7 min read · Updated 23 June 2026
The vintage rug is one of the big winners of the past ten years in interior decoration. Colours softened by time, faded oriental or geometric motifs, that inherited-family-home look: these rugs tick every box of the current mood. But behind the word vintage sits an important ambiguity you need to understand before buying. Here is how to read it, and where Casemira transparently stands on this family of rugs.
1. Why vintage took over interiors
Three reasons explain the current enthusiasm:
The story-telling effect. A vintage rug feels like an object handed down through a family, which gives soul to a brand-new interior. That narrative quality is precious in a world where furniture is increasingly standardised.
It suits contemporary schemes. The faded vintage look works perfectly with mid-century modern, soft Scandinavian, boho and industrial chic. It plays the part of the weathered piece that counterbalances smooth surfaces (polished concrete, black metal, glossy marble).
It forgives wear. A faded vintage rug visually hides the marks of daily life (small stains, footprints). It is the exact opposite of a pure ivory rug, which demands constant vigilance.
To go further into decorating styles, see Berber style rugs and our oriental rug buying guide.
2. Genuine vintage vs contemporary vintage look
Two very distinct families sit side by side under the word vintage:
| Criterion | Genuine vintage | Contemporary vintage look |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Made between 1900 and 1980, a niche market | Recently made, with motifs and patina deliberately faded |
| Availability | One-off piece, fixed dimensions | Several standard sizes, held in stock |
| Price | From several hundred to several thousand euros depending on condition and provenance | Far more accessible (Casemira, apart from a few handmade designs) |
| Care | Delicate, specialist cleaning required | Often machine washable at 30°C, easy day to day |
| Remaining lifespan | Varies with the initial condition | 3-8 years by textile industry standards |
| Returns available | Often not, a one-off piece sold as seen | 30-day returns across 100% of the Casemira catalogue |
The takeaway: the two families share the look but differ on everything else. The choice depends on your relationship with the object (uniqueness against availability), your budget and how much specialist care you are willing to take on.
"Modern vintage gives you the soul of time gone by without the fragility of an antique."
3. Our selection: more than 60 modern vintage designs
Casemira deliberately belongs to the contemporary vintage look family. The vintage rug collection brings together more than 60 designs recently made with patina and motifs deliberately faded. It is a position we own: the vintage aesthetic with the advantages of modern production (several standard sizes, accessible prices, easy care, free returns).
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of designs | More than 60 |
| Price range | From small to larger budgets (higher for the few handmade designs) |
| Materials | polyester, polypropylene, cotton, viscose and wool |
| Shapes | Rectangular (almost all), round and oval (Mirador in cream and grey) |
| Machine washable | More than 30 designs machine washable at 30°C |
| Non-slip | More than 30 designs with a non-slip backing |
| Water-repellent | More than 10 water-repellent designs |
| Oeko-Tex | More than 30 certified designs |
Most designs combine polyester or polypropylene, machine washability and a non-slip backing, which makes them rugs that tolerate everyday use without giving up the aged look.
4. Typical faded tones and motifs
Casemira contemporary vintage works across several aesthetic registers:
Softened earth palette. Sand, muted beige, toned-down terracotta, faded ochre. A Mediterranean or summer boho mood. Vadi and Eden designs.
Washed indigo and midnight blue palette. Faded indigo drifting towards grey-blue, midnight blue veiled in chalk. A modern Haussmann or cabinet-of-curiosities mood. Blue Terrazzo and grey and blue Isadora designs.
Faded monochrome palette. Soft greys and off-white shades, with very understated motifs. A soft Scandinavian or japandi mood. Vision in grey, Isadora in grey.
Typical motifs: fragmented central medallions, faded herati borders, retro geometrics (diamonds, hexagons) and textured abstracts. Always with a pile-worn-by-time effect obtained through varied pile heights or multi-layer dyeing.
For specific colours, see also our guides to terracotta rugs, versatile beige rugs and contemporary grey rugs.
5. Top Casemira designs
Five signature families worth knowing:
Vision. Washable, vintage grey, softly faded motifs. Polyester and cotton, machine washable, non-slip. One of the more than 50 Casemira Easy Clean designs (all four treatments combined). Available in several sizes.
Eden. Washable, vintage beige, fragmented floral motifs. Polyester, machine washable at 30°C. Part of the Easy Clean range. Available in several sizes.
Isadora. Classic faded vintage, washed-out oriental motifs, a palette of cream, beige, grey and blue. BCF polypropylene. Available in several sizes.
Vadi. Washable vintage in terracotta and blue, a Mediterranean mood. Polyester, machine washable, non-slip. Available in several sizes.
Vulcan. Washable terracotta abstract, a contemporary boho mood. Cotton and polyester (Easy Clean). Available in several sizes.
On eligible designs, samples from €10 (free delivery, the amount deducted from your rug with the code you receive by email) let you test the feel and the colour accuracy before you buy. See how to order a sample. For other designs, or for returns once your rug has arrived, free returns within 30 days apply to 100% of the Casemira catalogue.
6. The advantages of modern vintage
Five strengths of contemporary vintage compared with the genuine article:
Several standard sizes. 80 x 150, 120 x 170, 160 x 230, 200 x 300 and 250 x 350 are available. A genuine piece is limited to the exact dimensions it was made in.
Machine washable on more than half of the designs. Delicate programme, 30°C, short cycle. A genuine piece needs specialist cleaning every time.
Safe non-slip backing on more than 30 designs. Built-in latex backing, with no need for an underlay on most floors. A genuine piece generally has no non-slip backing.
Prices under control. Casemira vintage-look rugs (apart from a few handmade designs) are far more accessible than a genuine piece, which often starts at several hundred euros and can reach several thousand euros for rare examples.
Free returns within 30 days. On 100% of the Casemira catalogue. A genuine piece is generally sold as seen, with no return option.
These advantages explain why contemporary vintage now accounts for the majority of the vintage market in France. Genuine vintage remains an option for collectors and committed budgets, but Casemira contemporary vintage answers every decorating need without the constraints.
Three Casemira rugs for the living room
Beige Vintage Rug - Isadora No. 05
Blue Vintage Washable Rug - Terrazzo
Grey & Anthracite Vintage Rug - Arcano
7. FAQ: vintage rugs
Your questions about vintage rugs
Are Casemira vintage rugs genuine antiques or contemporary pieces?
Contemporary. Casemira offers more than 60 recently made vintage designs with patina and motifs deliberately faded. The vintage look with the advantages of modern production.
How much does a Casemira vintage rug cost?
The price depends mostly on size: a 160 x 220 or 160 x 230 costs noticeably less than a 200 x 290 or 200 x 300, and the few handmade designs sit well above the rest. The product page shows the exact price for each size.
Can Casemira vintage rugs go in the machine?
Of the more than 60 vintage designs, more than 30 are machine washable (30°C, delicate cycle). Always check the label on the design you choose.
Does vintage suit a home with pets?
Yes, especially the Easy Clean vintage designs (Vision, Eden, Vadi), which combine all four treatments. See Easy Clean rugs.
Which vintage designs suit a Scandinavian living room?
Go for the faded monochrome palettes: Vision in grey (polyester and cotton, washable Easy Clean), Eden in beige (polyester, washable Easy Clean), or Isadora in grey. The pivot size is 160 x 230.
Can you test a vintage rug before buying?
The Easy Clean vintage designs are part of the selection of more than 120 designs offered as samples from €10, deducted from your rug with the code you receive by email. Free returns within 30 days apply in any case.
Written by the Casemira team, based in Brittany, France. Find out more about Casemira.
