Rug Material Guide
What’s the best rug material?
The best rug material depends on your personal needs. It is important to take into account where you will place your rug, the amount of foot traffic and how comfortable you'd like it to be. We've prepared a quick guide of our most common rug materials and we've included the pros and cons of each of them. We've also included our personal recommendations.
It is important to note that rugs with mixed materials gain more benefits and improve rug usability, usually by making them more durable, softer, shed less, etc.
Material |
Benefits |
Cons |
We recommend them for |
|
Wool |
Very appealing, add a touch of warmth and luxury to your home. Durability Comfort Easy to clean Hypoallergenic Flame resistant |
Cost Some degree of shedding (there's less shedding when combined with other materials) |
high traffic areas people with allergies or kids areas:
|
|
Cotton |
Affordable Durable Easy to clean |
Stains easily if not cleaned quickly |
high traffic areas:
|
|
Jute/Sisal |
Durable Provides amazing texture A great option for layering rugs Affordable |
Rough to touch They don't do well in wet areas or under direct sunlight |
indoors or dry places areas:
|
|
Synthetic |
Durable Repels stains and water Colours won't fade Comfortable Affordable |
Oil spills are difficult to clean |
indoors/outdoors areas:
|
|
Viscose |
Similar to silk Affordable Can be used indoors and protected outdoors |
It's a delicate material Not recommended for high traffic areas or wet areas |
Dry areas and low traffic areas:
|
Wool Rugs
Wool is by far the most popular material as the wool provides rugs with durability and softness. These type of rugs are made to last and it’s worth the investment.
Wool rugs will instantly add a touch of warmth and luxury to your home. Wool rugs are also more appealing than synthetic rugs.
Benefits of Wool
1. Perfect for high foot traffic
Their fibres are resilient for stand up to high foot traffic and little ones running around
2. Comfort
Whether walking, standing, sitting or lying on a wool rug, they provide excellent comfort and softness feeling warm underneath you. Your feet will thank you!
3. Easy to Clean Liquid Spills
It’s easy to clean liquid spills as it’s retained on the rug surface, you just need to blot the area straight away, please never scrub.
4. Hypoallergenic
They are hypoallergenic as they easily repel air pollutants such as pollen, dirt, dust and fungal spores aiding respiration. They are perfect for people with allergies or kids.
5. Flame Resistant
Wool fibres are naturally flame resistant. Unlike synthetic rugs, which can be extremely dangerous, a rug will not melt if it comes into contact with heat. If wool comes in contact with fire, it is extremely slow to ignite, and even has the ability to self-extinguish smouldering due to its upper pile, the thick insulating char layer that inhibits fire.
Cons of Wool
1. Cost
Their cost is in the mid-range to investment ($$-$$$). This all depends on the quality of wool and the percentage of wool used in the rug.
2. Cleaning
Cleaning issues may arise depending on the situation. Water-based spills on wool are easy to clean up as long as you blot the area with clean warm water and thoroughly air dry it. Oily spills, however, are not so easy to clean. Any carpet can be difficult to clean when oil spills really, but in wool rugs, it can leave a stain when not quickly cleaned.
3. Shedding
All wool rugs are bound to shed, this is normal, but this is especially true with new ones. This is a normal process and it does not mean your rugs is made of poor quality or materials. The shedding should not last forever, it might shed more during the first few months but it should stop or decline after a few months.
Wool rugs tend to have minimal or almost no shed when they are mixed with other materials.
We recommend wool rugs for:
- Living rooms
- Dining rooms
- Bedrooms
- Play Room
Cotton Rugs
Cotton rugs are more affordable, durable and very easy to clean. Cotton is mostly used on flatwoven styles.
Cotton is usually mixed with other materials to gain the benefits of both fibres.
Benefits of Cotton
1. Affordable
These rugs are located on the lower end pricing and are very affordable.
2. High Foot Traffic
Most cotton rugs have a flat woven style, they’re soft but not plush, which holds up high traffic very well.
3. Easy to Clean
Cotton rugs are easy to maintain and clean. Regular vacuuming and quickly blotting spills is key. Many cotton rugs are machine washable.
4. Reversible
Some styles are made reversible so you can easily renew your look.
Cons of Cotton
1. Absorbent
This could be a disadvantage because of the slow drying time.
2. Stains easily
If not cleaned straight away it could lead to stains due to its high absorbency.
We recommend cotton rugs for:
- Kitchens
- Family rooms
- Children room
- Rumpus room
Jute and Sisal Rugs
Jute and Sisal rugs are super versatile and extremely durable.
Their perfectly imperfect textures can bring a more earthy beauty to any room.
Benefits of Jute and Sisal
1. Extremely Durable
Jute and Sisal materials are among the toughest materials. They are great for high foot traffic.
2. Provides amazing textures
Can easily give your home a more casual relaxed look. Their patterns and textures
make these rugs any room more interesting.
3. The best option for layering rugs
Natural fibre rugs are the go-to base when layering rugs.
4. Affordable
These type of rugs are more affordable, well within the mid-range.
Cons of Jute and Sisal
1. Rough to touch
They can feel coarse to the touch, especially jute rugs.
2. Not recommended for outdoors
These type of rugs don’t do well in areas where they can get wet, as they can lead to mould.
Furthermore, jute rugs especially do not do well with direct sunlight.
We recommend jute and sisal rugs for:
- Dry places
- Living rooms
- Hallways
- Offices
- Family rooms
- Playrooms
Shop Sisal Rugs
Synthetic Rugs
Highly durable and affordable rugs made with synthetic materials, such as polypropylene, are commonly used for outdoor areas, such as pool areas, patios, boats, marinas and basements.
They can also be used in indoor rugs, often mixed with other materials to improve their benefits.
Benefits of Synthetic Materials
1. Very durable
Its flat weaves design make these rugs very durable and ideal for high traffic areas.
2. Perfect for Outdoor Areas
It repels stains and water, can easily handle moisture and sun exposure. The colours will not fade.
3. Affordable
Due to its synthetic materials, these rugs are cheaper.
4. Comfortable
Very soft to touch and offer the right amount of comfort needed.
Cons of Synthetics
1. Oil spills are almost impossible to clean
Any oil spills from the kitchen or car oil in garages will be very difficult to clean.
We recommend synthetic rugs for:
- Entry
- Hallways
- Mudrooms
- Patios
- Pool areas
- Boats
- Basements
Viscose Rugs
Viscose, also known as rayon, has similar properties to silk. It is shiny and soft but doesn’t have the same elasticity.
Viscose is often mixed with wool or other materials to give more and elasticity to it.
Benefits of Viscose
1. Genuine silk qualities
Sometimes called art silk or bamboo silk, viscose is as comfortable as natural fibres, except it’s not as durable as silk.
2. Can be used in indoor and outdoor areas
They can be very versatile in terms of areas, but don’t forget to keep them dry.
These type of rugs are a great addition to a sunroom, an enclosed porch and gazebo.
3. Variety in style
There are limitless shapes, sizes, colours and patterns.
4. Affordable
Their price varies but they range on the low end up to the higher end depending on the mix of materials. You can easily find the right rug that fits your preference and budget.
Cons of Viscose
1. It’s a delicate material
Viscose rugs may not be suitable for a busy home with many visitors, pets or small children. Please place these rugs in cool and dry areas.
Note. If mixed with cotton and wool the rugs are much more durable.
2. Avoid spills
These rugs don’t do well with spill drinks, avoid placing these rugs where there is a higher chance for accidents. In addition, avoid any water-based cleaners on a regular basis.
We recommend viscose rugs for:
- Dry areas
- Low traffic areas