Area Rugs, Best and Worst Fibers Myths & Care

Area rugs come in different styles, colors, fabrics and make, whether they are machine woven or hand knotted, it is very important to understand what material in the rug is right for your home. From high traffic areas of the foyer or entry to the bedroom or dining room if you use the area rugs made with right materials, they will last longer and perform better.

What is the best material for a floor rug?

After talking to several rug experts, rug enthusiasts and interior designers the two factors determining what will be best on your floor is how much traffic you get at the space and how much coziness you need for your interiors.

There's no definite answer to this one common question in todays consumers mind, What is the best fiber for a rug? We will try to answer this question in detail and put forward the pros and cons of all kind of fibers.

Lets take a look on the fibers most commonly used in making rugs.

WOOL

The wool is a natural fiber, which comes from sheep. It is the most common material used in rugs and known for its durability and softness.

Advantage – Wool is strong, durable, long lasting as well as soft and shiny, warm, flame resistance and natural humidifier. Wool carpet gives a luxury feeling and soft underfoot. Wool rugs are tightly woven so they are incredibly durable.

Wool rugs have been considered best rug over centuries. Durable materials like wool has been popular over ages, most of antique rugs that are over 100 year old are made of wool.

Pro Tip: Wool is pretty much very stain resistance if a quick action is taken, So if you spill something do not wait too long, If couple hours are passed - call your local rug cleaning expert. Cause if spills are not removed quickly and absorbs by the fiber.

Disadvantage – Wool rugs are costly product. It needs some maintenance in comparison to the other rug materials. Depending on the quality of wool used, it may shed sometimes and not good for the damp places, because it absorbs humidity. Buy only good quality wool rugs.

Can be used at – Wool Rugs can be used in Living Rooms, Dining Rooms, Bedrooms and at the High-Traffic areas of your Home as it wears evenly

Take a look at wool area rugs

SILK

Silk is also a natural fiber, which comes from the cocoons of Silkworm. It is used in high quality rugs and most durable and ultra-soft than any other rug material.

Advantage – These rugs are the most luxurious and sumptuous, strongest and most durable, Smooth and Shiny, Environment Friendly, rugs are high quality and have finer details than wool. Being a high-quality rug, they have low pile, light weight and gives a warm and soft feeling to your foot. You will only find this material in a hand knotted rug

Disadvantage – These rugs will be more expensive and they need high care and maintenance than wool rugs. Since they are highly sophisticated and delicate, As they are expensive and the pile is low they can be used at low traffic areas only.

Pro Tip Professional Clean Only

Can be used in Bedrooms, Great Rooms, Office Walls or any area you want to highlight in the room.

Atlanta Designer Rugs carry a great selection of Silk Rugs, Check us Out.

HEMP, SISAL AND JUTE RUGS

Hemp/Sisal and Jute are another natural fibers, which comes from the plants. It is used in the hand-woven rugs and are as durable as the wool rugs.

 Advantage – Hemp/Sisal and Jute rugs are the most inexpensive and high durable product. Being a natural fiber sourced from the plants, they are free from chemical processing and eco-friendly. These rugs give an organic feeling and great way to add warm, coziness and texture to a room, as they come in neutral colors to offer inherent natural beauty to any space.

Sisal or jute rugs have great texture. Most natural fiber rugs are made with no dyes. these are affordable option.

Disadvantage – Hemp/Sisal and Jute rugs are heavy weight. These rugs absorb water, so it couldn’t be used at a humid or damp areas. It is hard to remove the stains and the color of these rugs gets faded in the sunlight.

Pro Tip Going Natural - Most Jute Rugs are Not Dyed Chemically

Can be used in Living Room and at the High-Traffic areas of your Home.

 Shop Rugs made of Hemp/Jute Fibers,     Shop Rug made of sisal fibers,      Shop Rug made of Jute fibers

ANIMAL SKINS

Animal Skin Rugs comes in two ways, first they are full size cowhide or sheepskin and second, they made up with the cut size pieces of hides, stitched together in a regular shape. These are natural hair on hide rugs with short/long pile texture.

Advantage – Hair on Hide rugs are very soft and durable. They are inexpensive and unique (one of a kind). They need low maintenance and very easy to clean.

Hair on Hide rugs are naturally stain resistance. It gives a cozy and rustic look to your space. Sheep skin rugs are surprisingly soft.

Disadvantage – Hair on Hide rugs are not good for the damp and humid areas of your home. Also, these rugs cannot be used in areas that gets a lot of traffic of your home.

Pro Tip Using a chemical on hide rugs can damage it so you have to use natural cleaners and be careful

Hair on Hide Rugs can be used in Bedroom, Office, Den and Basement.

Shop Olivia Collection Area Rugs      Shop Sheepskin Rugs made by Auskin

SYNTHETIC FIBER RUGS

Manmade Fibers like Polyester, Polypropylene, Nylon or Viscose are Synthetic Fibers and they are majorly used in Machinemade Rugs. Synthetic Fiber rugs comes in variety of colors, textures and styles and they are very popular all over the world, as they are budget friendly and easy to afford. Some of the are stain resistant.

Advantage – Synthetic rugs are inexpensive and budget to your pocket. It comes in a vast variety of colors, styles and designs. These rugs are soft, shiny, comfortable and durable.

We can use Synthetic rugs at any space of our home as well as in the outdoor areas. Synthetic rugs are easy to care, easy to move and needs low maintenance.

They are stain and damp resistance. We can easily replace a Synthetic rug with new one as they suites to your pocket.

Efforts are made everyday to make polyester fiber as softer material to be used in rugs.

Disadvantage – Synthetic rugs are not as luxury as the Wool or Silk rugs. They are not as durable as the natural fiber rugs.

Synthetic rug creates static charges when we rub or touch itsometime. These rugs are not eco-friendly. Being a light weight, sometime it slip or move on the floor.

Synthetic Rugs can be used in Living Room, Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen, Hallway, Office, at the High-Traffic area of your Home / Office

Synthetic Rugs are also made for Outdoor use. Shop Outdoor Rugs. SHOP SYNTHETIC FIBER RUGS

COTTON RUGS

Cotton is also a natural fiber and it comes from the plant. Rugs made with cotton are less expensive and they can come in bright colors add coziness to your home space.

Advantage – Cotton rugs are more affordable in comparison other fibers They are light weight and easy to care, clean and move. These rugs are washable and we can easily replace them as these rugs are inexpensive.

Disadvantage – Remove the stain from Cotton rugs is not possible. Cotton rug are not considered durable and they get faded after some time. Cotton rugs can shrink if we use hot water to wash it. These rugs do not lie flat on the floor because of its very lightweight.

These come with chunky weave texture as well as flat weave

Use Cotton Rugs in Living Room, Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen, Kids Room and casual spaces of your home.

CONCLUSION

We have given you the detailed information with the pros and cons about all material used in the rugs and now you should have a better idea that which rug material is suitable for your home as well as your pocket.

• If you want luxury at your feet go with a Silk is the right choice.
• If you want durability and long lasting with uniqueness, Wool is your best option.
• If the price is factor, buy a machine woven synthetic fiber rug.
• Want to go eclectic and unique - go for animal skins, jute rugs or natural fiber rugs.

Still Deciding, Give us a call, We have experts ready to discuss with you, Each home is unique and the situation is unique, We will work with you, understand the use and scope of the area and find an area rug material which suits the purpose and budget. 

Do not believe in our words, read our reviews and you will see what our customers say about the purchases they made and the help and guidance they get. We are a trusted rug store.