A Beautiful New Rust Shade
What shade do wave-washed granite rocks, thousands-of-years-old rock paintings and the roofs of Helsinki’s oldest buildings have in common?
When Woodnotes’ designer, product development coordinator Minna Ahokas with team discovered Rust as a new addition to the Woodnotes colour palette, it felt like a natural continuation of the colour harmony of the IN/OUT carpet collection.
“Rust is a beautiful natural shade that combines red and ochre with a hint of brown,” she says.
The world of colour and form at Woodnotes reflects the palette of northern nature. There are shades of water, different tones of earth, and colours reminiscent of coniferous forests and moss, ripened grain, or the countless shades of grey and white found in snow and ice. Rust brings to mind the bedrock and Finland’s national stone, granite.
Rust works beautifully with the existing colours in the IN/OUT collection: alongside sandy and earthy tones, forest greens and yellows, and the lavender of the evening sky.
Ahokas recommends keeping Rust as the dominant colour of the carpet and combining it with one or two other shades. For a bolder look, add a touch of pale red or burgundy, or even bright yellow.
The Rust Shade Carries Meaning
Bright yellow can also be found alongside rust in nature. Granite, characteristic of Finland’s bedrock, is often rust-red, and many other mineral-rich rocks turn reddish and rust-coloured as they oxidise. In particular, the reddish coastal rocks of the Finnish archipelago are often covered with various bright yellow lichens.
The impression is strong yet harmonious – and a similar atmosphere can be created with IN/OUT carpets, whether indoors or outdoors. The carpet is moisture-resistant, making it an excellent choice for wet areas in the home as well as covered outdoor spaces.
Rust can also be found elsewhere in Finnish nature: there are several Stone Age rock paintings in Finland, most of which are rust-red in colour. The shade comes from iron oxide, or red ochre.
“Stone Age people most likely made the paint by grinding mineral-rich earth containing a lot of iron and mixing it with a binder such as animal fat, blood or egg. Iron oxide does not fade in sunlight, which is why the paintings have survived for thousands of years,” Ahokas explains, describing some of her sources of inspiration.
Rust is also a characteristic colour of Woodnotes’ home city, Helsinki: the sheet-metal roofs of buildings in the historic city centre are predominantly rust-red. When Helsinki is viewed from above, the city skyline unfolds as a rust-red, undulating landscape, with roof profiles of different shapes and chimneys following one another to create fascinating rhythms.
“In winter, the white blanket of snow creates a striking contrast with the rust-red roofs.”
Invitation - Habitare 2026, Helsinki
As we enjoy the golden summer days in Finland, we would like to invite you to meet us at the Habitare Fair,
taking place from 2 to 6 September 2027 during Helsinki Design Week.
Please join us at our stand 6h50 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre!
We will be showcasing our latest paper yarn collections, Esplanadi and Bulevardi, as well as a completely new and beautiful colourway, Rust, for our In/Out rug.
A warm welcome to visit us. We look forward to seeing you at Habitare!