How to Choose Your Next Rug

Rugs serve a very important purpose in any room — one that goes beyond giving our feet a comfy surface on which to roam. They help define, delineate, and divide the “space.” In fact, if you watched our recent episode where we revealed our living room plan, you’ll have seen us mull over our main issue of finding a larger rug to “anchor” the room. (You can watch it here, by the way.) It was a “main issue” because rugs come in all shapes, sizes, colours, patterns and materials. So, we needed to consider price, colour, design, maintenance, and even how the rug will impact our health. And all these considerations can be decided by first selecting the rug material.

Here are some rug material facts you need to know when purchasing your next rug.

Wool is the benchmark

Wool’s a natural fibre, which means you don't need to worry about it impacting your health or environment (a concern for synthetic materials). It’s easy to clean, because it doesn't absorb stains, and its fibres don't break down like most other carpet fibres. In fact, there are wool rugs that are 100s of years old and still have lots of life in them. So, whenever possible, buy wool!

Unfortunately, wool is expensive

It's labour intensive to "make" wool rugs. (Have you ever tried to knit a sweater? Yeah, rugs are more work than that!) Plus, since wool fibre isn't always conducive to manufacturing the same way that synthetic fibres are, producers can’t set a design in a machine and then walk away. Therefore, most wool rugs are made by craftspeople, increasing the manpower costs and thus the end sale price.

Synthetic fibres are inexpensive and widely available

For those with a smaller budget or craving more colour and design options, you’ll want to look for synthetic fibre rugs. These come in every conceivable colour and pattern, and are easy to manufacture, making them less expensive and more accessible. There are lots of machine washable options available now too, which can extend the life of your rugs.

PET fibres are the new kids on the block

We love the new PET fibre rugs that are relatively new on the market. Contrary to what you might think, PET fibre can be very soft and comfortable! They use recycled fibres and plastics, making them a more sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic fibres. PET is also rated for outdoor use, so you can bring that amazing style outdoors.

If you are looking for a rug, browse our shop or come in and we can help you decide what will fit best for you and your space.