From their humble, mainly utilitarian origins, hooked rugs became decorative objects that beautified domestic interiors. The taste for aesthetically pleasing objects was manifested by introducing references to the fine arts: animal representations became more frequent, and hooked rugs reproduced figurative and abstract painting, which was becoming more popular. With the growing importance of their decorative role, greater attention was paid to the choice of subject and colour.

After the Second World War, the market for hooked rugs was well established. Landscapes and human figures dominated, and a wider array of colours was used. Some rugs were hooked with such skill and detail that they could be considered tapestries.

For the most part, designs were worked in light tones on a dark, often black background to accentuate contrasts. Geometric figures were usually separated by a black line to delineate the contours and bring out the colours.