The world-leading Australian rug company weaves a world of colour into its unique creations.

As sponsor of the Colour award at the Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) for two years running, Designer Rugs walks the walk.

From the very start, the Marrickville-born rug brand resisted the sedated greys and pinks of the 1980s, injecting striking colours into reserved interior environments. Designer Rugs has remained in constant engagement with what’s happening in Australian interiors ever since, through its clients, collaborators and the leading designers it works with on special collections. This broad vantage point enables the in-house design team to deliver just what the industry needs.

“We see first-hand how colour is being used across a huge range of spaces, from bold, expressive schemes to soft tonal layering,” senior designer Christine McDonald tells Australian Design Review. “Our design team keeps a close eye on how these directions are shifting and evolving, which helps us anticipate where colour is heading next.”

Finding inspiration at home and abroad

Designer Rugs is not overwhelmed by Australia’s “incredibly diverse” design scene. “That’s what makes our work so interesting,” McDonald says. “As a custom house, flexibility is at the core of what we do. Our designs and colour palettes can be tailored to suit any interior style, location or personality.” 

When developing new collections, the brand looks to create a balance of versatile base tones and more directional colourways that reflect the variety of Australian interiors. Global colour forecasts offer useful cues, but they’re “never the full story”. 

“We look at how those ideas can be adapted to Australia’s unique light and design sensibility,” McDonald says. “Being a custom house, our work is led by client and collaborator briefs, and often those designers are creating the next wave of colour trends themselves.”

Many of Designer Rugs’ most successful collections have come from designers and artists already shaping Australian design culture in fresh and unexpected ways. Greg Natale, Catherine Martin and Hare + Klein are among its frequent collaborators. Designer Rugs recently rebooted its Evolve competition, inviting interior designers and architects to submit their boldest designs for realisation in the 2026 Evolve Collection.

“We collaborate when someone brings a unique perspective and a strong creative identity that translates beautifully into a rug, introducing new ideas to rugs,” McDonald says.

The process

Collaboration is at the heart of all of Designer Rugs’ creations – from collections to custom pieces.

The process always begins with the team working closely with the client to understand their vision, how they want the rug to feel in a space, and what role colour will play. 

From there, Designer Rugs develop concepts and colour drawings, often supported by physical quality samples. Once the palette is refined, the artisans hand-make each rug, ensuring every colour, detail, and texture is brought to life exactly as imagined.

What’s next in the world of colour

According to McDonald, colour in Australian interiors is becoming more personal and expressive. 

“People are experimenting boldly, combining tones, textures and materials in ways that reflect their own style,” she says.

Across its in-house forecasting process, Designer Rugs is witnessing a continued move toward neutral, grounding colours. A strong presence of pastels, deep burgundys and blues also remains alongside this. 

“These tones are often layered to create depth and richness, bringing warmth and personality to interiors in a way that feels distinctly Australian,” McDonald explains. “As a custom house, Designer Rugs helps bring these ideas to life through handmade rugs full of colour, depth, and personality.”

Both Designer Rugs and IDEA share the belief that colour has the power to transform a space. 

“Supporting the category reflects our commitment to celebrating Australian creativity and design innovation,” McDonald says. “Colour is at the heart of what we do, and IDEA provides an important platform to recognise bold, boundary-pushing approaches, something that aligns closely with how we approach design at Designer Rugs.”

Winners of the IDEA Colour award will be announced at the gala in Sydney on 28 November. Buy your tickets here.

Top image: Designer Rugs, Levine Vokaberg Embrace. Image: Supplied