Family Friendly Washable Rugs

March 24, 2022
BY Kate Rabbitt

Oh Happy Home work with artisans in India and Nepal producing small batches of high-quality washable rugs that will compliment any room in your home. Amy Eaton is a skilled textile designer and Mum of 3 boys. She knows what it’s like to run a busy and sometimes messy household. Her range of washable rugs are designed to meet the needs of Australian families that are conscious about sustainable, ethical production and mindful about the purchases they make for the home. Amy explains “our washable rugs are made to the highest standards ensuring you will only need to buy once and buy well.” We promise you will absolutely love their beautiful and practical designs!

Oh Happy Home

www.ohhappyhome.com.au

How did you start your business Oh Happy Home?

“Oh Happy Home (OHH) started in 2018 and was an extension of my previous business (Happy as Larry Designs) which I started 9 years ago. During my time working in India and Nepal, I met with rug manufacturers to create beautiful pieces for the floor that were functional and family friendly.

As a Mumpreneur and a wrangler of three beautiful boys I totally get messy families. For this reason, I make sure everything I design from my range of homewares, rugs, cushions, mats and washable rugs are suitable for the rough and tumble of bustling homes.

All Oh Happy Home products are designed in Australia by me and I guarantee that they will not only look amazing in your home but are of the highest standards ensuring you will only need “to buy once and buy well.”

Tell us all about your washable, non-toxic range of rugs!

“Many rugs are made with nasty fibres and toxins and do not stand the test of time. Because cheaper rugs are made of acrylic or blends they may only last a season, which in turn go to landfill and are unable to break down.

I set out to design rugs for Australian families that were non-toxic and made of natural yarns which led me to designing a cotton rug that was washable. Made with 100% cotton yarn, our rugs are high quality cotton which makes them perfect for regular washing in busy family homes.

Our rugs are not sprayed with any toxic chemicals which makes them better for the environment and over time will eventually break down and return to the Earth.

Most of all they are made ethically without child labour and are Goodweave approved. As a Goodweave licensed partner, part of our manufacturing budget is forwarded to Goodweave towards their efforts to end child and bonded labour in the carpet industry. Children are pulled out of factories, re-homed and schooled for a better future. We encourage you to look and buy rugs and carpets with the Goodweave sticker attached.”

How do we care for the washable rugs – can they be machine washed at home?

“YES! If a spill or accident occurs, they can be washed in a domestic machine (the small and medium size). The larger size rugs can be washed at laundromat for as little as $12. They can also be tumbled dried or taken to a dry cleaner. After a wash they come up like new every time! Use a cold/warm setting and a gentle to normal wash with a soft detergent. Simply hang out to dry and vacuum as per normal to fluff up your rug. Otherwise your rug can also be placed in the dryer on a warm setting which will help fluff it up like new.”

Rug Sizes and Approximate Weights for washing machines;

Runners/ Bath Mats – 1-3kgs
120 x 180cm 3-4kgs
150 x 210cm -7-8kgs
200 x 300cm – 11-14kgs

Talk us through your design and manufacturing process?

“I design with my manufacturers in India – we do not buy off the shelf rugs. I love working with my India weavers together to create something we are both proud of. We order in small batches to keep our weavers in work all year around. Many larger companies will only buy once a year – leaving them with out work for many months unable to sustain their families.”

What are your top tips when selecting the right size rug for a room?

“Think about the function of the room. Choosing the right size rug for the space and the furniture is important to balance everything in the room. A rug will ground all your furniture and bring cohesion to your space. My top tip would be to anchor the rug with a piece of furniture, like the legs of the bed or an armchair or bean bag. If you are having trouble deciding, we have a clever visualiser app on our website that allows you to upload a photo of your room and pop your favourite rug in place.”

Tell us about any new products or upcoming releases?

“We are currently designing some new washable rugs in bold colours and further to this, we have just released a new range of braided wool rugs which are also great for high traffic and family spaces.”