Carpets on the Wall. Life and Homes in the Soviet Union

Subject: culture

Keywords: Crazy Russian Sergey history housing Soviet Union Ushanka Show

A rug belongs on the floor. At least, that’s what we think. In the former Soviet Union, however, rugs could have a very different place and purpose. What we put on the floor, occupied a prominent place on the wall in many Soviet homes. But why?

The Khrushchevkas

The story begins with housing. From the 1950s onwards, so-called Khrushchevkas were built on a massive scale: simple, largely prefabricated apartment buildings that gave millions of people their own home for the first time. A huge improvement at the time, but comfort and finish had not exactly been the top priority. The apartments were small, and the thin walls did little to keep out the cold and noise.

This was where the rug proved surprisingly useful – provided it was hanging on the wall, that is. It added an extra layer against the cold, muffled the neighbours’ noise, and at the same time made it harder for your own noise to reach them.

A Status Symbol

Good rugs were not always easy to come by and could be quite expensive. Their owners were therefore generally proud of them – and careful with them. One of the last things you would want to do with such an object is walk all over it all day. On the wall, the rug stayed cleaner and suffered less wear and tear, while remaining clearly and constantly visible. It was thus not only a practical part of the interior, but also something to show off.

A Day in the Snow

In winter, the rug went outside for cleaning. It was placed face down on a layer of fresh, dry snow and then thoroughly beaten with a carpet beater. The snow crystals worked their way between the fibres and caught the dust and dirt shaken loose from the rug. The snow could then simply be brushed away. The result was a thorough clean without water or cleaning products. A pretty sustainable way of cleaning – it doesn’t get more eco-friendly than that.

Atmosphere and Character

Soviet citizens had to think practical, but that does not mean they thought of nothing else or had no sense of style. They saw long ago what we in the West are increasingly discovering too: that a rug on the wall actually looks pretty good, and gives a room atmosphere and character. Today, rugs hang on walls not out of necessity, but because someone likes the way they look or wants to make a statement with them.

And so, those people with their carpet beaters and their strange habit of turning floor rugs into wall hangings finally get their vindication, recognition, and compliments.