Top 8 Types of Rugs
Top 8 Types of Rugs
Before you choose your rug, it’s important to know what types of rugs are out there before you buy. If you’re new to the rug shopping game, it is pretty easy to feel overwhelmed by all the different types of rugs available and of course, the heavy price tags attached to many of them no doubt! Choosing a rug comes down to 3 primary things:
- Style
- Placement and wait for it..
- Budget!
Some other factors you may want to keep in mind are
- how easy it is to clean the rug
- how long you intend to keep it
- whether you have any preferences for specific types of materials.
Before you consider the style of your area rug, it’s important to know the different types of rug materials available. From natural to synthetic fibres. Did you know there are eight popular rug materials? Here are the top 8 types of rugs you can buy online…
1. Silk Rugs
100% silk or a silk blend in a rug creates a luxurious shine and feel. In addition to its sheen, silk rugs are often thin, fine and very soft to the touch. Silk rugs are incredibly delicate and can be difficult to clean, so this rug type is best in spaces that are low-traffic where it is in less contact with pets and humans eg inside the bedroom.
2. Leather, Hide and Sheepskin Rugs
Leather and sheepskin rugs are made from those animals’ hides (an animal skin treated for human use). Leather rugs can be woven strips, while hides and sheepskins are full animal hides. These are great pieces for small spaces, and perhaps awkwardly shaped rooms.
Sheepskins are pretty easy to clean. You wash them like hair and are especially great for layering on furniture or placed next to your bed in the bedroom so you have something soft to step on first thing in the morning.
The downside to hides is that they can shed and curl up at the edges, but this is an easy fix. Just flip them over and iron them from the backside with low heat to keep them flat. They also tend to accumulate dirt, which can make light-coloured hides look dirty, so it’s important to shake them out and wash regularly.
3. Wool Rugs
Wool is a natural fibre rug that’s traditionally handwoven, hand-tufted, hand-knotted or hand-loomed. There are machine-loomed wool rugs as well, but these are typically made with synthetic fibres and not true wool. True wool rugs are more expensive due to the extensive work that goes into designing and building them, but the quality is excellent.
In fact, wool rugs are often passed down from generation to generation, making them an heirloom investment. Given its robustness, this type of rug is ideal for high-traffic spaces where people and pets walk on, like in the living room, bedroom and entryway.
4. Jute and Bamboo Rugs
Jute and bamboo are natural rug materials that can add a coastal vibe to any indoor space. They are a good choice for rooms needing texture and their economical price point makes them a good value, especially in areas where a large rug is needed. Natural rugs are also great for layering underneath smaller, more decorative rugs. For example, if you have a gorgeous rug that you want to use but it’s too small to accommodate your seat grouping, layer it over a correctly sized natural woven rug. You do have to be careful about where you place these types of rugs as some of them can show watermarks and be difficult to clean. If you’re buying a jute or bamboo rug for an outdoor space, make sure it’s approved for exposure to the elements and it is used for the outdoor area.
5. Cotton Rugs
Cotton is an inexpensive and playful rug material that serves as a budget-friendly alternative to higher-cost rugs made of wool or silk. However, cotton tends to fade quickly and doesn’t do well with stains, so don’t expect your cotton rug to last for decades. Cotton rugs are best used in casual spaces and are a good option if you’re interested in changing out your rug depending on mood or season.
6. Faux Fur/ Faux Hide Rugs
If you don’t like the idea of having a real animal hide or if your budget is tight, a faux hide or faux fur rug type is a great alternative. Faux fur rugs are often made of acrylic and synthetic blends and are typically power-woven. These are great for those who want the luxury of fur without worrying if it was sourced ethically. A downside to these types of rugs is that they are prone to shedding, especially when brand new and they’re not as easy to clean as the real deal.
7. Microfibre/Polyester Rugs
Microfibre rugs are another synthetic rug type. These are made from either 100% polyester or a blend of polyester and other synthetic fibres. Microfibre rugs use tiny strands of thread to create a plush feel. They’re often machine-woven but look more expensive wool rugs. Synthetic rugs are typically inexpensive, so they are great when you want a quick pop of colour without a huge investment.
However, unlike true wool rugs or other natural fibre rug types, synthetic fibre rugs often look dirty faster because the smooth strands can’t trap dirt.cing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
8. Polypropylene Rugs
You may notice a lot of rugs on the market are made from synthetic materials, for example, polypropylene, nylon, polyester or viscose. As a general rule, these rugs tend to be thinner than a wool rug, but some can still feel as soft. The main selling feature to a synthetic rug is the price. They are very cheap which makes it affordable to keep buying rugs as often as you wish.
The good thing is polypropylene and synthetic blend rugs tend to clean up easily and are usually fade-resistant, making them ideal in high-traffic locations, such as children’s bedrooms, entryways, dining rooms, and outdoors. The primary drawback of these Polypropylene Rugs is that polypropylene does not decompose quickly. Therefore, not ethically sustainable. If you are environmentally conscious, it may not be your best choice. So perhaps you may wish to choose the above rugs?
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