It seems that shag is back, and, while we typically associate the deep-pile carpet with the ’60s and ’70s – hello, Carol and Mike Brady’s living room – the origins of the shag rug are in fact more ancient than vintage.

Referred to by many different names – rya, berber, flokati, tulu – the shag rug has a long and colorful history. In Greece, flokati rugs were popular as early as the 4th century B.C., when Alexander the Great used flokati wool in his tents and clothing during his military campaigns. (Think Colin Farrell in Alexander keeping warm with a shag rug.) Centuries earlier in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the shepherding Beni Ourain tribes began weaving wool into blankets, and by the mid-20th century had attracted such famed devotees as Le Coubusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Eero Saarinen. Today these Beni Ourain rugs are some of the most highly prized.

Coming in a variety of colors, materials, and weights, there is sure to be a shag for everybody. So kick off your shoes and get comfortable – here are some shag rugs to keep you cozy all through the house.

Ashik wool rug

Turkish Tulu rug

Cassadaga tufted shag rug

Safavieh Paris shag rug

Pottery Barn Lange Kilim shag rug

NuLoom ombré shag rug

Marit shag rug

Justina Blakeney Fable Rug in marine and gold

Jonathan Adler Meurice shag rug

Joa Herrenknecht Zenith shag rug

If you’d like to explore a shag area rug for your home (or business) environment but aren’t sure where to start, let me know and I can show you how to find the perfect shag rug for your needs and aesthetic, or I can source it for you. There are a lot of things to consider like size, color(s), texture, and pile, just for starts, and I can definitely help you with all of that.

You can choose a contact method right below this blog post. And feel free to give me a call anytime at (407) 743-2399, and we can explore some exciting living room decor ideas together. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com and you can also click this link to message me via my website.