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When I walked into Layered’s Stockholm showroom last spring, it was like taking a big gulp of floor-covering fresh air. Geometric patterns (and not just checkerboard) in unconventional color pairings! Hardworking jutes with delicate scalloped edges! Yes, there were solids, but in sophisticated tones, such as oche and ruby. None of it was traditional, nor was it trendy. Layered hits that rug design sweet spot between classic and cool. And for being a 10-year-old brand, they’ve still got that #ikyk cool-kid appeal.
For that, we have Malin Glemme to thank. The designer founded Layered in 2015 when she couldn’t find the perfect rug—so she decided to make it herself. Since then, their handmade rugs have blended Scandi minimalism with out-there color combos. She says that while Layered doesn’t shy away from trends, they aren’t bound to them, either. “We always try to interpret things through our own lens,” she says. “The key is to bring something personal to [a trend]—something that feels like it has staying power.”
We asked Glemme what she was noticing right now that may end up on a floor near you in the not-so-distant future. Buckle up—saturated hues are making a big comeback.
Embrace Balancing Acts
“I’m inspired by interiors that balance contrasts—bold color choices next to raw textures, or vintage pieces paired with contemporary,” says Glemme of what gets her going these days. To make it work in your own home, try mixing shiny ’70s-era chrome pieces with natural fibers, like jute. Unconventional pairings are obvious in her work, too, where cobalt and salmon come together in a checkerboard perimeter, or butter yellow makes nice with wine and cornflower.
The New Checkerboard Is…
Glemme says that geometric patterns are still popular, “but we’re definitely seeing a growing interest in more organic, soft forms and tonal designs.” Think Millennial blob shapes—but all grown up. And also: She’s seeing a move toward solid-colored rugs in unexpected, rich tones such as olive and chocolate. “That kind of quiet boldness is very appealing right now,” she says, mostly because they can set the tone of a room without relying on a pattern that you might get tired of in a few years.
So Long, Shag
High-pile carpets and rugs have been on the up, but Glemme says: “Flatweaves are definitely having a moment. They’re practical, but can also be incredibly refined.” Truth: They’re easier to clean than their fuzzier counterparts, and flatweaves don’t shed. So it’s not a huge shock that Layered’s Röllakan collection is one of their bestsellers, and Evelina Kroon’s jute flatweave is in my living room as we speak.
Keep Your Furniture
It can be tempting to let a rug dictate how you’ll fill the rest of a room, but people rarely start their homes from scratch. “It doesn’t have to be about buying everything new based on a rug,” Glemme says, adding that a new floor covering can bring depth and warmth to your existing furniture. “It can completely shift the energy of a room.”
