This Rug Has More Than 17,000 Positive Reviews … And We Tested It Out

Listen up, friends: There is an area rug on Wayfair that (as of today) has 17,861 postive reviews, including almost 15,000 five-star testimonials. That’s a whole lot of people liking one specific item a whole lot. More to know: In an 8 x 10 size, the Clair Grey Area Rug is only $178! And also, this: It’s made of the super-durable polypropylene, which can endure tons of foot traffic, messes and more.

Here’s the backstory: Before I had kids I spent money on home décor. I bought investment pieces. I had a white couch for goodness sake! And then I had those sweet, chubby babies and they ruined EVERYTHING. Like, literally everything. Formula, pee and poop were the least of my worries — sticky fingers, markers, mud and one particularly ruinous duct tape incident meant that my husband and I were no longer seeking out the best, most beautiful furnishings.

Instead we now opt for durable items that can withstand daily use — nay, daily overuse. And they exist, but they’re typically a bit … blah. Our couch, for example, is grey microfiber and nothing can stain it, so it’s perfect for our family of six. Is it stunning? Nope. Has anyone ever entered our home and said, “Where did you get that couch?!” Nope.

The real challenge for parents is to find heavy-duty pieces that are also beautiful, or edgy or ultra-modern or that fulfill whatever your desired aesthetic is. Mine is farmhouse chic meets industrial modern. Or at least that’s what I’d like it to be, but I often fall short and end up buying pieces that can just survive my four sweet, filthy children. Like my family room’s area rug, the one that until recently sat under that boring grey couch — I went for a darker pattern that wouldn’t show spills and the result was a super-dreary room that I’ve lived with for three years but never, ever loved.

Back to Clair. Countless reviewers touted her as being soft, easy-to-clean and beautiful. So, for less than $200, I decided to try her out. Her distressed light grey-and-cream geometric pattern was exactly what I was looking for and her aforementioned durability was what I needed. After removing the dark carpet I loathed and replacing it with Clair, I am totally smitten with the pattern, which is interesting, but not overpowering. I love how the design's vibrancy fades in and out. In all honesty, Clair brightens the room big time and somehow also makes it look bigger — who doesn't want that? Also, it’s soooo soft underfoot. Which is perfect, because I have a crawler who spends all day on the floor. 

In terms of maintenance, Clair is on the thinner side with a .25-inch pile, which makes it super easy to vacuum. My main concern was stains — rightly so, because within 24 hours of installing it we had two incidents, one involving dog puke (did I forget to mention I have a dog, too?) and the other chocolate (damn you, granola bars!). Both stains came up with a bit of dish soap, water and rubbing. And maybe some under-the-breath cursing on my part!

To wrap this up, there are three things you’re going to love about Clair. One, she’s a beautiful backdrop to any room. Two, she can stand up to your life’s messes. And three, she’s affordable! Seriously, for a couple hundred bucks this is the best investment you’re going to make, whether it’s for a cozy living room or a sophisticated master bedroom. Because myself and 13,526 other reviewers can’t be wrong, right?