The choice of the rug or carpet material can make or break the look and feel of your living room or hotel guest room. A rug is expensive and very visual piece of a room. It can be intimidating to change it if it doesn’t match up with the look of the room. While the right rug will enhance the aesthetics of a house, apartment or guest room, a wrongly picked rug can destroy the entire room feeling.
Principally you can choose form 2 kind of materials: Natural and synthetic rug and carpet materials. Synthetic type rug materials are made from man-made fibers like viscose, polyester, and nylon or a blend of different synthetic fibers. The rugs are mostly machine woven using tiny thread strands but are designed to mimic the luxurious and plush look of wool and silk rugs. Rugs and carpets made of synthetic material are available in a wide range of colors, sizes, patterns, and shapes. Synthetic rugs are inexpensive compared with natural rug materials. These rugs are highly durable and are perfect for high-traffic areas, such as hallways, living rooms, family rooms, or lobbies. Technological advancements in the synthetic industry have led to an environmentally friendly option of PET material, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. This material is comparatively softer than other synthetic materials.
The choice of the rug or carpet material can make or break the look and feel of your living room or hotel guest room. A rug is expensive and very visual piece of a room. It can be intimidating to change it if it doesn’t match up with the look of the room. While the right rug will enhance the aesthetics of a house, apartment or guest room, a wrongly picked rug can destroy the entire room feeling.
Principally you can choose form 2 kind of materials: Natural and synthetic rug and carpet materials. Synthetic type rug materials are made from man-made fibers like viscose, polyester, and nylon or a blend of different synthetic fibers. The rugs are mostly machine woven using tiny thread strands but are designed to mimic the luxurious and plush look of wool and silk rugs. Rugs and carpets made of synthetic material are available in a wide range of colors, sizes, patterns, and shapes. Synthetic rugs are inexpensive compared with natural rug materials. These rugs are highly durable and are perfect for high-traffic areas, such as hallways, living rooms, family rooms, or lobbies. Technological advancements in the synthetic industry have led to an environmentally friendly option of PET material, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. This material is comparatively softer than other synthetic materials.
Natural rug materials are silk and wool for example – they can provide a luxurious look but are also very expensive. Finding the right rug material can be difficult when you have to choose from a wide range of rug materials available. To help you make the right decision on the choice of material for your rug and carpet, here are the top materials that you can choose.
1. Wool
Wool is a naturally stain-resistant fiber that is handwoven, hand-knotted, hand-loomed, or hand-tufted traditionally or crafted with machines. Rugs and carpets made of wool are very soft and durable. True wool carpets and rugs are expensive because of the extensive design and handcrafting work on them. Due to their durability, rugs and carpets made of wool are perfect for areas with high traffic, such as the living room, entry, hallway, dining room, and bedroom. On the contrary, the material is not suitable for damp environments as wool can absorb humidity, which can lead to fading and/or a little shedding.
Wool can hold the color beautifully for years, and spills or stains are easy to clean. However, the cost of a wool carpet or rug is very higher compared to other types of carpet materials, but the price is worth its durability, softness, and longevity.
2. Nylon
Nylon is the most popular for carpet material overall. It’s durable and resistant to wear. Most carpets and rugs used in residential and commercial areas are nowadays made of nylon. One main reason for this are the superb attributes, as well as comparatively low cost. But it’s unfortunately not that good at fighting stains.
3. Olefin
Olefin is a material that is also used as outdoor fabric. It is resistant to moisture, mold, and mildew and thus makes a good carpet material for basements and outdoors, where you might have more moist or even direct water contact. It’s tougher than nylon, but not as comfortable to walk on. Unfortunately Olefin is not super UV resistant, so colors may fade over time – especially if you live in a very sunny area.
4. Acrylic
Most people think about other applications than carpets, when hearing about acrylic. But indeed acrylic is often used as an inexpensive alternative to wool. It is more expensive than Olefin or Nylon, but it has some advantages over the 2 materials above. It is very durable and resistant to wear, while offering super bright colors. That makes it to a good material, if you are looking into very bright and colorful carpet and rug designs. Further, it is very easy to clean and maintain.
5. Carpet Materials you might not heard about yet
Silk
Silk rugs and carpets provide an extremely plush and luxurious look. Whether the rug is 100% silk or a silk blend with wool, its luxurious shine is something other fabrics cannot match. The carpets made from silk or silk blend are usually thin, soft, and very fine. Thin silk fabric makes the rug delicate and difficult to clean and requires professional cleaning to retain the look and feel. Hence, these carpets are suitable for areas with very low traffic like bedrooms and formal drawing rooms.
Carpets and rugs made of silk are highly expensive and luxurious. However, silk carpets don’t lose their shape as the material is a stone fiber but can get damaged without proper maintenance. This is why experts recommend following a regular maintenance schedule right after purchasing it.
Bamboo, Jute and Sisal
Bamboo and jute are natural materials for carpets and rugs to add a coastal vibe to your living space. If you want to add more texture to your living space but need an economical option, bamboo and jute rugs and carpets can be the best option. These rugs can also be suitable for adding layering under your decorative but smaller rug. Rugs made of these materials are highly durable, renewable, economical, and free from chemical processing.
Made of natural grasses, these rugs provide rich textures and an earthy look. The rugs made of sisal, seagrass, bamboo, and jute are not very stain-resistant and can be hard to clean. Hence, these materials are not suitable for outdoor use. The best use for these carpets and rugs is in areas with high traffic, sunny areas, and living rooms. However, if you are looking for carpets for your outdoor spaces, look for the rugs approved for exposure to water.
Cotton
Cotton is a very soft and inexpensive material and can be a budget-friendly solution to expensive rugs and carpet materials like silk, wool, etc. However, cotton is poor stain-resistant and may fade quickly. Hence, a cotton rug may only last for a few years. These rugs feel very soft underfoot and are a great option for your living room, bedroom, kitchen, children’s room, and casual space.
Cotton carpets and rugs may not be as durable as other materials but are very comfortable, affordable, and easy to wash and clean. As they provide a casual vibe to your space, it is better to add these rugs to informal rooms. Cotton rugs are available in various colors, sizes, shapes, patterns, and weave styles.
Faux Fur/ Faux Hide
If you are against animal cruelty and don’t want a rug made from animals but want to get the look and feel of aminal fur and hide, faux fur or faux hide is a great alternative. Faux fur is made from synthetic and acrylic fiber blends and is machine woven to create rugs and carpets. It can be an affordable alternative for people who want the luxury of animal fur without worrying about animal cruelty. Faux rugs can add sophistication and warmth to your living space. Faux hide and faux fur rugs are durable, soft, warm, and easy to clean.
Due to their amazing insulation properties, these are perfectly suited for areas with cold climates. However, rugs and carpets made of faux hide and faux fur are prone to wear and tear. Hence should be used in low-traffic areas.
Conclusion
Regardless of the location of your house, there is a perfect rug material that can enhance its aesthetics. Finding the perfect rug for your house can be difficult. One needs to consider location, budget, lifestyle, and weather conditions to find the perfect rug material. Evaluate the rug materials mentioned above for these factors before you order a rug for your living space.