Also, can anyone make any suggestions for what they think would work given the following factors.
It's for the sitting room, which the front door opens directly into (front door straight off a busy main road, too). I'm a childminder and have lots of children on it, daily. The rest of the room/furniture is shades of brown/beige/cream so bright colour/s would be preferable.
I currently have a lovely, thick, wool rug which cost about £50, 10 years ago. It has cost more each time I've had it professionally cleaned and the last time I sent it off, it didn't come back as sparkly clean as I'd hoped so I think it might be time to cut my losses and replace it eventhough I love it.