Materials Used In Area Rugs

Many components found in area rug making are the same as those used in full room carpeting. However, most people may be familiar with synthetic materials such as viscose, rayon, nylon, acrylic, and polyropylene which is also known commonly as olefin. Oddly, it is the natural fibers that many are not familiar with.

Many natural fibers are used in rugs that have benefits exclusively to themselves due to the natural origin of the fiber itself. Those fibers are wool, cotton, sisal, jute, seagrass, bamboo and silk. All of them have specific benefits to their use in an area rug's performance.

Wool is used in better quality, more dense rugs and the fibers can come from sheep, however other animal fibers can be used as well. It is a popular fiber as it is a very resilient material known for its greater durability factor than most synthetic fibers. Wool also holds the dyes applied and is naturally fire resistant. It also shows very little effects of water damage or excessive staining.
Cotton is also a natural fiber that is grown in fields. It’s attractive mostly because as compared to wool, cotton is much less expensive. It responds well to most dyes which offers the consumer a vast spectrum of colors to choose from. Cotton is often used along with wool in area rugs because it is so similar, but when cotton is used alone will not hold up as well to wear. More color, more durability – that’s the result of a Cotton/Wool rug mix.

Sisal is a natural fiber that comes from the “agave sisalana” plant. It is by far the most popular plant fiber due to its tenuous fibers, almost like a softer yarn.  Sisal is naturally static-resistant, sound deadening, resistant to fire, and very long lasting; its durability is long-term. Not a bad combination, right?

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Jute, another plant fiber that comes from the stems of plants grown in the Orient, is used in area rugs as well. It creates a very durable yarn that gives the rug long life and has a strength of fiber that is often desired in a rug selection. However, its drawbacks are that it is a bit coarse to the touch and it also has a susceptibility to stains.

Now seagrass is another natural fiber found in a common plant of the wetlands. It consists of long stems and the fibers taken from the stems give this material a great durability which lends itself well to heavy foot traffic. It is non-porous and has a smooth texture that many consumers enjoy, however, it also has a strong smell and stiff texture that lessens over time.

For a touch of the Orient, bamboo's fiber is very popular. It is very durable and ideal for excessive use. However, it is a woody fiber that is not exceptionally soft to the touch which can be a big drawback for many consumers. You might consider this type of rug as a wall hanging or other decorative piece.

Finally, there is of course silk. Silk's fiber is another natural material that can be used alone or in more expensive rugs to achieve a sheen to the overall appearance of the area rug. While silk is an incredibly beautiful fiber that has a wonderful feel to it, there are drawbacks to this material as well. Silk is very expensive, and also must be treated with a lot more care than some of the other fibers we’ve mentioned. It will be ruined if it is attempted to be cleaned with soap and water. Wherever you decide to put your silk rug, be sure to watch it carefully, and treat it well.

So there are many natural fibers that are intrinsically beneficial. It can be a good feeling to know that you own a natural rug as opposed to the more common rugs made from synthetic fibers. Be sure to explore all of your options before jumping on a specific area rug and you are sure to find the material that best suits your needs.