Beige & Cream Rugs

Tonal styles, like beige stripes, small geometric borders and ivory plaid, look almost plain from across the room and let the sofa and art do the talking. Persian medallions and botanicals on a cream ground add pattern without adding much color.

Animal prints on beige, from leopard with sage or olive to zebra and jungle scenes, are the largest group here and suit a room that already has wood and plants.

Nearly every style comes in 5x7 to 8x10 and in 2x6 and 2x10 runners, and about half go up to 9x12 for a larger living room.

A cream washable rug can go in the washer on a cold, gentle cycle without bleach whenever it starts to look dingy, which makes a light color less of a gamble. Vacuuming between washes keeps grit from graying the pile.

The five Wash Free styles suit dining areas and entries, since spills bead up and wipe off and they need washing far less often. The 2-piece kitchen mats wipe clean with a damp cloth and belong on dry floors.

Of the three patio rugs, the Savanna and Veina styles are machine washable. The reversible palm-leaf rug is swept or hosed off instead.