A notebook, a genius and a detective

A brilliant, bored high school student finds a black notebook dropped by a death god, and discovers that any name he writes in it will die. He decides to rid the world of criminals and become its god, until an eccentric, sugar-loving detective sets out to catch him. Death Note is one of the most gripping cat-and-mouse thrillers in manga and anime. A Death Note-inspired rug brings its dark, elegant style into a room: a single red apple on black, a black leather notebook, a gothic initial, a chessboard battle of wits or dark feathered wings. Every design is printed into soft velvet and goes in the washing machine.

Death Note-inspired designs

Design	The look	Best in
Red apple	A single glossy red apple on black	Studies, dorms, round rugs
Black notebook	A leather-bound notebook with silver details	Studies, anime rooms
Gothic initial	Your own initial in blackletter type	Bedrooms, gifts
Chessboard	A black-and-white board mid-game	Game rooms, studies
Dark wings	Ragged black feathered wings	Gothic bedrooms
Handwritten rules	Pages of rules in your own words	Reading nooks, studios

The red apple is the simplest and most recognizable choice, and it works well on a round rug in a study or a dorm.

The series

Death Note was written by Tsugumi Ohba and drawn by Takeshi Obata, and it ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 2003 to 2006. Its anime adaptation by the studio Madhouse, from 2006 to 2007, became one of the most popular gateway anime for Western audiences. Light Yagami, a top student, uses the notebook to kill criminals in secret, and the public names the mysterious killer Kira. The world's greatest detective, known only as L, takes the case, and the two geniuses wage a war of deduction, each trying to unmask the other first. The series has been adapted into live-action films, a musical and a Netflix film.

The red apple

The death god who drops the notebook is obsessed with apples from the human world, and a single glossy red apple has become the series' most iconic image. A red apple on deep black is a simple, striking design that works on a round rug, and it reads as a stylish, minimalist piece even to someone who's never seen the show. Our round rugs come from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across.

The black notebook

A plain black leather-bound notebook, worn at the edges, with silver corner details, is an elegant, mysterious design for a study or an anime room. Ours is our own notebook design, without the series' title lettering.

A gothic initial

The detective announces himself with a single letter in an ornate blackletter typeface. A rug with your own initial in gothic blackletter, black on white or white on black, is a bold, personal design for a bedroom, and it makes a great gift. Our custom rugs can print any letter or name in any size up to 5′11″ × 10′.

A battle of wits

The rivalry between the killer and the detective is often compared to a chess match, each move anticipating the other's. A chessboard rug, black and white squares with a few pieces mid-game, is a clever, classic design for a game room or a study, and an actual board for oversized pieces. For more checks, see our checkered rugs.

Dark wings

The death gods of the series are skeletal, ragged creatures with dark feathered wings. A rug of black feathered wings spread across the floor is a dramatic, gothic design for a bedroom or a cosplay photo backdrop. For more dark style, see our gothic rugs.

Handwritten rules

The notebook comes with a long list of strict, strange rules, and the plot turns on every loophole. A rug designed like notebook pages covered in elegant handwriting, with your own words, your house rules, a poem or a list, is a unique, personal design for a reading nook or a studio.

Sweets and a detective's crouch

The detective sits crouched on chairs, eats sweets constantly and stacks sugar cubes while he thinks. A rug of scattered sugar cubes, cakes and strawberries on white is a funny, sweet nod for fans, and a cheerful design for a kitchen or a dessert lover's room.

A bored death god

The whole story begins because a death god in his own gray, empty realm is bored, so he drops a notebook into the human world just to see what happens. The series' death gods are a modern blend of Japanese folklore and the Western idea of the Grim Reaper, and their alien, darkly funny personalities are a big part of its appeal.

Is the killer right?

Much of the series' power comes from the questions it raises. Is it ever right to kill in the name of justice? Does absolute power corrupt even the best intentions? Fans have argued about it for two decades, which makes the series a favorite for discussions in classrooms and book clubs, not just anime fans.

For mystery lovers

Death Note belongs to a long line of detective stories. The first modern detective tale is usually credited to Edgar Allan Poe, whose The Murders in the Rue Morgue appeared in 1841, followed by Sherlock Holmes and the great puzzle mysteries. A chessboard or notebook rug in a reading nook stocked with classic mysteries is a perfect nod to all of them.

