【Staff Favorite】A Nordic-style rug that grows more beloved with every wash. It's become a year-round favorite I can't do without.

In this passionate review series, our staff members—who check and know ZUTTO's products better than anyone—share the items they've purchased for themselves. This time, a staff member who suffers from poor circulation tried out Lorena canals' Washable Rug Mini for a month.

Washable Rug Mini／Lorena canals

・Why I wanted a rug

I suffer from poor circulation year-round, and my feet get especially cold, so even once spring arrives and things warm up, I still wear socks at home all the time. Whether it's the moment I take off my shoes or while I'm cooking, I feel like I have to endure the cold sensation—this is how I live from winter through spring. I imagine there are many people who feel this mismatch between the warmth outside and the cold indoors.

One day, an acquaintance who also suffers from poor circulation told me, "A rug really helped me—why don't you try laying one down?" So I decided to look for a rug myself. Since I care about my interior decor, I wanted something that would look good, not just be functional.

・I chose Lorena canals' Washable Rug Mini

A cotton rug with an exotic feel. What I particularly liked about it was how easy it is to wash.

Since I wanted to use it in the kitchen, where hygiene matters, being able to wash it completely at home was an important factor for me. Of course, the Nordic-style design is also lovely—the modern atmosphere combined with soft yet distinctive colors seems like it would suit any room. The plush thickness was another reason I chose it.

This Washable Rug Mini is made by Lorena canals, a brand that could be called a pioneer of washable rugs. From spinning the yarn to dyeing and weaving, everything is handmade by artisans in northern India. Since the manufacturing process uses no chemical treatments, it's safe for adults, children, and pets alike to roll around on.

▲Made with hand-picked cotton

▲You can feel the warmth of something made by human hands.

・I tried using it all around the house

Being soft and on the smaller side, this rug can be placed just about anywhere—which is one of its great appeals.

First, I placed it at the entryway.

Since the entryway is the first thing guests see, having a rug like this—versus not having one—can really change the overall impression of your home.

Before using it, I thought it looked like a small rug, but I found it to be a versatile size that works even for a single person's entryway. The tassels on the corners of this rug are also adorable, so if you have a spacious entryway with room to spare, you'll be able to fully enjoy that charm as well.

Next, I laid it out in my workspace.

I've always aimed for a simple room design, but I discovered that incorporating a rug tightens up the space and gives it a more refined impression. It pairs especially well with natural-style interiors.

Also, even when you're careful, chairs and such tend to leave marks or scratches on the floor, but with a rug laid down, you can avoid damaging your flooring, which is a real help. Areas around the entryway and bed are especially prone to scratches, making them ideal spots for a rug.

Finally, I decided to try it in the kitchen, the spot I was most curious about.

It covered the area in front of the sink at just the size I had imagined, and I love it. I had been worried that if the rug were too large, it might be hard to wash easily—so this mini size turned out to be exactly the ideal size. The kitchen has become my rug's permanent home.

Of course, there are many other places you can put it too.

Since it's "easy to wash even when it gets dirty," it's great for a child's room or a pet's favorite spot.

Since it "absorbs water," it works well in the changing room, at the washbasin, or in the bathroom.

Since it has "just the right plush thickness," it's great for the bedroom, where your feet get cold in the morning.

And so on—its compact size fits naturally into any room.

Let's review what I learned from using it.

One thing that can be a bit of a concern when choosing a rug is "slipperiness." If it doesn't have a non-slip backing, many people might worry, "Is this really safe?" But after actually laying this rug down and living with it day to day, I found there were no instances of it slipping.

Since it can be laid anywhere, you can use it with confidence even on tatami mats. Of course, if you want to increase slip resistance even further, it's also a good idea to use it together with a commercially available rug pad or non-slip sheet.

What's more, this rug's real charm is its lightness. Despite having longer pile, since it doesn't have a rubber non-slip backing, cleaning and moving it around is very easy. For those who like to swap rugs out seasonally or rearrange their space by changing where they lay it, this manageable lightness is a welcome point.

If the pile is long, you might worry about shedding, but with this rug I didn't notice any shedding at all—if anything, fine dust in the room seemed to float around less, so I felt like cleaning became less of a chore. For everyday care, I just gave it a good pat to shake off any dust or debris that caught my eye. That alone removed the dirt so effectively that I hardly felt the need to wash it.

The Difference Between the Well-Loved Piece and a Brand-New One

After using my rug for more than a month, it still looks almost like new. That said, since I'd been sitting on it constantly, the pile had gradually flattened, so I decided to try washing it to see if I could restore it to its original, fluffy state.

▲This is the condition before washing.

*This time I washed it without a laundry net, but if you're concerned about fuzz coming off, I'd recommend using one.

▲After washing and drying, the fluffiness came right back.

Drying indoors in winter took about 24 hours, but it would likely dry much faster if hung outside in summer. What made me even happier was that it can also go in the dryer. Many rugs generally can't be machine-dried, so this is great peace of mind for anyone worried about the rug staying damp.

A rug that offers not only great design but also the reassurance of being washable is one you'll grow fonder of the more you use it. With its manageable lightness, solid durability, and the versatility that comes from its mini size, this month has reaffirmed for me that this is a piece that will satisfy anyone—whether you live alone or with your whole family.