What Is The Best Rug To Buy?
As your trusted rug care specialist, we want to provide our customers with the appropriate facts to make an informed decision on what is the best rug to buy. With so many options for rugs and unique situations, making the right purchase for your needs can be overwhelming. This is why we have created a guide to help consumers make the best decision on what type of rug is best suited for their living space based on pets, kids, and room placement.
Natural Fibers:
Wool:
Hand-knotted wool rug
Pros:
- Hides dirt and dust well
- Is resilient and lasts hundreds of years, if well maintained
- Can be passed down to grandkids
- Biodegradable and a natural insulator
- Acts as a filter for debris in the air
- Naturally retains a level of moisture, reducing flammability
Cons:
- The sun can fade the color of wool
- Can shed, but this will reduce over time
- Rug moths are attracted to wool. (See our article here for more information on rug moths)
- Is more costly.
Recommended for:
- Living Rooms
- Foyers
- High Traffic Areas.
Silk:
Silk rug being hand-knotted
Silk rug up-close
Pros:
- Luxury rug
- Sleek, smooth, and soft fiber
Cons:
- Not recommended for homes with pets or children.
- Can be damaged easily and repairs can be costly
Recommended for:
- Low traffic areas
- can hang on wall
Cotton:
Multiple stains on a cotton rug
Pros:
- Mostly used to make reversable rugs such as Dhurries or Kilms.
- Is more cost-effective
Cons:
- Wears fast and is less resilient.
- Is a very absorbent fiber and can make stain removal tricky.
Recommended for:
- Low traffic areas
- dens
- bedrooms
Jute:
Jute rug up-close
Pros:
- a softer option for a natural fiber rug
- has a chunky texture
- is naturally light brown, but can be dyed in an array of colors
Cons:
- this fiber sheds, so don’t use the beater bar when vacuuming
Sisal:
Common sisal rug
Pros:
- Very durable and rope-like
- Eco conscious
Cons:
- Not the softest
- Is more absorbent than other natural fibers making it stain more easily
Seagrass:
Pros:
- Very durable and softer than sisal
- This fiber is more water resistant
- Great for places where spills and messes are more likely to occur
Cons:
- Because they are more water-resistant, dying can be difficult.
- They usually come in a limited choice of colors.
Animal Skins:
Wearing on the back of a cow hide rug
Cow hide rug
Pros:
- Very unique
- can add flair to a room
Cons:
- Can be difficult to clean and maintain
- Not best for damp or humid areas
- Can be costly
Recommended for:
- Offices
- Dens
- Bedrooms
- Low traffic areas
Synthetic (Polyester, Polypropylene, Nylon):
Synthetic rug up-close
Various colors on a polyester rug
Pros:
- Durable
- Affordable
- Comes in a variety of colors and patterns
- Typically cleans up well and is low maintenance
Cons:
- Less luxurious than silk or animal skin
- Does not hide debris as well as other fibers
- Machine made from various petroleum chemical compounds. Some fibers contain VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) which can release harmful chemicals. If you are considering a polyester rug, we suggest airing it out for a day or two before bringing it into your home. This will allow it to off-gas the chemical smell.
Recommended for:
- Bedrooms
- Playrooms
- Entry Ways
- Kitchens
- Dining Rooms
- High traffic areas.
Viscose (A.K.A.: Rayon, Bamboo Silk, Faux Silk, Mercerized Cotton, Hemp Silk):
Wearing and staining on a heavy traffic area of a viscose rug
Cellulose browning on a viscose rug
Viscose reflecting light
Pros:
- Shiny and has a crushed velvet look that may be desirable to photoshoots or staging a room.
- Is a short-term commitment
Cons:
- Not ethically made
- Often over-priced
- Not recommended for homes with children or pets.
- Is easily damaged and often referred to as a “disposable” rug
- Browns when wet and yellows with age.
- Very flammable
- To learn more about viscose rugs, watch our video here: Understanding Viscose Rugs
Recommended for:
- Low traffic areas.
How Do I Choose?
Need a rug for a high traffic area? Wool or sisal/seagrass are great options.
On a tight budget? Synthetic, jute/sisal/seagrass rugs are budget friendly.
Want a rug to last? Wool rugs are the best choice.
Pets and kids? Hand-knotted wool or synthetic rugs are a good route. Tufted rugs are not recommended for homes with pets and children. See our video here to learn more about tufted rugs.
And after a couple years of use, or sooner if you have pets, give us a call to extend the life of your rugs with a deep cleaning.
Call today to get a quote!
678-403-8049