Cosplay and photo backdrops

For cosplayers, a dark-wings rug or a plain black rug with a single red apple makes an atmospheric backdrop for photos and videos at home, keeping the focus on the costume.

For older fans

Death Note is built around death, crime and moral questions, so these designs suit teens and adults best. The apple, the chessboard and the sweets are the most subtle choices.

Studies and dorms

A red-apple or chessboard rug suits a study or a dorm room, especially for students who like a good mystery. Under a desk chair, choose Standard, 5 mm crushed velvet on a non-slip faux leather back, about 500 g/m², which stays put and lets the wheels roll. Our office and studio rugs page has more setups.

Gothic bedrooms

A dark-wings or gothic-initial rug is a striking centerpiece for a gothic bedroom with black bedding, candles and an antique mirror. Choose Premium, 7 mm plush velvet on a bamboo and cotton back, about 700 g/m², for the softest feel underfoot. Our bedroom rugs page has more layouts.

Gaming setups

A black-and-red apple rug under a gaming desk pairs well with red lighting. Choose Standard under a gaming chair, in 3.3×5 or 4×6 ft. For more, see our gaming rugs.

Hallways and entryways

Down a hallway, a custom runner up to 10 ft long with a line of handwritten rules or a long chessboard makes a striking passage. Just inside the front door, a small apple rug is a stylish, mysterious welcome; keep it indoors, out of the weather. Choose Standard for both.

Pairing with furniture

These rugs suit sleek, moody rooms: black and white furniture, a leather chair, a bowl of real apples, a chess set and dim, warm lighting. A single red accent ties the whole room together.

Round rugs

A round rug with a single red apple at its center, a ring of handwritten rules around the edge or a gothic initial in the middle is a striking, minimal piece for a reading corner or beside a bed. Our round rugs come from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across, and smaller sizes suit dorms well.

Colors

Death Note-inspired designs look best in black, white and blood-red, with silver and parchment for notebooks and rules.

Other anime

For more thrillers and dark anime, see our Tokyo Ghoul, Code Geass and Steins;Gate rugs, and all our anime and manga rugs.

Gifts

A Death Note-inspired rug makes a great gift for a mystery lover or an anime fan. A gothic initial with their own letter is the most personal; a red apple is the most iconic and versatile.

Sizes, shipping and returns

Rectangles come in 2×3, 2.6×3.9, 3.3×5, 4×6 and 5×7 ft. Round rugs come from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across, and shaped rugs from 2.6×2.6 up to 5.2×5.9 ft (80×80 to 160×180 cm). Custom sizes go up to 5′11″ × 10′. Every rug is printed to order in 1–3 business days and ships from Turkey; US delivery usually takes 2–5 business days after that. Please only send artwork you're allowed to use for custom designs; the title logo and official art belong to their owners. Unused rugs can be returned within 30 days on US orders; custom rugs can't be returned.

Care

Machine wash on a gentle, cold cycle and let it air dry flat. Vacuum on a low setting between washes, and blot spills with cold water right away. The design is printed into the fibers, so the red stays glossy and the black stays deep, wash after wash.

Rem, Misa, Near and Mello

Beyond Light, L and Ryuk, the series has a cast that inspires its own designs. Rem, the pale shinigami bound to Misa Amane, is white and bony where Ryuk is black and feathered, and her quiet devotion makes her one of the story's most tragic figures. Misa, the pop idol in gothic lolita fashion, wears crosses, lace and black ribbons, and makes the Shinigami Eyes deal, which lets her see names and lifespans floating above people's heads.

After L, two young successors from the Wammy's House orphanage take up the case. Mello, intense and impulsive, is rarely seen without a bar of chocolate. Near, pale and quiet, sits on the floor building all-white puzzles and stacking toys, the opposite of Mello in every way.

Those details translate into clever rugs. A blank white puzzle with one missing piece is pure Near, a minimalist design for a study. A chocolate bar torn open on black is Mello, a funny pairing for a desk. Misa's crosses and lace on black make an elegant gothic rug, and Rem's white bones and gold eyes create a ghostly design for a darker bedroom.

For a fan who wants the whole battle of wits on the floor, a split design, one half white and one half black, with Near's puzzle and Mello's chocolate on opposite sides, says everything about the series' final chapter.

Padrift is an independent studio. Death Note is named to describe what our designs are inspired by; we are not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata, Shueisha, Madhouse or Viz Media.