end rotation each time. In a busy dining room, turning it every three months spreads the wear more evenly.

Can a reversible rug be made to a custom size?

Yes. The Rugberry Sandstorm and Stella Reversible Rugs are both listed in any size and any colour to order, which helps in rooms that do not suit a 5x8 or 8x10 ft layout.

One rug, two faces, and a year shared between them. Material first.