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How Do You Choose From The Large Variety Of Rug Materials?

A wide variety of rug fibers exist, each with their own unique characteristics. Which material you choose will depend on your intended use for the rug and the potential wear and tear.

Is the rug for a bathroom or bedroom? In that case, you'll want something soft on bare feet. Or maybe it's intended for a mudroom. Such a rug would need to be heavy duty and able to stand up to boots and mud.

Also analyze foot traffic. Will the rug be in a highly traveled area such as an entryway or in a room that receives light use like a dining room?

Rug Materials

Rugs come in either natural or synthetic/man-made materials.

Material/Fiber

Type

Characteristics

Advantages

Acrylic

Synthetic

Polymer like other synthetic fibers and has served as a substitute for wool since the 1950s. Similar in appearance and feel to wool.

Takes color well. Generally hypoallergenic. Fast drying. Stands up to medium traffic.

Chenille

Natural or Synthetic

Velvety, thick yarn-like material that produces a soft rug ideal for bathrooms and bedrooms.

Offers a wide range of colors and styles, such as shag and braided. Many are reversible. Stands up to low to medium traffic.

Cotton

Natural

Strong, durable fiber from the cotton plant that is soft to the touch. Highly absorbent and can be dyed in a wide variety of rich colors. Sometimes combined with wool and used as a backing with other fibers like wool.

Machine washable. Comes in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and patterns. Good for low to medium traffic areas such as bedrooms and bathrooms. Wears out faster than wool.

Nylon

Synthetic

Highly resilient, flexible material that is used to create a wide variety of textures and is available in many colors. Used indoors and outdoors.

Resists wear and tear, staining and molding. Holds up to high traffic and can be used under heavy furniture. Retains color well and is easy to clean.

Olefin/Polypropylene

Synthetic

A lightweight petroleum byproduct that is dyed to the desired color when in the liquid state. Used indoors and outdoors.

Highly durable and stain resistant. Easy to clean. Color won't fade and experiences no shedding or pilling. Good for heavy traffic areas. Soft to the touch.

Polyester

Synthetic

Manmade product featuring a wide variety of colorations. Resembles wool in look and feel. Used for indoor and outdoor use.

Fade, stain and mildew resistant. Soft to the touch. Resists pilling and fuzzing. Non-allergenic. Withstands heavy foot traffic, but not heavy furniture. Easy to clean.

Viscose

Semi-Synthetic

Made with wood pulp using chemical processes, this material is silky in appearance and touch. It breathes like cotton. Sometimes used in combination with other materials and in place of more expensive silk.

Gives a luxurious look and feel to rugs. Soft to the touch. Takes moderate to high foot traffic. Susceptible to matting, unless blended with other material. Melts when exposed to open flame.

Wool

Natural

Considered the highest quality natural rug fiber, with some well-made rugs lasting for generations. Produced from sheep fleece.

Known for its long-lasting strength and durability, as well as its soft plushness. Also spill and fire resistant. Perfect for high traffic areas and can withstand heavy furniture. May shed or fade. Best cleaned with professional dry cleaning methods. Has a strong odor when wet.

What Kind Of Craftsmanship Are You Looking For?

How the rug is constructed affects its quality. Whereas rugs were once made by hand, most of today's rugs are created by machines. Whether made by hand or machine, the same rug techniques used over time are still used today. These techniques include the following:

*Hand-knotting:

Is done by weavers, who tie individual knots that make up the rug. The more knots, the more durable the rug.

*Hand-knotting:

Feature loops of yarn that are pulled through a rug’s backing by machine or hand and can create a cut or loop pile.

*Hooked rugs:

Are made by hand or machine and are similar to tufted rugs, but the yarn loops remain in the finished product.

*Flat woven rugs:

Don’t possess a pile and can be produced by machine or hand.

*Braided rugs:

Also don’t have a pile and are made by hand or machine. The yarns are braided into ropes and sewn together, resulting in a durable rug that is often reversible.

With all rugs, the denser the rug, the longer it will last.

Do You Need A Rug Pad Under Your Rug?

Rug pads are necessary on rugs that don't contain nonskid backing. The pads not only keep rugs in place and prevent them from creating a potential hazard, they also help extend the life of the rug by providing cushioning and insulation. Rug pads also prevent moisture from leaking below to the floor and causing staining. Those made with memory foam create especially soft rugs.

Rug gripper tape is also useful for keeping rugs in place.