By Susan Kelly
Spring invariably brings an urge to hit a decor refresh and, with it, an influx of the latest design trends and styling inspirations—the good, the bad and the fleeting. “Rug design is taking exciting new directions,” says Michael Pourvakil, founder and creative director of Weavers Art rug emporium in Toronto. “But not all are right for every home or if you want to create a timeless look.”
Ever innovating, Weavers Art has imported exquisite hand-knotted and award-winning rugs prized by discerning customers in Toronto and beyond for more than three decades. Pourvakil regularly attends world design shows, adding to his already encyclopedic knowledge. It’s no wonder design industry insiders look to him for the lowdown on haute rug style.
A major rug trend for 2025 is the use of bold, expressive patterns. “Designers are moving away from minimalistic interiors with simple, plain rugs,” Pourvakil says. “They’re embracing more vibrant colours and intricate geometric patterns.” Think oversized florals or checkerboards, abstract prints or tribal motifs. It takes a deft designer to not overdo it and keep it sophisticated, he says. Weavers Art collections are curated to contain examples that do just that. And while a striking carpet can make a statement in any room, the latest application is adding one to staircase runners.
As for neutral colours, this expert sees the interiors continuing to move away from cool grey tones in favour of warmer hues. He’s on board with Pantone’s 2025 colour of the year, Mocha Mousse (PANTONE 17-1230), which influences both high fashion and interior design. “It is such a rich, warm colour on the brown side and somewhat exotic,” he says. “I love it personally, and our in-house designers are using variations of it to enhance the look of our offer.” Calming and grounding, Mocha Mousse is best paired with other earthy hues, especially terracotta, olive, sand or clay, he suggests.
As for neutral colours, this expert sees the interiors continuing to move away from cool grey tones in favour of warmer hues. He’s on board with Pantone’s 2025 colour of the year, Mocha Mousse (PANTONE 17-1230), which influences both high fashion and interior design. “It is such a rich, warm colour on the brown side and somewhat exotic,” he says. “I love it personally, and our in-house designers are using variations of it to enhance the look of our offer.” Calming and grounding, Mocha Mousse is best paired with other earthy hues, especially terracotta, olive, sand or clay, he suggests.
Another big trend this year, custom rugs, is a gratifying one for Pourvakil. His store has long offered this option to homeowners seeking rugs that reflect their personal style and colour preferences while perfectly fitting a room’s dimensions.
Weavers Art’s in-house rug designer Wan Ki An can help interpret any vision—either tweaking an existing style or composing an entirely original design. Then it’s over to the production team of master weavers in Nepal who painstakingly handcraft the rug using the finest wool and silk yarns.
“Rug design is taking exciting new directions. But not all are right for every home or if you want to create a timeless look.”
Trend-wise, Weavers Art was ahead of the curve when it introduced a selection of freeform rugs last year. They feature irregular shapes that emulate icons of Mid-century Modern design, such as the Noguchi coffee table, and add a touch of softness to otherwise stark modern interiors. “This is one of the biggest trends now in rugs and also part of the organic design movement that prefers fluid, asymmetrical shapes to linear ones,” Pourvakil says. Square or rectangular rugs with rounded corners are also popular. Weavers Art can either create such a carpet to exact measure or cut an existing one.
In the other exclusive collections on display now, some rugs draw inspiration from modern art, others from traditional Persian designs. “On-trend or not, a rug is an expression,” Pourvakil says. “Your colour and design choices say a lot about you and have great power to transform a space and make it truly feel like home.”