IKEA designers Paulin Machado and Maria Vinka take inspiration from Sweden’s forests, meadows and beaches for an idyllic collection of handmade wool rugs. Bring the beauty of our home into your own. The beauty of Sweden at your feet.
With thousands of kilometers of coastline dotted with islands and archipelagos, and over half of the country covered in forests, lakes and meadows, nature is all around us in Sweden. Tiny fishing villages and cozy forest cabins are woven into the fabric of the land. So, when it came to designing a collection of handmade rugs, IKEA designers Paulin Machado and Maria Vinka didn’t have to travel far – inspiration was right here.
Using the surrounding countryside as their living mood-board, the collection of handmade wool rugs invites the rural beauty of Sweden into your home. Although not all rugs are available globally, they are just too beautiful not to share; not to mention, you’ll find plenty more to choose from in our handmade rug range at IKEA.
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The forest
Rows upon rows of tall green pine and spruce trees grow, but what’s that? A small red cabin sits nestled in the woods. Handwoven in wool and cotton, this playful pattern evokes the cosiness of a rustic log cabin. Where would you plant it in your home?
“With the Dvärggras rug, I wanted to create something playful. Children have play rugs, maybe this is a play rug for grown-ups? I guess the design represents how many people think of Sweden. Trees, trees, trees and, look, a sweet little red cabin. I’d love to live in that little cabin. I would be among friends here. Among pines trees, spruces, rabbits, owls and mosses. Lovely,” says designer Paulin Machado.
West coast charm
From Gothenburg to neighboring Norway, Sweden’s west coast is dotted with fishing villages and small islands. Inspired by the vintage Bohus knitting style of the coastal region, the intricate blue stripe patterns of the HARSVANS rug rolls across the floor, reminiscent of waves breaking along the shore. The combination of different weaves, textures, and shades of blue bring a calming mood to any space. Lay on its flatwoven wool surface and pretend you’re floating in the open water.
“The inspiration for the pattern of the Harsvans rug comes from the traditional Swedish sweaters that women in the small west coast fishing villages used to wear. Just like the sea out here – I think the pattern is beautiful and mysterious at the same time,” says designer Maria Vinka
In the meadow
Paulin Machado’s pastoral rug invites you to walk barefoot on its hand-knotted surface. Created using the pit loom weaving technique, the varying heights of the pile add extra softness and texture, making it ideal for creating coziness in the bedroom. Imagine waking up to step on soft blades of toe-tickling grass.
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“Groddsvingel is almost like an Impressionist painting – that you can walk on. And it feels good to walk on it, too. It’s like a tiny three-dimensional landscape under your feet. My intention was to create a feeling of a beautiful Swedish meadow with a small stream running through it. Can you see that? If you can’t, try to narrow your eyes and take another look,” says Paulin Machado.
The Swedish coastline
Enjoy the feeling of summer all year round in the home. Hand knotted with a mix of low pile and flatwoven surface, its textured chevron pattern is reminiscent of the wavelike ridges left by the tide on the beach. It’s sandy, toasted tones make for a neutral, cozy base for bedrooms and living rooms alike.
When the sun is setting on the west coast of Sweden, everything turns golden. The sea, the sand, even the grass seems to change from green to orange gold. The KLAPPERSTARR rug is like a snapshot of all that woven into a rug. It’s a piece of the Swedish coastline ready to roll out anywhere in the world.
The Beauty of Sweden at Your Feet, based on a press release from IKEA.
All images © IKEA